Volleyball Nutter

Where's the Year Gone?!!!!!!!

2008-10-28T15:33:00.002Z

OMG! Where has the year gone? I can't believe that it will be November at the end of the week! How did that happen?!!!! Life has been hectic, with a sad bit in the middle, but have picked myself up and am generally on good form. Squirt gets bigger and is such fun! He is jumping, loves to point up at areoplanes in the sky, loves reading his books, especially ones with animals in! He also loves to do a lion impression of raising his arms and roaring!!!!!!!

We went to Centerparcs with M&D in September and had a fabulous time, whilst there, M&I went to the spa for a massage and facial (which was divine!) and D&D looked after squirt. Below is what we found on M's camera when we got back!! How cute huh?!!!

D, S & I have not long got back from Canada. Visited the rellies for 10 days and had a great time. Squirt loved the dogs and being able to run around outside. We also visited a wildlife park and he was feeding the deer, which he thought was fab!

Well, best get a move on, we're all alive and OK (well, squirt has a cold) and looking forward to Christmas, though am not sure when I'll have the time to make my cards!!!!! oops!! Have a great one!

OMG - Squirt is 1!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-06-27T11:39:00.002+01:00

Please forgive the lack of blogging, but as many of you know, things have been a little up and down since March 8-( Needless to say, I am now back at work full-time, which is a big 8-( Although, I've yet to complete a full week, what with being ill myself and then squirt being ill and being excluded from nursery for 48 hours!

Well, on the 20th June, squirt turned 1! OMG! Where has the past year disappeared too?!!! I can't believe how well he is doing, he's been toddling on his own for 3 weeks now - can you believe that he waited until I was on the phone to my new line manager to start walking alone?!!!! I guess, you could call it quite the attention graber!!

We had a lovely day on the 21st, with his Grandma & Grandpa, Grandma & Grandad and both of his Aunts and Uncles along with his cousin, come up to celebrate his 1st birthday. He received lots of fab pressies (I'm still aiming to get the thank you cards done before Christmas!) and was on good form. Thought that I would share a piccie of the wee man, we think he's gorgeous - though goodness knows where he got that from!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!

Hope you are all well and hopefully, I'll blog again before the clocks go back!!!

Have you been BUZZted?

2008-03-12T17:06:00.003Z

There's a new blog to BUZZ your way over to, if you want to see some yummy scrapbooking goodies.........

....see you there!!!!!! And Good Luck to the ScrapDreamie Gals 8-)

Squirt is Living Up To His Name!

2008-03-06T09:03:00.003Z

The last week has passed in a bit of a blur if I'm honest! Last Friday squirt came down with a cold, that meant he was coughing and couldn't breathe through his nose. Needless to say, he woke up A LOT on Friday and Saturday night 8-(

Friday night we called round to see a friend whose twins were 1 on Saturday! Can't believe that they are already a year old, means that squirt will be 1 in just a few months! Where has the time gone?!!! One of the twins and their eldest had picked up a bug and squirt picked it up to! So on Mothering Sunday, I was allowed a lovely lie-in until almost 9am and a great day, until mid-afternoon, when the vomiting started. I have to say that it may be a while before I give him fish again, because the smell of it regurgitated after being in the tummy for a few hours was retch inducing - and that was just me!!!!!!!!!

Whilst the vomiting has now stopped, the bum is still exploding out of his nappies 8-( We've had to hose him down in the bath quite frequently, including this morning at 5am! Even his grobag and bedding had to be thrown in the washing machine! Yuck! I hope it becomes a little more solid soon, otherwise his Daddy and Grandma and Grandad won't enjoy nappy changing this weekend whilst I am away at a Scrapaholix retreat - whoo-hoo!!!!!!!!!

I shall sign off now, but leave you with a photo of squirt taken in the bath recently - such a gorgeous chappie - but I am a tad biased!!!!!!!! LOL!

First of the Summer Wine, or, Baby Indiana Jones?

2008-02-18T21:31:00.005Z

Just needed to post some photos that would make me smile, as I received some news that I'd hoped wouldn't come yet. RIP NEM. My dh reckoned that in the top photo squirt lloked like Cleggy from Last of the Summer Wine, so maybe I should do a layout titled First of the Summer Wine! Then wearing his Grandpas cowboy hat, he looks a star!

Happy New Year!!!!......Oops it's February!!!!!!!

2008-02-01T09:52:00.000Z

Well, I've been a truly awful blogger and not updated for sooooooo long, it is embarrassing!!!! LOL! We had a nice holiday at Centreparcs in November, though think Squirt was a little too young to do much. Have to say that the Spa is well worth a visit! Oooooh, such fabulous massages!!!!!!!!

Then DH had to go away on business to San Francisco in December and Squirt was looking like he'd roll over whilst he was gone. But would you believe that Squirt waited until his Daddy had been home for an hour and then did it!!!!

On the 12th December Squirt cut his 1st tooth and a week later cut his 2nd!! He had a fantastic Christmas, got spolit rotten, but had his Christmas dinner and enjoyed it!!! Have attached 2 piccies taken of him, one on Christmas Eve with his 2 Grandmas and one on Christmas Day having his dinner!

January saw DH off to Germany for 2 weeks, though luckily, he came home for the weekend! Squirt was weighed a few days ago (32 weeks old) and was 23lb 2oz!!!! That's 10.5kg! So, he is sitting nicely on the 98th centile!! We're keeping busy with swimming lessons, Tumble Tots, Tiny Talk and Baby Yoga and still meeting occasionally with the NCT girls. Squirt is now 7 months old and I'm not sure quite where all the time has gone!

Talking of Squirt, I'm sure he's tuned in to listen for the tapping on the keyboard, as everytime I get on here and start to click and tap, he starts to stir!!!! Hope you and yours are all well & catch you again soon - hopefully before Easter!!!!!! LOL!

I've Been Tagged......

2007-11-14T10:49:00.000Z

.....by Ann, where I have to share 7 facts about me - some random and some weird! So, here goes!!!!

1. SPIDERS - I'm not only terrified of them in real life, BUT, I cannot watch programmes of them, OR look at pictures of them in magazines. In fact, hubby has to fold over or tear out pages with them on! When at uni (and he wasn't around), I was reading a magazine and there was a HUGE tarantula on 1 page, I screamed, flung the mag away from me and had to get a fellow housemate to tear the page out, and dispose of it in her bin!!! What a wuss huh?!!!!

2. COCONUT - The smell of this can make me physically SICK! I've never liked it and one of my ideas of torture is a thai restaurant!!!!!!! 8-)

3. COTTON/FABRIC - I HAVE to run cotton (or fabric, but cotton is the best!) items through either my fingers OR my toes!!!!!!! When I lay in bed, I have part of the pillowcase entwined in my fingers and some of the duvet between each of my toes!!!!!! If I'm in a store, I'll go by the racks of clothes & run the sleeves/legs of the items through my fingers!!! Bizarre huh?!!! 8-)

4. CLOTHES TAGS - I CAN'T STAND seeing a tag poking up from someones clothes & have approached strangers in the street with "I'm sorry, but I have to do this......your tag is out", before putting it back!!!!! If I have one that continues to offend, it gets CUT OUT!!!!!

5. TOILET FACILITIES - I ALWAYS check out the toilet facilities wherever I go!!!!! My Mum says I'm nosey, I'd like to say inquisitive!!!!!!! 8-)

That's enough weird ones, now a couple of random ones!

6. TATTOO - I have one of a blue bug on my left shoulder.

7. PENFRIEND - I have had a penfriend for almost 22 years now and we had our first borns exactly 9 weeks apart!

Playtime!

2007-09-23T13:11:00.001+01:00

After trying on his new hats, Morgan decided that he needed some playtime and in particular, some tummy time. So, onto his mat he went with his toy, Dino. DH took some piccies and thought that we'd share a couple with you. Enjoy! xoxoxoxoxo

Daddy Buys Morgan Some Winter Hats!

2007-09-23T12:36:00.000+01:00

So, as summer seems to have been and gone - well I believe that it did come, albeit for a very short time! It was time to go and get Morgan a winter hat to keep his wonky bonce warm and protect those ears from the wind. Knowing that Mummy would probably buy something silly, I passed on the responsibility to Daddy and he bought two!
The first was this deerstalker hat, which makes me think of the film Fargo! Though do think Morgan looks quite cute in it!!!

The other wouldn't go amiss on the ski slopes! But we thought he looked fabulous in it! As I said in a previous post - he'll be photographed doing or wearing many silly things! Oops, sorry son!!!!

Starting as he means to go on?.......I hope not!!!!!

2007-09-20T09:46:00.000+01:00

Poor Morgan, with parents like us, he's going to be photographed looking silly quite a number of times! Especially when he can't run away yet!!!!! So here he is in his chair, with the remote and a bottle of beer!!!!!!!!
I didn't buy his bodysuit, honest! It was my MIL!!!!!! And he does have one that says Daddy too, but he possetted on it as soon as I put it on him that morning!!!!!

Well, it's almost time to be heading off to baby yoga, so au revoir and lets hope that I manage to blog a little more regularly in the future! Well, lets be honest, I can't get too much worse!!!!! LOL!!! Have a great day!

Mummys Little Soldier and His Funky Pants!!!!!

2007-09-19T21:26:00.000+01:00

Just thought that I'd share a couple of piccies of Squirt, who at 13 weeks today is getting bigger! He was weighed last week and was 16lbs 1oz! Which means that as he crossed the 91st centile, we had to go and see the GP to discuss his gaining weight (was born on the 25th). The upshot is that we're now stretching his feeds out to every 4 hours instead of every 3 between 7am and 7pm. However, I don't think that she believed me when I said that I hadn't started weaning! Grrrrr!!!!

Anyway, here's 2 piccies of our wee man. The first is wearing a top that I just had to buy as my Mum always refered to my brother as Mummys Little Tin Soldier!!!!!! Which seeing as he's over 6 foot tall, just makes me chuckle!!!!!!

The second photo is of Morgan wearing his Dalmatian Dots Minky pocket nappy from Blueberry Diapers. Doesn't he look scrummy?!!!!!!!!!

11 Weeks Old Today!

2007-09-05T12:04:00.001+01:00

I can't believe that it's been so long since I've updated the blog and that Morgan is 11 weeks old today! LOL! 8-) Morgan is gaining weight for England still, so has the hamster look about him!!!
This was taken when he was about a month old, just before his bath.
Another before his bath photo, though I won't tell you what he did the other end shortly after this was taken!!!!! 8-)
Morgan takes after his Dad in the stretching department & I love to see him arch is back and stick his bum out!!!
This is Morgan and I taken at the beginning of August. As you'll notice, Morgan wasn't a happy chappy at the time!
This was taken when Morgan was nearly 10 weeks old. He was weighed at 9 weeks and was 13lbs 14ozs! ;o So, he'd almost doubled his birthweight!
Then this is our family of three!

Morgan is getting quite the social life! He's completed a course of baby massage classes, he attends baby yoga classes, starts baby swimming next week and meets up with both the NCT babies as well as the twins of my friend!! He has now met all of his great-grandparents, grandparents and aunts and uncles & his cousin. Only extended family left!

Well, it's nearly time for his next feed, so best finish off and get myself sorted! Hope everyone is well, love to all. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Morgan Owyn Thomas Has Arrived!!!!!!!!!

2007-07-03T16:18:00.000+01:00

On Wednesday 20th June at 16:50, Morgan Owyn Thomas was born weighing 7lbs 3ozs.

This first photo was taken when Morgan was just a couple of hours old. The hat is hiding his bruise from the ventouse delivery, but he did manage to scratch his face with a fingernail about a minute after his birth!!!!!! 8-)

The second photo is of Morgan leaving the hospital to go home, when he was 2 days old.

The third is a typical shot of Morgan - asleep after some food!!!!!! 8-)

This last one is of Morgan when he was 3 days old and yes, he does have jaundice! In fact when he was 5 days old, we had to take him to A&E for a serum bilirubin test. Luckily, his levels were below those that require phototherapy. His jaundice today (13 days old) is almost gone and he is settling in well. We have registered his birth - which was odd to see his name in print on official documents!!!! 8-) Best dash, he is stirring and will want a feed shortly - the baby with the enormous tummy!!! LOL!!! 8-)

Exposed Belly Warning - do not scroll down if easily offended!

2007-06-18T12:18:00.000+01:00

Now with us re-doing our bedroom, we do not have any mirrors to check out how big my belly has been getting. So I asked dh if he could take a couple of 'exposed' belly shots, so I could see for myself! Well, these were taken at 38 weeks & OMG, I apologise if anyone is shocked, but I was not expecting to look quite like this! Didn't realise I was so big! LOL! 8-)

Have not been at work for 2 weeks now, and already the texts have started 8-( Do people really believe that we wouldn't let them know when we had news? DH is threatening that everytime someone asks, he is going to delay telling them by a day! I know that people are excited & mean well, but believe me when I say, when it does happen, we will let you all know!!!!!!! 8-)

Apart from some puffy feet and not sleeping particularly well and the pelvic pains as Busby moves down further into the engaged position, I'm absolutely fine. I get a little peeved that people think I'm ill, I'm pregnant, not sick! Sorry for the rant, must be the hormones!!! ;-) Just wish that the nesting instinct would kick in, hey-ho, still time I guess! 5 days until my due date, so anytime in the next 19 days I guess we'll be expecting Busby to make an appearance 8-)

Where's the bump?........There it is!!!!!

2007-06-05T18:50:00.000+01:00

People are always commenting that from the back, I don't look pregnant, so when I turn around it can be a bit of a shock! So, hubby took these 3 photos in the garden on Sunday, when I was 37+1

From this time last week, the belly has increased another half an inch, so it does still continue to grow!!!

Then this is the head on photo. When I was walking in town yesterday, the number of people who were staring at me! Anyone would think I had a second head! I have to say though that this hot weather isn't doing my ankles and feet any good! The only shoes I can get on are my crocs!

I've just seen the weather report for this weekend and it looks like its going to be very warm again! Oh well, I can just be barefoot and pregnant! LOL!!

And The Bump Keeps Growing!!!!!

2007-05-20T17:45:00.001+01:00

So here I am today at 35+1, with the ever expanding bump! If you scroll down a little way, you'll see me at 28+3 wearing the exact same clothes, so can make a comparison!

I have just 2 more weeks at work, and both of them are 4 days, so into single work day figures now! 8-) It will be odd to not go to work, but seeing as I seem to have fallen off of some peoples e-mail lists, I've obviously already left to some people!!!

Not much else apart from growing and getting the room finished for Busby has been going on. Our room is getting there, but we need to decide on which wardrobe doors we want, as the white that we wanted, is more like cream!!! Then the floor can be laid and the blinds put up etc. So we're getting there!

Hope you are all well 8-)

Building Work - Almost Finished!

2007-05-20T17:35:00.000+01:00

The room is almost finished now - whoo-hoo!!!!!!!!! 8-)

Just the beading around the floor, the curtains to go up, the desk from the loft brought down, the wardrobe to arrive and be assembled and then all the bedding and clothes to be washed and put away! So, just 1 or 2 tasks left! But at least they aren't 'major' ones!

Thank you to all who have contributed to getting the room to the inhabitable state that it is in! Much appreciated 8-)

Building Progress - Part III

2007-04-27T11:40:00.000+01:00

This is where my STep-dad has plastered the plasterboard.....

And this is where he's plastered the rendered wall - looks great - thank you! 8-)

This is still a work in progress and if I say that we've not only been doing this to the nursery, but to our bedroom too! DH and I are currently sleeping in the guest room, which we thankfully did about 5 years ago! However, with little storage space, that room is filled to capacity and there are extra boxes in the living room. Add to that the dustsheets in the hallway downstairs, up the stairs and the upstairs hallway and the 2 sheets of plasterboard that were extra sat in the hallway downstairs, and you could say it looks a little like chaos!!!! LOL!

But we're getting there, or should I say, DH, my Step-dad and my FIL are getting there on Busby's behalf!!!!!! Many, many thanks!

Building Progress - Part II

2007-04-27T11:34:00.000+01:00

This is the extra soundproofing that we've added!

Then the plasterboard, which apparently is also one with some soundproofing qualities! Did I mention we've added some soundproofing?!!!!!

This is the rendering/floating of the brick wall, courtesy of my Step-dad - thank you! 8-)

The Building Work Progress...........

2007-04-27T11:20:00.000+01:00

So this is the first of the photos with the plaster having been knocked off the walls in the little room (aka the nursery).

This is where Dave has added some insulation, to help with soundproofing!

And this is adding the wooden frame for more soundproofing insulation to go in!

And it's getting bigger!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-04-27T11:09:00.000+01:00

This is me at 28+3, so about 3 and a half weeks ago - I know, I'm a very bad blogger at the moment! 8-) As you can see, I've expanded a lot since the previous photo and for those that made the comments, I've left my head on this time!!!

I'm 31+6 today and off to the Doodlin' Daisies Weekend Crop. Looking forward to going, as this is my last weekend retreat prior to Busby arriving and I get to see another fellow jellie - Debs!

House is still in chaos, but will post some piccies shortly of what work has already been completed - still a lot to do!

Best news is that my penfriend had her baby daughter - Cora last week - wish I could just pop over to North Carolina for a quick cuddle!!!!! Congratulations G&D!! 8-)

Mothering Sunday.......

2007-03-20T12:00:00.000Z

DH and I travelled down to Kent on Saturday to visit my Mum for the weekend. On Mothering Sunday we went to The Lion pub in Farningham (I think!), and met with my brother and sister-in-law for lunch. We all ate lunch here last year, as well as taking a photo of Mum, my brother & I, so the photo just had to be taken again!!!!! The 2007 version is below!

It was fab to catch up with everyone again and in 14 weeks time I could have my own little one to run me ragged!!!!!!!!!

Same old, same old...........

2007-03-12T12:36:00.000Z

Not too much has been going on recently, hence the lack of posting! 8-) I've attended a couple of crops, run numerous errands, made oodles of cards, put plenty of loads of washing on & dried them, went to work and am still getting bigger!!!!!!!!

Last week I had a bit of a growth spurt and my belly increased from 41 inches to 43 inches!!!!!! With just under 15 weeks to go, think I'm going to end up looking like a beached whale in June - just fingers crossed it won't be bloody hot!!! LOL!!!

DH has moved all the stuff out of the little bedroom and has started ripping the skirting boards off too (thank you hun - he reads my blog you see!). I managed to go through 2 boxes of stuff yesterday - my god, the junk, please tell me why I kept it?!!!!!!! Still have numerous boxes to go through - all piled high in the living room - the theory being, if I'm in the room with the tv on, I can still sort through it!!!!! Canny huh?!!!

Apart from that, I had another visit to the midwife last week and at 24 + 3 weeks, bump was measuring 26 weeks, so slightly bigger, but still within normal parameters and bp was good too. My friend had her twins on March 1st - a girl and a boy, who I got to meet last Friday - both are gorgeous, so got some practice cuddles in!!!!

Definitely think that's all! Au revoir!

Bump progressing nicely!!!!!!

2007-02-23T19:35:00.000Z

Today I am 22 weeks + 6 days and I was asked for a photo of my bump by the jellies, so dh very kindly took a couple. I've cropped my head off, as make-up free after a week at work, I look rough!!!! LOL!!!! So, below you can see Busby bump in all its glory!!!! 8-)

Whoo-hoo.....it's Pancake Day!!!!!

2007-02-20T08:08:00.000Z

I know, how sad that I get excited about eating pancakes! LOL! But I have to say that they are one of my favourites & I never know what to have on them! Do I opt for the 'normal' lemon and sugar, or go for some good Canadian maple syrup, or maybe add some fruit and a HUGE dollop of cream?!!! Ooooooh, I'm going to be salivating all day, just trying to decide!!!

Tonight dh and I are meeting a friend at the local Arts Theatre to see Notes on a Scandal, but the best bit, is that they sell pancakes there! Both sweet and savoury, so it may take me some time to determine which I'm going to have!!!!

Ann from Scrapmates had a little boy on Feb 9th, called Jamie Austin. He looks such a cutie from the piccies and can't wait to have a cuddle in real life!

DH is pleased that his efforts to make that piccie easier to distinguish, has gone down so well! I'm doing fine, just the usual aches and pains & knowing that I have to go through the junk in the back room! You see, I'm a sentimental hoarder and if I have to go through it, I have to sit there and look at every photo, read every scrap of paper and then feel guilty if I have to throw anything out! I NEED to improve! We still have a loft of stuff that has not seen the light of day for 6 years, so I keep telling dh to just dump it - if I can't remember what is up there, it's obviously not important, but PLEASE don't make me go through it!!!!!

Right, will *****wave***** goodbye - have a great day 8-)

For those that need a little help.......

2007-02-08T16:34:00.000Z

DH has tried to make piccie 3 a little clearer to see what you're looking at!

Scan Photos.......

2007-02-07T19:51:00.000Z

Hopefully these will come out, but in true blogger style, it'll probably be a mess, that I'll have to try and fix tomorrow!

The 4 photos are two of Busby lying on its back (one with its neck stretched), one of its facial bones staring straight at you and one of its foot 8-)

Enjoy!!!!!

Quick Update

2007-02-07T13:44:00.000Z

I'm at work and without a scanner, so will just say that we had our 20 week scan this morning and all is well 8-) It appears that its femur is slightly below average length for its gestation, but that its head circumference is VERY much larger than average! Mmmmmmmmm, think I may need an epidural!!! LOL!!!!

We did find out the flavour, but am still trying to inform all the family that need to know, prior to the watching world!!!

Will put some scan piccies on later, but will say that the sonographer thought it was a little 'pickle' as she had to keep chasing it around to get the measurements and check everything out!!!! I think it's a hyperactive one in there!!!!!!! 8-)

Still Plodding Along.........

2007-01-31T12:40:00.000Z

Well, things are just plodding along, I had a break from UKS recently for a few reasons, mainly hormones kicking in and getting wound up by things. UKS can be very addictive and there are some aspects that seem to drive me up the wall very quickly - must admit that patience isn't always my strongest virtue!!!!!!! I try to remember that UKS is open for all to read, so try to not say too much of anything specific!!!!! Although saying that, my DH stalks me and tells me what I've said and where!!!!! LOL!

DH is enjoying reading a blog by a guy that he swears is living some of his life! Meet Grendel (aka Scrapbook Widower - http://scrapbook-widower.blogspot.com/) - sorry can't do links in safari!

Am counting down the days until my next scan, where I hope that things will still be progressing as they should 8-)

Heard the heartbeat for the first time 8-)

2007-01-18T12:24:00.000Z

I had an appointment with the midwife on Tuesday, to be told that my blood glucose was fine, that I am immune to german measles (I remember the rubella injection well, so no surprise there!), that my blood count was good and what my blood group is (as a blood donor for the last 15 years of my life, knew that already!).

Then, I had to get on the bed and using a doppler she found the heartbeat! I was worried beforehand as this is sometimes a time, that something has happened and you're now aware of it, so was very happy to hear it 8-) It was 150 beats per minute and is quite the wriggler! Even the midwife was surprised at how active it was! In that respect, I'm almost pleased that I can't feel any movement yet! I think that I'll know when I do!!!

So, just 20 more days until my 20 week scan and seeing whether we'll be able to see what we're having. In the meantime, I'm still waiting for a decent bump to emerge - I still look like I ate all the pies at Christmas!!! LOL! 8-)

News finally filters out!!!!!!!!

2007-01-10T13:01:00.000Z

It took nearly a week, but I think that the news is finally out to family & friends, though it's not as widely known at work yet! Thank you to everyone for their congratulations and support, it means a great deal to me 8-)

Thought that I would attach the photo that hubby annotated from our 12 week scan! As for the pink colour he chose, I think that was more for contrast! We don't know yet what we're having, but hope to find out next month at the 20 week scan 8-)

Halfway through my first week back and I'm already shattered! Oh well, getting those early nights in whilst I still can!!!!!

Hope you and yours are well. Byeeeeeeeeee. Axx

Back to work tomorrow...............

2007-01-07T08:06:00.000Z

After 2 weeks off, we're back to work tomorrow & neither DH or I are looking forward to it 8-) It's the trying to remember quite what you were doing and getting back into the rising early etc! I spent the first week of the holiday getting up at 6am, but with having a cold etc, one morning I went back to bed at 7:30 and slept for another 2 and a half hours! Recently, it's been 8am at least before I've dragged my butt out of bed!

Thanks to Kelly, Ann and Ally for their comments and in answer to the question - 23rd June 8-)

Right, well I shall have to go - the wonderful world (not!) of food shopping beckons, along with running a few errands. Take it easy everyone!

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!

2007-01-01T08:56:00.000Z

Well, as predicted, didn't make it to midnight last night! I did happen to watch Grumpy Old New Year on BBC2 though & laughed my head off! LOL! Some of the things they were saying were just sooooooo true!

I found this on one of the blog things about birthdays and thought I'd give it a go.......

Your Birthdate: November 29

You have the mind of an artist, even if you haven't developed the talent yet.

Expressive and aware, you enjoy finding new ways to share your feelings.

You often feel like you don't fit in - especially in traditional environments.

You have big dreams. The problem is putting those dreams into action.

Your strength: Your vivid imagination

Your weakness: Fear of failure

Your power color: Coral

Your power symbol: Oval

Your power month: November

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

When I read the first line, I thought this is so right - no, I have not found my talent yet, but I'll keep searching!!!!!!!

Hope your heads aren't too sore or tummies too upset!

Last Post of 2006.........

2006-12-31T16:56:00.000Z

Well, Christmas is over and the New Year celebrations will be held tonight, though I must admit, that we don't bother with New Year! 8-) By midnight, I hope to be in bed asleep and not coughing my head off, or having to blow my nose, or even needing another drink for my sore throat, or just feeling miserable because 2 of my wisdom teeth are playing up!

Even with all of this and feeling a little more sorry for myself than I should, I still had a lovely Christmas 8-) It was great to catch up on the in laws, see our nephew again (9 weeks old, weighed 8lbs 5ozs at birth and is now 14lbs!), catch up with my brother, his wife and my Dad and then see my Mum & Step-dad. It was a busy week, but I LOVE Christmas!!!!

What I feel even better about is that I still have another week off work!!!!! This Wednesday (3rd), it will be our fourth wedding anniversary! 8-) I can't believe how the time flies past - I've attached a couple of photos from our day below - it was just the 2 of us on a resort in Fiji - magical!

And just to finish the year with a bang..........................................................

Can you tell what it is yet?!!!!!!!!!!! 8-)

Finally..........

2006-12-09T05:58:00.000Z

the layouts from the Scrapaholic retreat that I went on last month! Sorry for taking so long to get these up, just seem to be lacking oomph and drive at the moment!!! Oh and I still have 100 Christmas cards to make!! ARGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!

This is my penfriend and me during our visit in June. The title is made using chipboard letters, textured paste and paint - really loved this class by Karen 8-)

This was another Karen class, using a mask to create the patterns in the 2 corners. The title reads, The One I Love, though as some is in white, it hasn't photographed well.

This was a challenge layout - to use 2 or more American Crafts products. The photo is of my sister in law with her new name pants!!!!!

Another Karen class, this time handcutting swirls. The photo is of my Nanna from the church at my brothers wedding in October.

Finally, this was a challenge layout - use only 3 bugs in a rug products. The photo is of my brother at his wedding.

Ooh aren't I a naughty blogger!

2006-11-21T08:18:00.001Z

Life just seems to be galloping along at the mo and I'm rapidly running out of time to acieve what I'd like to by Christmas. So, deep breath in, exhale, if it doesn't get done, well, it doesn't matter! 8-)

I have just been catching up on a few blogs and have to say Rach, you are a wonderful person, never forget that & you made me blush, thank you! Tracie - hope that your sale is incredibly successful. And Ann - you've made me remember my silly sayings too!

So, what have I said in my sleep..........

1. "There's a man by my bed offering me chillis"!

2. "Did you put the bowling ball in the bag?"! - Should point out that we don't bowl on a regular basis!!!!!!!! Wacko!

3. In a very loud voice "There's a man hiding by the curtains" to which my hubby replied "Well, he knows that you can see him now"!!!!!!!!!!!

I obviously have a very imaginative brain when asleep!!!!!! I think hubby prefers me to say things, than wake him up with my ear piercing screams, just because I've had a spider nightmare!!!!!!!! LOL!!!

Well folks need to get on with work. Will get around to uploading my layouts from the last retreat, which Mum & I enjoyed immensley.

Take care all!

Met Guy & Another Retreat Looms!!!!!!!

2006-11-08T16:13:00.000Z

This past weekend my hubby and I visited his parents and also called in to see our new nephew, Guy. He weighed 8lbs 12ozs last week and has a good pair of lungs on him!!!!!! Did take some photos, but with a film camera, so will be a while before I can post a piccie, sorry!! Had a cuddle though & just loved how soft his hair was!!!!!! 8-)

This weekend, Mum & I are off to Leicester for ANOTHER Scrapbooking Retreat!!! This is a Scrapaholic one and think that there are smaller numbers this time, which means that should be able to say hello to everyone!!!!!

The only downside to being away this weekend, is that I have not slept in my own bed at the weekend since 14-15th October. Don't get me wrong, I love to go and visit friends & family, but sometimes, it's just lovely to have a weekend at home, pottering about!

Another Piece of Fabulous News..........

2006-10-31T10:27:00.000Z

I received a phonecall from my penfriend in the US yesterday to let me know that she is 12 weeks pregnant! This is such remarkable news, as they didn't think they would ever be able to have children of their own. I am so pleased for her and her husband & wish her a safe pregnancy & looking forward to hearing all the pregnancy stories etc!!! 8-)

I'm an auntie!

2006-10-31T10:25:00.000Z

See, I don't post for ages and then good news is like buses, they all come along at once!!!! LOL!
On Sunday 22nd October my sister-in-law gave birth to a little boy, Guy, who weighed in at 8lbs and 4ozs. Going to visit this weekend and I can't wait to have a cuddle!!!!!

Photos - if Mr Blogger would be so kind!!!!

2006-10-31T10:13:00.000Z

Mum & Derek in the garden at home.

The Bride and her sister.
Me and my big bruv!
The bride and groom with family.
The bride and groom with their bridesmaids.

A Fabulous Wedding!!!!!

2006-10-31T10:03:00.000Z

My brother married his fiancee Ali on Saturday 21st October. She looked a truly gorgeous bride and he looked very handsome, if I do say so myself, not that I'm biased or anything!!!!! 8-)

I thought that I would include some photos, so you can all see Mum & I in our hats, how the bride and groom looked and a few other poses too! However, Mr Blogger is being a pain in the derriere and won't let me upload any photos, so will have to try again later 8-(

5 Weird Things About You Tag.......

2006-10-17T13:22:00.000+01:00

OK, I've been tagged by the fabulous Tracie (who just happened to win the Ready Steady Scrap Challenge in the Scrapbook Inspirations Magazine - WHOO-HOO!!!!!!!!

Right, so I have to list 5 WEIRD things about me...........hmmmmm, you'll all think I'm a little off-kilter when you've read these, but hey-ho, you probably know that already!!!!!! 8-)

1. SPIDERS - I'm not only terrified of them in real life, BUT, I cannot watch programmes of them, OR look at pictures of them in magazines. In fact, hubby has to fold over or tear out pages with them on! When at uni (and he wasn't around), I was reading a magazine and there was a HUGE tarantula on 1 page, I screamed, flung the mag away from me and had to get a fellow housemate to tear the page out, and dispose of it in her bin!!! What a wuss huh?!!!!

2. COCONUT - The smell of this can make me physically SICK! I've never liked it and one of my ideas of torture is a thai restaurant!!!!!!! 8-)

3. COTTON/FABRIC - I HAVE to run cotton (or fabric, but cotton is the best!) items through either my fingers OR my toes!!!!!!! When I lay in bed, I have part of the pillowcase entwined in my fingers and some of the duvet between each of my toes!!!!!! If I'm in a store, I'll go by the racks of clothes & run the sleeves/legs of the items through my fingers!!! Bizarre huh?!!! 8-)

4. CLOTHES TAGS - I CAN'T STAND seeing a tag poking up from someones clothes & have approached strangers in the street with "I'm sorry, but I have to do this......your tag is out", before putting it back!!!!! If I have one that continues to offend, it gets CUT OUT!!!!!

5. TOILET FACILITIES - I ALWAYS check out the toilet facilities wherever I go!!!!! My Mum says I'm nosey, I'd like to say inquisitive!!!!!!! 8-)

Hope that you'll still talk to me now you know my foibles!!!!!!!8-)

Power Colour

2006-10-10T19:41:00.000+01:00

Got this from Anns blog, about finding out what Power Colour you are, so thought that I'd answer the questions and see what fell out! 8-)

And it turns out that I am BLUE!

Your Power Color Is Blue

Relationships and feelngs are the most important things to you.
You are empathetic and accepting - and good at avoiding conflict.
If someone close to you is in pain, it makes you hurt as well.
You try to heal the ones you love with your kind and open heart.

What's Your Power Color?

Actually, it's spot on! I avoid conflict, as I detest arguing/raised voices & emotionally I know that sometimes I give too much of myself, but if it helps someone else, then that's worth it.

It's Friday!!!!!!! Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

2006-10-06T12:52:00.000+01:00

I am so pleased that it's Friday today 8-) Yesterday was the first 'late' training session, so I didn't get home and into bed before 11pm. That may not sound late, but the problem is that I am still so wired, re-playing some of the points and drills that we've just done, which usually means that I don't fall asleep much before midnight 8-(

The other issue is that as my body knows I have to be up early, it wakes me up at 4am, to see if I'd like to leave my lovely warm bed - I think not!!!!!! I mean, what has happened to the weather recently? It's gone so cold at night, that I had to have a hot water bottle for me feet!!!! 8-) Hubby does complain about me trying to warm cold tootsies on him LOL!!!!! Serves him right for being a furnace of heat!!!!!

I'd love to be able to have a lie in tomorrow, but have to be on the road at 7:30am to drive to Bluewater, as I HAVE to get an outfit for my brothers wedding, which is in 2 weeks time! I've got from 9am to 2:30pm available to find an outfit + shoes + handbag + hat.............HELP!!!!!!!!! Well, if I can't find anything, then a black bin liner it is!!!!!!! 8-)

I'm not joking!!!!!!!! LOL

Whoo-hoo!!!!!!!

2006-10-02T14:35:00.000+01:00

Seems as though I have not posted for AGES!!!!!! The weekend before last was my sister in law to be's hen-do. It involved going for some pampering, before a meal out. Had a wonderful time, but have not yet had a chance to get the film developed, so watch this space!!!!!! 8-)

Had another toughish week at work, but kept trying to apply the 90/10 principle and not 'just react' to situations. Finally got my appraisal document out the way - always find it hard, but it's done and dusted now, so will look forward and try my best for the next 12 months. 8-)

This past weekend I've been on the Grade 4 Referee (theory) course for volleyball. Two days of learning rules and signals, with an exam at the end of the second day 8-( Now exams and me are not firm friends (is anyone?!!!), but I have sat in a Chemistry exam before (at uni, before you all think I was only 13!), and was looking at the front sheet, thinking, "what's my name?"!!!!!!!!! It was only because my lecturer came over and used my name, that I could fill that box in!!!!! Anyway, I digress........mmm, saying that, it's my blog, so I guess I can!!! Just fast-forward to the bit at the end, for those that want to know the reason for my whoo-hoo!!!!!

We were told that we wouldn't find out the results for 3-4 weeks, that you need 80% to pass and so I was preparing myself for some torture - you know the mind games that you play with yourself, convincing yourself that you answered something wrongly, that because you had to change the seat you were in, it'll all go wrong etc. So imagine my surprise at an e-mail sent late last night..........

Allie:

Couldn't find anything wrong with your exam, despite trying really hard.
Excellent paper - congrats.

WHOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OK, so I know it isn't much in the grand scheme of life and stuff, but it sure put a HUGE smile on my face this morning!!!!!!

Hope that this has put a smile on your face too, oh and I know some people out there that will need some {{{{HUGS}}}}}, so these were for you! 8-)

Feeling Low....

2006-09-22T10:20:00.000+01:00

It's that time of year again - yes the dreaded appraisals 8-( I had my appraisal on Wednesday, it lasted for 2 hours and to be honest, it was rather soul destroying. I was in tears for a large portion of it (which I hate, but I just get so emotional) and evoked a killer migraine that evening. I ended up with eyes like giant red golf balls and all I wanted to do was curl up and sleep. I hate confrontation, detest arguing/raised voices and being a people pleaser, feel distraught when I'm told that "when stressed, I alienate a particular group of people" 8-(

That's a strong word and seeing as they've made no mention to it previously, it's rather knocked me for 6. I know that I have to talk about it with them, but to be honest, I'm not really in the right frame of mind yet. There were a lot of positives from my appraisal, they are very pleased with the data that I've generated, I'm hardworking, take great pride in my work, have an attention to detail which they love and help out my colleagues whenever I can. There were other issues that came up and unfortunately you always seem to focus on the "you need to do this, you need to do that and you need to focus on doing this better" parts, which there were plenty of too.

I'm picking myself up, dusting myself down, giving a huge scream of "AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH", which actually always makes me feel soooooooooooooo much better, putting a smile on my face and feeling that I can contribute again and not pull people down with me.

Just want to finish by saying that I am thinking of one of my jellie team friends, whose father in laws funeral is today. Please keep their family in your thoughts and prayers today.

Tagged Again!!

2006-09-20T08:40:00.000+01:00

So, I've been tagged by sugar and spice and all things nice Debs, to answer the following:

Detail 10 things that have scared me.

Mmmmm, this is going to be hard,

1. Watching my friend Grace, collapse and die in front of the class on the school field during a lesson of PE when I was 14.

2. Seeing a strange car pull up outside the friends house I was playing at, that had my brothers' and my toys/clothes in the back.

3. Coming home from work to find Dave on the bedroom floor, clutching his head and the only word that was intelligible was 'help' (luckily, it was just an incredibly bad migraine).

4. Having to phone Daves parents to tell them that Dave was being taken to hospital in an ambulance (see above).

5. Watching Dave having to have a lumbar puncture to rule out meningitis (see #3 - it took many attempts as he wasn't behaving, and as for the language coming out of his mouth!).

6. Knowing that family, friends and loved ones will not live forever.

7. When my Mum had to go and have a lump investigated - luckily it wasn't malignant.

8. The thought that I may never be a Mum.

9. Hearing that there had been an armed robbery at the Post Office where my Mum was working, whilst picking up a pack of mints from the local newsagents on my lunch break.

10. It may seem stupid, but I am an arachnophobe. So am scared whenever I see an 8-legged creature. The worst probably was seeing the one that had fallen into my bedroom bin at home, after I had been woken up by rustling during the night & Dave told me it was probably just a cat on the bathroom roof!

Think that I'll go and tag The Mayoress of Jellytown - Rach!!!!!!

Another Breakthrough.....

2006-09-17T09:54:00.000+01:00

....in discovering more ancestors. Following on from a post by our own Mayoress of Jelly Town (aka Rach), thought that I'd say that I too have been researching my ancestors for the last 14 months. I belong to 2 sites, Genes Reunited and Ancestry and although I made great strides in the first 6 months, it has been the last 3 months that I have been reaping the benefits! 8-)

I now have contacts with various people, both in this country as well as in Australia and now have over 550 people in my family tree!!!! I have to say that the people I have contacted, are all for my Dad's side of the family! It seems as though my Mum's side are shy, or just hiding from me!!!!!!! LOL It never fails to amaze me how they changed their names from census to census! My great-grandmother was born Rosina, and naturally was called Rosie as a child and then Rose as an adult. Seems so obvious now, but was a real pain when I was trying to locate her! Then there is Henry, who was a Hulme, but for some reason on his marriage certificate he was a Hume! Took me ages to find that one! LOL But I guess one of the best was my Mum's Grandmother - Lena, except that she was actually called Madeline! Families eh, who'd have them!!!!! 8-)

Circle Journal Packed and Ready to Go!

2006-09-14T10:42:00.000+01:00

I am participating in my first ever Circle Journal (CJ) on UKScrappers, in a team called Pic 'N' Mix! My theme is "Silly Things I Said" and believe me I had quite a few stories to choose from!!!! LOL In the end I chose the tentacle story and the tyre story. I hope that they'll make my fellow team members laugh when they read them!!! I thought that I'd include some photos of my CJ:

This is the cover & I must acknowledge and say thank you again to Tracie (a fellow jellie) who has allowed me to scraplift elements of her Book of Me Cover - thanks hun! 8-)
Used We R Memory Keepers papers & alphabet - aren't they yummy?!!!!!!

This is the sign in page, where each team member has to complete a tag, you can see mine in the bottom corner. Had a HUGE problem with the printer last night - took 90 minutes to print the photo on my tag! Was about to take a sledgehammer to the printer in disgust, but thought, better not!!!! LOL

This last page is actually the "Rules" page, where you can tell the other members if they have to use something, or how you'd like them to do their pages. My only stipulations were; A) NO holographic paper & B) Ribbon and/or fibre is a must!!! Must add that this is NOT my handwriting, but a font called Pea Gretchie. Which is almost identical to how my penfriend Gretchen writes - spooky huh?!!! Hubby says he finds it difficult to read, I think he just needs better glasses!!!!!!! 8-)

Scrapbooking

2006-09-13T12:52:00.000+01:00

Todays blog prompt on UKScrappers: Are you a scrapbook evangelist? Do you want to convert your non-scrapper friends/families into scrapbookers? Do you try to find friends that scrapbook? If so, how? Do you show your pages to anyone who doesn't scrapbook?

I have been scrapbooking for a couple of years now and in that time I have converted both my Mum and mother in law! People at work know what I do and I have taken in projects, layouts and the like to show them. The guys in the security office at work know me VERY well!!!! Oops!! Online shopping is sooooooooo easy and I LOVE to receive parcels!!!!! The papers on these layouts is Rouge de Garance and I think they are fabulous! You don't need to do very much with the paper if you don't want to and you can still end up with beautiful results. Must say that I've recently had a delivery of more of this paper!!!! 8-) The photos were taken at Discovery Cove in June 2006. If you've not guessed already by reading my blog, we had a 'big' holiday over to North Carolina, with a quick sojourn to Florida in June. We went over to see a dear friend - Heather, get married to Donny. Whilst over there I was taken to The Enchanted Cottage, a scrapbooking store in Lewisville, NC, where I was made to feel so very welcome and boy was I ever like a kid in a candy store!!!!!!!! Heather is an art teacher and is also into scrapbooking - I wonder if she's visited much since I left?!!!!!!

The 90/10 Principle by Stephen Covey

2006-09-12T11:18:00.000+01:00

I was sent an e-mail by my Mum this morning that contained this principle. Having read it, I can completely identify with it & thought that I'd share it with you.

Discover the 90/10 Principle.
It will change your life (at least the way you react to situations). What is this principle?

10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by
how you react. What does this mean?

We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop
the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws
our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no
control over this 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other
90%.

How? By your reaction.

You cannot control a red light., but you can control your reaction. Don't
let people fool you; YOU can control how you react. Let's use an example.

You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup
of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just
happened. What happens next will be determined by how you react. You curse.

You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over. She breaks down
in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for
placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle
follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you
find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get
ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately
for work.

You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are
late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit. After a 15-minute
delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your
daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at
the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase.Your day has
started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You
look forward to coming home, When you arrive home, you find small wedge in
your relationship with your spouse and daughter.

Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning. Why did you have a bad day?

A) Did the coffee cause it?

B) Did your daughter cause it?

C) Did the policeman cause it?

D) Did you cause it?

The answer is " D".

You had no control over what happened with the coffee.How you reacted in
those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day. Here is what could have and
should have happened.

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say,
"It's ok honey, you just need, to be more careful next time".Grabbing a
towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you
come back down in time to look through the window and see your child
getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and
cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are
having.

Notice the difference?

Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different.Why?

Because of how you REACTED.

You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other

90% was determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle.

If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the
attack roll off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative
comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong
reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out
etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your
temper? Pound on the steering wheel? A friend of mine had the steering
wheel fall off) Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you
try and bump them?

WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin
your drive? Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.

You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will
work out. Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job. The
plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day.Why take out
your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is
going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger. Why get
stressed out? It will just make things worse.

Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the
results. You will lose nothing if you try it. The 90-10 principle is
incredible. Very few know and apply this principle. The result? Millions of
people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and
heartache.We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle. It CAN
change your life!!!

Anybody else care to join me?

That warm fuzzy feeling......

2006-09-07T08:40:00.000+01:00

....you get when you do something for someone else? Whether it is just being there and supporting, helping through a dark period or something else, you just can't beat that warm fuzzy feeling.

Talking of warm and fuzzy, no nothing rude! I am a member of the Yadkin County Humane Society, and apparently the t-shirts and sweatshirts we've had made for us are ready & I've got one! So I will be able to support them here more visably in the UK! My penfriend lives in Yadkin county and is the foster carer of Sawyer (see the previous post - I'd like a dog, for a very cute piccie!) and introduced me to the YCHS. She donates so much of her time to fostering animals, helping with fundraisers and promoting the YCHS, so Gretchen, you deserve that warm fuzzy feeling EVERY day.

This is a photo of us from 1999, when Gretchen came over (with her sister & cousin) to visit us in the UK. Whilst here, we took them down to Brighton to meet my boyfriends folks and decided we'd go to the pier. We had a great time & this photo always makes me smile.

My Guy

2006-09-06T13:33:00.000+01:00

This is the layout that I completed at the Bumper Bedford Scrapaholic weekend which won 3rd prize! I'm so thrilled to have won a prize for a LO of mine. I have serious confidence issues and can "feel the fear" when I have to use patterned papers!!!!! Most of the times that I use patterned papers have been in a kit, but I had to do this myself, and although it won't be everyones cup of tea, it's in my album & I like it!!!

The quote on the tag reads In all things of nature, there is something of the marvellous ~ Aristotle

The photo was taken at a cabin we stayed at in Blowing Rock, North Carolina in June 2006.

Still shattered.......

2006-09-05T08:10:00.000+01:00

.....from the scrapbooking weekend! Had a fabulous time away, got far more done than anticipated and even won 3rd prize for a layout that I did using Chatterbox products! So surprised! My prize was a 6x6 canvas - I've done one canvas of my friend Heather as a Christmas gift for her parents, so will look forward to using the new one soon!

Was too dark to take photos of the layouts that I completed this morning - must mean that winter is on its way again 8-(
However, will endeavour to take some after work - I'm getting hassle from my jellie babe team mates that they've not seen what Mum & I have been up to!!!!
Shall just finish up with a Happy Birthday Emily wish. She is 2 today! 8-)

Just Watching.........

2006-08-30T13:00:00.000+01:00

.....and chillin' out!!!!! This photo is from Busch Gardens in Tampa (June 2006), where due to Tropical Storm Alberto hitting Tampa the previous day, the park had very few people visiting - so for me - absolutely ideal!!!!!!!

I'm getting very excited, as tomorrow I'm off to the Bumper Bedford Scrapbooking Weekend, run by the Scrapaholic team. THREE whole days to scrapbook with my Mum and her friend. I've got lots of photos printed off, just need to finish making my badge and pack my tote!! Doing the happy dance as we speak! 8-)

Have a great weekend everyone!!!!!!!

Silly hat............

2006-08-29T12:38:00.000+01:00

.....don't you just love older brothers?!!! At Christmas in 2002, my dear brother gave me my present with this HUGE smile on his face! I had an inkling that all was not 'right' and my suspicions were confirmed when I opened the gift - this pink hat!!!!!! He told me that I had to wear it when I went on my honeymoon and wanted proof! My soon to be husband, said that he couldn't believe that his girlfriend would wear something like that, to which my Mum reminded him, that by the time I wore it, I'd be his wife!!!!!!! This photo is not from my honeymoon (I'll have to dig that one out later), but because I (thankfully) have a good sense of humour, I wore it again when I went ski-ing at Sunshine in Alberta, Canada in January 2004 & 2005! Hope that it's brought a smile to your face!

I'd like a dog.............

2006-08-28T09:31:00.000+01:00

.....having grown up with a dog in the house from the age of 7 until I left home, it's the one thing I really do miss. So, everytime I visit friends or family, you'll normally see me at some point giving the dog a cuddle & also getting my camera out for a photo!!! This was taken in June 2006, by my hubby, whilst visiting our friends in Yadkinville (I know, I know! There really is a place called Yadkinville!), North Carolina. The photo is of Sawyer who is a huge bundle of fun and energy - if I could have brought him home with me, I would have. You see my friends are foster parents for the Yadkin County Humane Society and Sawyer is a foster animal, looking for a home where he'll be showered with lots of love. Fingers crossed he'll find that home soon.

Traditions...........

2006-08-26T12:27:00.000+01:00

On UKScrappers earlier this week they asked about traditions that you remember from your childhood. The one that springs to mind for me is Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. For many years as my brother and I were growing up, my Mum would take us to Midnight Mass at our local church. This meant that we wouldn't be in bed and asleep much before 2am!!! Smart thinking Mum!

Of course the funny part being that Mum would be up early to pop the turkey in the oven and would then have to wait for the 2 of us to wake up! In fact I remember a number of years where her own excitement meant that she woke us up, telling us to grab our stockings and come and open them in her bed!!!!!!!! So when parents complain about how early they were gotten up on Christmas morning by their children, please remember my brother & I, we know exactly how you feel!!!!!!!!! 8-)

Pants and more pants and then happy dancing...........

2006-08-24T07:55:00.000+01:00

well the car has failed its MOT due to a crack in the windscreen, but they can't repair the windscreen until Friday and I can't get the car re-tested until next Wednesday! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!! More expense!!!!!!

And what is going on with the weather? It's absolutely bucketing it down here and there are reports of accidents already coming through. I hope that no one is injured. As my Mum would say, "Cars are replaceable, people aren't".

As for the good news............my folks are back from their holiday today!!! Whoo-hoo! They've been away for a few weeks and I can't wait to see them, hear their stories of what they've done as well as seeing all their photos. I've just spoken to Mum and although their flight landed an hour early, the accidents on the M25 & M23 have meant that my future sister in law can't get through to pick them up!! Hope they get home before tea!!!!!!

Vroom, Vroom...........

2006-08-23T10:45:00.000+01:00

the car has gone in for its MOT and service today and the replacement car that I have got is a 2.0, 16V, TDI Reference Sport, Seat Leon! And it goes like stink!!!!!! 8-)
Can't believe how quickly it responds - I normally drive a 1.4 Leon and I'm having to keep an eye on the spedometer for fear of doing way more than I should do and not noticing!!!!
The down side however, is the total and utter bashing my credit card will get when I have to pay my bill this evening! !!!!
The photos are courtesy of JL at work - who just loves yellow cars!!!!!!

Hee-hee...........

2006-08-22T10:52:00.000+01:00

Following on from the 'tagged' questions and what makes you smile..........this is a photo of my friends husband taken at the cabin we stayed at in Blowing Rock, NC in June 2006. Albeit being in his thirties, he looks like a little boy with his shorts hitched up like that!! Bless!!!!!! 8-)

I've just been Tagged........

2006-08-22T08:24:00.000+01:00

by the wonderful Debs! Cheers me dear! Here's my answers:

Four jobs I have had in my life
1. Care assistant in residential home for the elderly
2. Au pair
3. Chief cashier & banker at Superdrug
4. Research scientist (pharmacologist)

Four Movies I would watch over and over
1. The Princess Bride
2. Breakfast At Tiffanys
3. The Shawshank Redemption
4. Pretty Woman

Four Places I have lived
1. Gravesend/Higham, Kent
2. Nova Scotia, Canada
3. Sunderland
4. Cambridge

Four TV shows I love to watch
1. Inspector Morse
2. CSI
3. Doctor Who
4. Silent Witness

Four places I've been on vacation
1. Canada (from east to west)
2. USA (visited 21 states, most frequently is North Carolina - penfriend of 20 years lives there)
3. Fiji
4. New Zealand

Four Web sites I visit regularly
1. UKS
2. BBC news
3. Little Cottage Crafts
4. Yahoo mail

Four of my favourite foods
1. Toad in the hole
2. Green & Blacks vanilla ice cream
3. Mashed potato
4. Crispy aromatic duck!

Places I'd rather be right now
1. Off yomping - stopping at a pub for lunch (of course!!!)
2. Scrapbooking with the jellie babes
3. On holiday
4. Bed!!!!!

Four things that make me smile
1. Seeing family and friends
2. A great joke
3. Seeing a chocolate lab
4. Being on holiday!

My Favourite Photo.......

2006-08-21T12:36:00.000+01:00

at the moment, is this one from Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina, of a bear in their bear enclosure. I just feel as though I can see their soul.........

Trying to fathom it all out!!!

2006-08-21T12:15:00.001+01:00

Seeing as I'm not the most technically minded individual, it's going to take me a while to work out quite what I have to do to post pictures and do links and stuff! Good job then that now there are 3 Jellie Babes with their own blogs (Debs, Mayoress Rachel & l'il ole me!), so we can ask each other how to do things!
So I thought that I'd start by uploading a LO with one of my favourite photos of me. It was taken when I was 30, at a photoshoot at a scrapbooking retreat, by a rather scrummy photographer!!!! If you see me normally, I'm make-up free, glasses on and hair pulled up into a ponytail. It's a stark contrast, but one that I like to do - love the shock factor I do!!!!!!

I'm now a Blogger......

2006-08-21T09:20:00.000+01:00

heaven help us all!!!!!!

A fellow team mate from scrapbooking has just started her own and asked when I was going to do one. Had to say that it had never occurred to me to be the 'spied' on person, rather than just being the one who 'spies'!!!!! But if you're checking this out - thank you! Please be kind!!!!