weekend antics

Quite a busy weekend. Sat morning, DH went out to do his advanced motorcycle training. He was out for 3 hours! I thought, great, I will do my SG cyber thingy while he is out, and then go out with him in the afternoon. But they didn't post any classes until lunchtime!! I did make a start on 3, an altered mint tin, a bazzil chip brooch, and a Lippy Chick book. Well, I don't think I read the instructions properly do I? I have gone wrong on all 3!!! The mint tin I put beads in the lid as well as in the bottom, and the lid wouldn't shut! I had to scrape them off with my craft knife, and all the paint as well! The brroch is OK, but I can't do the beads, I have no idea how to do them, so they don't look very good! And they will probably fall off! The Lippy Chick book won't fold properly- I think I have spoilt that. Oh well, it's all a learning curve. I feel quite frustrated that I haven't had time to finish them, but that's becasue:

Sat afternnon we went into town. I bought some new shoes (for work), and we have bought home another load of samples for curtains for the lounge. I am optimistic that we will make a decision this time. In the evening, we went out to watch a Mass Concert Band concert. it was the Adur, Littlehampton and Bognor Regis bands all together. Our friend Andy plays the trumpet in the Adur band. It was quite good, they played some stuff that I knew(!), but I miss the strings!!! Give me a bit of violin any day.

On Sunday we went to see John in his new bungalow. It is vbery nice indeed. It feels very homely, and quite enough space for one person. It is in a very unusual setting, next to hadlow Castle. It has a very tiny garden, with a large wall, but it doesn't feel oppressive. Behind the wall is the castle, and a huge tower or folly! The bungalow is tucked into a corner, so the appraoch is in front of the neighbours bungalows, but I think that makes it seem very snug and secure.

The kids were left instructions to make tea, but Lucy put the chicken in later than I asked, and Nicholas was a in a very bad mood with his computer, so had not doen the vegetables. When I made him do them he forgot the brocolli, even though I had put it out right next to him, so we didn't eat until 7pm. No time for crafting in the evening:(

Sad day

Toady is the funeral of Adrienne Reeve, a very inspiring and gifted teacher. She taught Nicholas in year 7 at West Park C of E school, and was one of his favourite teachers. She had the gift of making every child feel special. Nicholas says 'she liked maths, I like maths, she was very enthusiastic, which inspired us children'. She taught Lucy science in year 7, and she ran the netball team of which Lucy was captain. Lucy was not so keen as Nicholas, but she still feels sad today. Lucy says 'she taught me to play netball, and she inspired me to play more sport. She remembered my name!'

Adrienne was one of the teachers that inspired me to try teacher training. Most teachers at the time told me not to go into teaching, Adrienne and Jenny Colcohoun told me it was the best job in the world, go for it! Unfortunately, my teaching career never took off from 1st base - I lasted 8 months in training. But I will always remember Adriennne's enthusiasm and love of children (older children though - she didn't like young children!) She died of cancer aged only 43. I am thinking of all those children who will miss out on having her as a wonderful teacher.

lost!

I went to Kelly's crop in Plumstead yesterday. My goodness did I get lost! I started off going up the A24 to drop Nicholas off at work, and decided to go across to the A27 at Shoreham to get to the A23. Up the A23/M23, stopped off in Crawley for Nicholas's parcel at City LInk, and joined the M25 ok. I even went the right way on the M23!! But, I left the m25 for Bromley on the A20 instead of the Bexleyheath turning A2! (DH has made the point that they both begin with B!!). It took me ages to realise what I'd done. So back to the M25, and off at the A2. I followed Kelly's instructions, but quickly went wrong, not sure how, so I just followed signs. I did rejoin the A207 at one point, but not sure where I was in relation to where I should have been iyswim! Anyway, I finally got there at 12.15!! But we had a fab day. It is a very nice church hall (I love church halls and all the community things that go on in them!) Kelly made us lunch - a very nice jacket potato with beans, cheese and salad. Kim from Stamp Galaxy was there with stuff from her shop, so lotsa shopping (especially when she said I could pay by paypal!!) Although there weren't many of us, it was a lovely atmosphere. I will go again in a few months time. Kim gave me different directions to the A2, but I still got lost, don't know how? I got on the A2 at Greenwich, and got home in a hour and a half - not too bad. All this in our hired CRV, with gears and it's a diesel! I did fill it up once, and you may laugh when I tell you I drove on the A2 for quite a while before I realised I was only in 3rd! (It has 6 gears, why does it need so many? I am so confused by lots of gears)

I did 2 LOs for Nicholas's album. I am quite pleased with them. I'll show you tomorrow. I bought some fab stamps from Kim, and I'll show you those too.

Today I am knackered, and am going to go to bed in a min (9pm). I have to go to work tomorrow, and get up at 6am, YUK, especially as it is half term for the kids. I don't suppose either of them will take the dog for a walk this week! Today all I've done is a huge mountain of ironing! (I so hate ironing, and I always leave it till the weekend!) Actually that's not quite true, I have just spent quite a long time surfing the net, and have made my list for things I need for Kim's Cyber Birthday celebrations (cyber stamp) www.ukstampers.co.uk

Universities

We have been looking at universities for DS this week. We went to Southampton on Tuesday, and Bristol on Wednesday. We have already looked at Surrey (guildford) and Bath. DS wants to do Computer Science. In fact, his primary school teacher would know that was what he would do! He has always been fascinated by computers, right from when he first had a go on our Amstrad, and used to fill the screen with X's and then hold the delete button down , and watch them all disappear! He's come a long way sonce then!

Here is my summary of these unis:
Bath, gorgeous town, lovely gree campus, accom right there next to the uni. Good reputation, and the degree course seems good. Year in industry very well organised, and well - liked by students and cos. Offer AAB
Bristol. City uni, very vibrant city, lots going on. Very fine reputationCS dept, very young, fun, lively (showed us lots of games!) Downside, accom quite a long way from uni. Offer likely to be AAB.
Southampton. Campus a bit grim, staff a bit distant. CS is in electronics dept, so degree slanted that way. Research led, but staff seem to like this better than their students. Accom a long way from uni Offer ABB
Surrey. Lovely campus. Quite near home. Staff friendly, approachable. Course: perhaps more business slanted. Year in industry well organised. Not so high up the uni pecking order, good insurance choice becasue of lower offer BBB.



Car crash update: We have a new Honda CRV as a hire car. Trouble is, it's manual (ours is automatic), and diesel!!! I have to remember not to put unleaded in it!!!! Ins cos are talking to each other, and our car is going to be repaired. I am quite pleased that they are going to try and repair our car, becasue I'm not sure I want a new car just yet. I really like our CRV, even though it is so juicy on the petrol.

Craft: Not done any this week. I did order some more bags and some large book rings, and I have finished sorting my ribbon. Just gor to use it now! I really ought to do that CJ entry, and organise my stash to take for Kelly's crop tomorrow.

car crash!

I am so pleased with these 2 LOs. I did them at the Brighton and Hove crop yesterday. 'Family' is scraplifted from jhansen on UKS, 'Stinky', and Lizzie and Harry (my maternal grandparents) is scraplifted from Caroline on UKS 'button page'. I couldn't resisit doing this, becasue Mum gave me a whole load of old buttons recently, and these are them! I suppose they are vintage buttons, and the colours are subtler than new ones, so really go with the vintage photos. The photos are of my maternal grandprents probably taken about the time of their marriage in the 1920s. The 'Family' photo is taken on my dad's birthday 1998 at a family get together, that is me and DH(who took the pic), my brother and DSIL, and their 2 girls.

ON the way home, I was involved in a car accident! Luckily noone was injured. For those that know it I was on the A27 just west of the Holmbush Centre, going west up the hillat about 50/60mph, when suddenly there was a stopped car in the middle of the road (broken down)! I braked hard, and didn't hit it, but someone hit me, and then someone hit them! So bit of a pile up really. Looks like the car could be a write off cos the back wheel looks all wonky. Shame cos we really like this car (Honda CRV), except for ther fact it uses too much petrol.

Ooooh I had a great day today! I went to the Brighton 'Creative Stitches' exhibition, and met some new friends from tandastamps craft forum http://www.tandastamps.com/forum/index.php

There's Tasha (Chicken Licken), Burnice (Angel), Me (linda321), and Linda (Lindy Lou). We had lunch together, and a great chat, all about ATCs and 'Inchies' - our latest craze. I also saw Lorna and Sue from my Brighton crop. We have a crop tomorrow, so looking forward to that.

Here's what I bought..... DH promised me a lamp for my birthday last year, and it's nearly my birthday this year, so I bought one. I'll try it out later. I'm also looking forward to using my brayer, the water pens, and the new stamps are for the inchies. I also bought lots of ribbon and buttons.- not that I'm short or anything, but I never have the right colour......

Off to have a play.

disappointed

Oh I'm disappointed this morning, we have no snow! The weather forecast last night was full of dire warnings for 7" os snow for most of England, especially the SE. Well, we had rain all last night, and when I cycled to work at 6am it wasn't even cold! I think North of the downs has some snow, but worst hit is north of the M4. Loads of schools shut (why?), roads blocked and general chaos as does happen whe we have a single flake of snow in thsi country. I suppose we just don't get enough to warrant snow ploughs etc.

Oh well, here are my first 5 cards from the Emily Falconbridge challenge http://www.embers.typepad.com/

We are using a pack of cards to make an art journal, one for for each week of the year. Emily is giving a prompt each week. There is a chat thread on UKS http://www.ukscrappers.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=148596
which is just brilliant! It is so great to share work with other like minded people, and to get comments. I just need to finish the backs of the cards. Atm they are uncovered, and I think I'll cover them with some pp and journal a bit more from each week.

been a busy girl

I've been too busy to blog! During January I did a huge amount of sorting out, my bedroom, the lounge stuff (that was in the conservatory), and the cupboard in Lucy's bedroom. Plus all my stash!!! I now have all my scrapbook papers, card, stickers, and small bits of card sorted into fabby Cropper Hopper storage, and they are all sittting on my lovely new CH trolley! It is wonderful to be able to scrap, and then put things away before I start again.

Hence, I have been on a roll with the scrapping this week. I finished my garden album!!! YIPEE! There are about 3 Los that I HATE, but I have decided not to change them atm becasue I want to move on.

Today I have been doing Kelly's scraplift challenge on UKS. Kelly came up with this fab idea, and asked for LOs we thought she should scrap. There are some gorgeous LOs there. I was going to do my 2006 album with them, but that meant sorting and ordering photos, so Im doing more to DS's album, which is 8 x 8.

'West Park' is scraplifted from Heels by juliebee, and 'Playing with Nanny' is scraplifted from 'Mine, mine, mine, by Kirsty.


Here are 3 of the LOs I completed for my garden album. Autumn Tinges and Pretty in Pink are October, and the other one is obviously November!!! I am trying to use up all my primas - they are one of those things that gets left in the packet and never used. One good thing about sorting stash is that it stuff that has bee forgotten comes to my attention again. I am using lots of brads atm. Need to use more embellies! Some of the embellies on the garden LOs come from the garden swap I did on UKS last spring/summer, and the tag was from a calendar swap also on UKS. They are gorgeous, all my tags, but I have found it difficult to incorporate them into LOs.

yeehaa!

I've been making a tag book with my new cowboy stmaps from Tanda Stamps. www.tandastamps.com. What a great bunch of people! I've just joined thier forum, and it's a lovely chatty small forum. Talking of forums, I've just joined Beth's lovely forum www.nplh.co.uk for all things altered!

Anyway, my cowboy stmaos have been stamped onto home made background using swooshes of Ditress Inks. Iused Colorbox Queue inks to stamp them. The 2 sets I have are all these greeny, ornagey Grand Canyon type colours, my faves.

On the back of each tag I have attached a photograph of us 4 on horseback in Canada in 2004. I've embellished with primas, rub-ons, stamping, and journalled around the photo.

To give an idea of scale, the tags are 4" x 3", and the photos are pre-digital, the little ones you used to get from triple print.

AIFHS

Nicholas has written a wonderful new membership database for me. It includes everything on the membership form, ie members details plus surname interests, services they can provide, and other interests. It has taken him hours and hours, but I think everyone is pleased with it! He has had quite a bit of correspondance from Committee members about it, and he has really learned a lot about working with users!!

I had 3 new members this morning so I entered them in the new database. (I still have to use my excel db as well atm, cos the new access db is not live yet. One bug we found was that he had set the postcode field to letter, letter, number, number (AB12), and I had a Birmingham postcode which is just B! So it wouldn't accept it!

Nicholas has gone off to college now for maths, and when he comes home we have to go to halfords to take back his bike lights that don't work. Then we'll get down to sorting out the bug!

I really want to be playing with my new stamps! I bought some cowboy stamps last week, and haven't got them out of the packet yet! They are for a Wild West CJ. I have some more coming from America (Las Vegas!!!), but not sure how long they will take.

I also got some stamps from eBay today, an ornate letter set, and another Snoopy! Just looked on the Stampabilities website, and there are loads! I want to make a few cards, becasue Lucy at work is hosting a jewellery party laterin the Spring, and has asked me if I wnat to take some cards to sell - YES PLEASE! I like the idea of selling a few cards to pay for new stash!!

According to John Ross's website http://www.shorehamweather.info/, the largest gust of wind was 47mph, at about 9.30am, it's now about 20mph.

A great weekend

We went for a super walk up to chanctonbury ring on Sunday morning. The weather was fab, sunny, a bit cool in the wind, but bright. Makes a change from the wet, windy, gloomy weather that has dominated recently. Merlin absolutely loved it up there, and just ran everywhere! He even had energy left to madly chase another dog at the top! It really makes the walk so much more fun when Merlin is so exhuberant!

Here's what I did at my Brighton and Hove crop on Saturday. It took me nearly the whole 6 hours to complete this!!! I am quite pleased with it, and am more and more recognising my own style, even though I scraplifted this froma Becky Higgins sketch. We did a bring and buy sale this month, and everyone bought loads to sell, but I don't think anyone was in a buying mood, cos noone sold much! I bought a Notch and Die tool (cos I love the tool and it's packaging, doublt I'll use it much!!!) for £5, some Anna Griffin papers (for my heritage album - must get back to that soon), some background stamps and a few other bits and pieces.

Dog tired!

I have felt very very tired today - those early mornings catch me out towards the end of the week! Here is what I would like to have done all day! SLEEP

Merlin sleeps by the back door most evenings. If you go in to the kitchen, he will lift his head, and the curtain falls across his head like a hot and he is oblovious to it! It is so funny!

gloomy january day

It is so gloomy again today. We have had a lot of rain lately, and it's been quite windy too. It's cold, dreary and miserable, but what can we expect in january?

But, today I have acheived a lot. I have cleaned WFC for 3 hours, walked the dog for 1 hour (down the beach), and then taken all our rubbish from the lounge to the tip and charity shop. Yoohoo! It always feels good to get rid of rubbish/clutter, especially when it is going to be recycled. Then I cleaned the conservatory floor (where all the rubbish was!), had lunch, showered, and now am having a well-earned chill out reading other people's blogs on here!

Blogs are easier to read if they have short entries, so I apologise to anyone looking at mine lately!

craft and settees day

I haven't done much scrapping lately. But here's my latest effort for the Christmas traditions CJ. I'm pleased with how it's turned out - love the BG Fruitcake papers!











I've had these pics of Nicholas and Merlin to scrap for ages! Finally managed a DLO for his album. It's based on a sketch in Creating Keepsakes sketch book. I do like using sketches - I tend to choose photos and then find a sketch that more or less matches the size, shape and number of photos. I cropped these to make square shapes and to fit along the bottom. The original sketch didn't have the second little one at the top on RHS, but we (DS and I) thought it needed something - frightened of white space!!!










Most excitingly, our new settees arrived today. The men were well on time, and they even moved the big old sofa out into the hall so they could put all the new ones in the lounge. Very helpful, and definately not 'jobsworth' type people! I love the new settees - they are smaller, and fit perfectly, especially the lighter one in the bay window. They are quite firm to sit on, but very comfortable. All we need now is new curtains, CD/DVD storage, and pictures back up on the wall. We may need to reframe some, as they are original paintings, and it would be a shame not to put them up. I'm thinking of red cushions and a throw (as an accent colour CORR that sounds posh). DS,DD and I don't like the stereo unit (behind the chair), and are wondering if we can persuade DH to get rid of it (unlikely!) He spent a lot of money on the hi-fi, and a proper unit before DS was born, because we were going to be in lots more and thought we would listen to music lots - but we don't!! Well, not in the lounge anyway. I listen to the radio in the kitchen, and the dining room, and CDs and radio in the bedroom, and of course use my MP3 player at work and dog walking.

New Year - New Me!

The end of the year is a great time for taking stock, looking back at what I have achieved this year, and lookig forward to a new 'beginnning'.

I think 2006 has been a good year.

Family
DH and I are better friends than ever becasue of the dog walking! We definately are on our own now, the kids just don't want to come. In fact, Lucy doesn't really have much to do with Merlin. Nicholas is much more likely to play with him, and has really grasped how good a companion the dog is. But N is at home a lot more than L. I have a really nice relationship with N. We are often together in our 'computer' room! (Ususally me asking him how to do something!) He has really grown up and is likely to join in adult conversations, and does come on dog walks too occasionally. L is very very teenage, and I think 2007 is not going to be any better than 2006, in fact, it will probably be worse. Yesterday she refused to eat with us, and was in a foul mood last night, literally just grunting at us. I felt rejected! Today has been much better, I made a real effort to include her and her friend at meal times, and they ate more sensibly.
My mum and dad have had a terrible year becasue of dad's health. He has really been ill all year, and now is in remission again. He is on a small dose of thalidomide to ward off the myeloma, but I don't think he is reacting very well to it. I really hope they have a better year. It really is awful watching your parents health deteriorate.
BIL has sold his house, which is really good news! He is in B&B at present, so we just hope that 2007 brings him good luck with finding the perfect place, that suits him, and that DH and their mum agree with (a hard task!)

Holidays
Highlights of the year, our trip all on our own and on the motorbike, to Sherborne. We did a bit of family history too, which I think DH found just as interesting as I did. The main one though was New York. I so loved it, and for one who does not look forward to holidays, I was really pleased with myself. The flights were not really that bad. New York was fab, all thos iconic stree signs, and iceskating in Central Park, and going up the ESB!
Don't know what we are going to do this year though. Maybe a couple of long weekend city breaks?

Work
Work for me is mostly voluntary.
Family Centre. I still love it, I feel well settled there now, and know what to do. I took on the cleaning in October, and my aim this month is to get settled in my new routine.
AIFHS I feel I have done a lot to streamline the membership admin, and am very excited that Nicholas has written a new database for me. It should be going live quite soon, so fingers crossed! I really don't feel like taking on anything else on the committee, it has been moted several times about me becming chairman, but I really don't want that.
DHS Govenors. I have blown a bit hot and cold this year, mostly cold I'm afraid to say! I did have a wonderful day ion school at the end of last term, and I do enjoy the Govenor's panels for exclusions, but I'm not sure I really feel part of the team. I think I'll just keep my head down, and not volunteer for anything else new.

Hobbies
Scrapbooking. I really got into stmaping this year. It started with doing Shimelle's art in the mail course. I am self taught, and not so very confident in my abilities, especially when I joined the UKStampers 1st CJ! All the others are soo much better than me! My first love is scrapbooking, and I did have to say to myslef this year that I should reduce the no of CJ's and swaps that I get involved in. I've hardly done any swaps- one that does spring to mind is the calendar tag swap! It was such a mess, that we ended up doing it twice! I have tried to use them in my 'garden' album, but I'm not pleased with how it's turned out. My 2006 album is coming on well, I started a heritage album, a book of me and an album for Nicholas's 18th birthday. My goal is to finish all these before starting anything new. I tried to do Shimelles' christmas journal again, but feel at the 2nd post! I just had to decide to give it up. I will try to consolidate all my techniques and projects in 2007, and have just ordered some new storage! I will not take on anything new. (at least for the time being!!!)

Reading. I'm really pleased that I have read quite a few books that I wouldn't normally read because of book forums. I will continue to read avidly, and to try new genres and authors throughout 2007.

Family History. I feel that my own family history ahs taken a bit of a back seat since I joined the AIFHS committee. I really want to get going with it this year! So I have subscribed to findmypast.com for 12 months so i can really get going on the Fumagalli trail. WE did go down to Sherbourne, adn in just half a day found out quite a lot of interesting stuff on the vanstones. I should try to get to Birmingham (with M&D if they are well enough) to research the Fumagallis better. I'm not sure whether I will try to go back into Italy this year. I think I'll stick with going forward from Giovanni, and see how I get on.

Gardening. Not so much time for gardening these days. And I have to say, not so much enthusiasm for it either! I will complete my garden album, and that has given me a bit of inspiration, and I will continue to visit garden centres with M&D!!!! And hopefully lots of nice gardens. M and I hare now members of the National Trust, so we really should get to as many as poss this summer.

I am running out of time now! Other things I want to do: Drive less miles in the car. Means using my bike more, and car less. Be generally more organised so that I feel like I'm getting more done! Cook more.

That will do for now!

Christmas 2006

Here are some of the better pictures I've taken this Christmas! Always take 00's, most of them rubbish!

Anyway, this Christmas was supposed to be quiet, so Mum could spend some time 'sitting down'! What I really mean is some time when I don't have to talk to anyone, or get up again quite soon. In other words, I could go to sleep if I want, and I REALLY REALLY want to this Christmas!!! (I think it's all those early mornings!)

So Christmas eve started off stressful with having MIL over, who always puts us on edge! And I had a mammoth task to clear the dining room and cook roast lamb for dinner before she came. It went off OK really, and she did go home quite early, so we had a nice evening in front of the telly.

On Christmas day we got up at 8ish, haivng been woken by Nicholas! For the first time we hadn't put their stockings downstairs before we went to bed, so we sorted that, then all went down and opened pressies. Some lovely pressies this year. I am really pleased with Billy Piper book, Sense and Sensibilty DVD, salt and pepper mills, chocs etc. I was really pleased with the pic frame I got M and the book about Rossi.

M cooked us a brill breakfast, then N went to church, while me, M and L walked the dog along the beach. When we got back I realised I hadn't made a card for N's birthday (18 on 27th), so I managed to sneakily do that while everyone went on computers and looked at their pressies.

We had a quick lunch of pate on taost, I put the turkey in, and then we went to Mum and Dad's for the afternoon. Lots more pressies! We took Merlin, who refused to settle, but is quite funny to watch! When we got home we finished cooking the tea, and sat in the dining room which was lovely. Why would I want to go anywhere else?

After tea (we couldn't eat any pudding!) we watched Dr Who, which was great, and then Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special, Vicar of Dibley (very funny), and then I went to bed! A sort of quiet Christmas, but I still haven't 'sat down'. Maybe I'll go and do it right now!

Boxing Day swim

Here we are arriving at the beach. That's my Mum and Dad, DD Lucy in the white coat, me in the red coat and silly hat, and DS Nicholas in the even more silly hat. Goodness it was cold!














We had to line up behind a tape, and count down until 11am. Then we RAN as fast as we could into the sea. The tide was quite a long way out, so it was along run, so I dropped DD's hand pretty quickly! The water was really bone chillingly cold, but I kept on going! We were supposed to get our shoulders wet, so I really wanted to get out far enough just to bob down, but our beach is extrememly flat, and it's a very long way to get to deeper water when the tide is out. We ran back to the beach, although I didn't feel too bad then. Just lucky it wasn't too windy! We went back to Andrew's house for hot drinks, whiskey, brandy etc, and to exchange presents.

Highdown on a frosty morning

I went for a gorgeopus walk this morning up to Highdown. Yesterday I went earlier and it was foggy, sunny and frosty, but I forgot my camera!!! So here are some photos from this morning, just frosty and sunny, but with rolling fog in the river valley.

The lounge

Well, we've nearly finished, yipeee!! The fireplace came on Friday, and looks stunning, and we spent the weekend finishing off the wallpaper and painting. Yesterday, the carpet was fitted. It is a gorgeous quality carpet, really springy when you walk on it, and it has a little fleck in it, so hoping dog hairs won't show up too much iykwim!!!

It's been a bit of a struggle, decorating at this time of year. I thought it was a good idea, cos it gets it done for Christmas, which we have, except for the sofas, and curtains. But, we have taken a very long time over it (about 6 weeks!!), just doing bits at weekends. We haven't been stressed with the actual decorating (except for maybe the wallpaper hanging), but I have found it stressful to have a room empty for so long. The 2 setteees have been in the dining room for 2 weeks, which is NOT big enough!!! So we've been clambouring over them to get to the table which is where my scrapping stuff is! No, what has been the worst thing is that I haven't been able to enjoy the run-up to Christmas so much. Last year I really enjoyed my Christmas Journal, and I so wanted to do it again and better this year, but have only done days 1 &2. I think I might have to save it for next year now! (I've saved all the prompts) I also haven't really been able to savour making the Christmas cards, or the book for Nicholas. I have just fitted them around everything else. I also haven't made a Christmas pudding this year, decided to cut my losses and buy one (that's if there's any left!!)

We bought wall-lights yesterday, and a ceiling light, but the ceiling light won't be here until Wednesday. We saw a lamp as well in the shop, so might meet Mum and dad in town on Wed to see if they will buy it for us for Christmas. It's one of those lights where you touch the base and it comes on, and when you touch it again, it comes on brighter!

walking the dog.

I took Merlind down the beach this morning. I got very wet and cold, especially as he wouldn't come when called. He eats seaweed on the beach (and we often get to see it again later ifykwim!!) and wouldn't come, then wouldn't have his lead on. He wants to play instead!!! I was standing in the freezing cold wind, getting wetter and wetter! The wind was blowing the rain so hard it hurt on my face . I so hated that walk back from the beach this morning, and I had to wait for loads of traffic before we could cross Mill Road.

So as soon as I got home I had a really hot shower, and now I have a cup of coffee in front of the computer and feel 100x better!

I've caught up on ukscrappers forum. Christmas Traditions CJ has been sent early, so I'm on target with that. UKStampers 1st CJ is supposed to be posted today, but I haven't even received it yet. Guess I ought to chase that up.

AIFHS - only 1 new member to do today. Will do that in a min,

I wanted to make loads of Christmas cards this year. But I've only made about 5! I'm going to sit down this afternoon and see how many I can make, and then anyone left will have to have a bought one. I did choose some quite nice ones this year, I usually just buy the cheapest!!

Decorating is coming along well. We spent all day yesterday wallpapering, and have finished as far as we can until the fireplace is in. Loads to do next weekend, but I think we'll do it. Carpet is coming on Monday, so we should be fairly straight by Monday evening.