End of the year

As usual at the end of the year I like to reflect on what I have achieved during the year, so this is what I have come up with.

1. Managed to put on a stone since last year!
2. Gave up my job at Easter.
3. Learnt to play bowls and joined a club.
4. Joined the Design Collective and made some new friends.
5. Did lots of layouts over the year using some D.C. classes.
6. Made several mini books and now love doing them.
7. Did 4 shimelle classes.
8. Completed one cross stitch and almost finished another.
9. Tried out some new recipes.
10. Improved my footballing skills with Jamie's help!

I have all sorts of plans for the new year which I will set out tomorrow, until then, Happy New Year to everyone!
sudoku - 377

More pages

Today I have been trying to catch up with my christmas journal. Shimelles prompt for the 21st was to capture what the house was like right now!

The next prompt was to list what still had to be done.

Next was traditions of hanging up your stocking.

The magic of christmas eve was next.

Then the big day.

What you do on Boxing Day.

Do you sleep well at Christmas? I know I don't on Christmas Eve!

I'm really loving doing this journal, but have decided if I do it next year I will keep to a lot less papers etc as I spend far too much time deciding what I will use each prompt!

sudoku - 671

Some photos

Christmas dinner, very nice too!!

An essential for Boxing Day, must watch the footie!!

I hadn't told you all about Jenny and Ed's new baby!!

Sort of getting back to normal now, the food is disappearing and we had to pop out and buy some more, we kept it to simple soups and salads though. The clothes I bought in the sales were too big ( makes a change) so I had to take them back this morning, I didn't see much else so just bought a pack of christmas cards.

Yesterday David and I beat Ian and Zen at bowls, it was nice to get out for a while. In the evening we watched Bourne Ultimatum which I really enjoyed, would recommend all those films.

sudoku - 525

Christmas Day

Happy Christmas everyone and thank you for all my lovely presents. I hope you have all had great pressies, a lovely meal and a fun time with your families.
I have just been beaten in a Poker Face game by Peter and Andrew and Ian has won a sports quiz. I am wearing a lovely necklace from my sister and eating yummy chocs from Peter.
I did forget to defrost the sausages wrapped in bacon and put the christmas pud on to steam but you can't expect everything to go smoothly and we can have them at teatime.
The weather has been awful so we didn't go out for a walk, today has definitely been a day for staying in playing games with the family. Tonight I want to relax watching Dr Who and SCD christmas special. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day!!!!

Christmas Eve

Well, it is Christmas Eve and therefore I have been making a mess getting the stuffing etc done for the big day!

We went round Jenny and Ed's for the evening and had a yummy meal which I shall definitely be copying. This was a rare quiet time during the evening when a Christmas Shrek was on.

I managed to get a quick shot of Jamie wearing his hat, most of the time he was sitting with the uncles trying to look cool!

Alex and Becca were more co-operative with the posing. They also were keen to show of their dancing skills although Alex was still upset by the results and also, strangely, because Brucie had said Frank Sinatra was dead!
We are now relaxing at home. The trifle is done, the turkey is defrosting nicely and there is nothing left to do until the morning.

Happy Christmas everyone!

More pages

Some more pages of my journal, please excuse the bad scans, I am very tired! I'm waiting to take a photo on Christmas Day to complete this one.

This prompt was about meals and shopping lists.

This prompt was about what I wanted for Christmas, I've put my wish list inside the card.

We were asked to think about something nice and unexpected we had received for this prompt.

Have had a busy week visiting Mum with pressies and getting ready for Christmas. The house is clean, the shopping is done and the presents are all wrapped so I am feeling quite calm at the moment, still time for that to change though!

Nearly time now for S.C.D. results, I still can't decide who I want to win, for me it has not been as exciting this year.

sudoku - 484

Catching up

Day 8 of my journal, was waiting to print photos for this, finally got some scenes of christmas!

This prompt was to show what wrapping paper I am using this year.

The tree, I have lost the battle for a real tree so have to make do with a fibre optic one and a christmas flower arrangement.

This prompt was to remember childhood christmas' and how it has changed over hte years. Have put secret journaling in for this one.

How do you hand out the presents and when do you do it? That was the prompt for today.

Your favourite christmas songs was the prompt and to keep it simple.

Simple again, who do you see at christmas?

Have finally got to grips with the journal and only have today's prompt to do, feel quite pleased with myself!

Apart from this, I have been to the Farmer's Market today, fed the boys, continuously, it seemed, and watched poor Gethin go out of S.C.D. I have to say this series has not been as gripping as the judges have far too much power and make the dance off a complete waste of time. Please bring back the old format.

Should have said "Happy Birthday" to Ian. He had a good day and loved all his presents, especially the music quiz game which he won!

sudoku - 365

Getting organised

Has been a very busy day today. I woke up with a very bad headache which went all down my neck, but still had to get up and go to the shops as we needed to sort out mum's present. After spending all morning doing that I came home and did the housework. I then had to look after Jamie for a while as Jenny and Ed had to sort out some stuff and he was off school with a bad cold. Ian and I then decided to get rid of a bookcase in the spare room so we had to put videos and books up in the loft, Ian got the decorations down and we put our tree etc up.
Made a lasagne for tea as Peter was coming and I know he likes that and finally sorted out my cards all ready to post tomorrow. Was pleased I had made quite a few although still have two more to make.
Shimelles prompt today was favourite christmas music. I have been trying to think but it is hard as I like a lot. There are lots of carols I enjoy including Hark the herald angels sing and Silent night. Other songs have to be White Christmas and most of my Christmas tape!!
sudoku - 630

Christmas is coming!

Day 6 of my journal, good Christmas' and bad!

Day 7, lists, something I'm very good at doing.

Doing day 8 later so this is day 9, our traditions. Cute little girl in the picture, made me realise I have absolutely no pictures of my childhood Christmas'

It has been a very busy week and I've been too tired to blog. Monday I had my tooth out at last, I'm glad to get that out of the way. Tuesday we went into Canterbury for some more presents.

Wednesday we played bowls, I beat Ian 30 to 9 which was very pleasing! Then we babysat for Jenny and Ed.

Today I woke up full of determination to get a bit sorted. I took the curtains down and cleaned all the windows something I always like to do before putting up the decorations. Ian and I then wrapped up all our presents and while he was at the dentist I wrapped up his birthday presents. I also managed a great pile of ironing, so I am feeling very pleased with myself. Now I need to finish making all my cards and do some more pages in my journal.

sudoku - 382

Star

A sunny morning by the sea!

Did this layout yesterday from a class on the Design Collective, Jamie taking part in a cross country run, something Ian used to be very good at. I'm particularly pleased with my neat sewing!

Ian and I went out for a walk this morning and got soaked, another one of my good ideas!

Watched Strictly Come Dancing last night and looking forward to the result show tonight, Matt certainly messed up big time!

Shimelles prompt today is about traditions. I've been trying to think of ours, going to Jenny and Ed's on Christmas Eve seems to have become one. We always had Christmas Day at home while the children were young as I felt it was important that they could take their time over opening their presents and be allowed to enjoy them.

I do think though that you shouldn't be so rigid over your traditions that it stops you thinking about others and how it affects them, sometimes it's nice to break away!

sudoku - 357

Busy

Just a quick one today as I have been very busy. Did a pile of ironing this morning and cleaned the house then Ian and I played bowls in the afternoon, Ian won!
I'm trying to put together some stash to take to the crop tomorrow, would like to get up to date with shimelle's class and do a Design Collective one, hope I manage it!
Thanks for all the kind comments.
sudoku - 645

Advent

Day 4's prompt was to do a layout about advent and preparing for Christmas.

Christmas Past

Today's prompt from Shimelle was to remember a perfect christmas and a not so good one in your past!
I do remember a couple of Christmas' ago, Peter saying "this is one of the best christmas' we've had" the reason? Andrew bought him a Tim Vine dvd and we all couldn't stop laughing, even now if people mention the ocean I have to smile, get the dvd and you will see why!! For us it is silly things like that. Playing board games together, the boys on the x box, in days gone by it would be watching Morecombe and Wise and the Christmas film as that was the only time we saw films etc. Jenny always had to watch the christmas Top of the Pops and anything with Harrison Ford in!
My childhood memories aren't so happy although Mum tried to make it a good time for us everything depended on how Dad was feeling and whether he had to work. I remember getting a bike one year and being very excited, also getting connecting toy telephones and waking Sue up by ringing her room at 3am. My favourite toy was Talkative Jane, which I had seen in a magazine in September and really wanted, Christmas seemed a long time coming that year!
Anyway, the kids are coming round this afternoon so I wont get much done today, at least I have my thoughts down ready to do my page.
sudoku - 466

A perfect Christmas

The prompt for yesterday was to do a layout of how I would like Christmas to be. That is easy really, I am happy when all my family is with me and we are relaxing playing silly games together. Not for me big parties with lots of people around, I'm happiest with just my family.
I try each year to make puddings, cakes, mince pies and stuffings for everyone to eat, sometimes I think I should go to M & S and buy everything there, I don't really think anyone would care, it's just that I have always had a "Little house on the prairie" idea of family life, I should bake my own bread, make lovely meals with vegetables from the garden and be the perfect wife/mother, the reality, I'm afraid, falls far short! I do think we are all too greedy these days, the amount of food bought and then thrown away is criminal, but we all do it, stock up for a siege when it is really only a couple of days. So this year I will buy less chocolates etc and keep the meals sensible, but don't worry, I'm sure everyones favourite food will still magically appear on Christmas Day!
sudoku - 422

Next page

Had great fun doing this as I love making and receiving christmas cards.

Christmas Journal

This is my first page for shimelles christmas journal, have played around with it but not sure if it is balanced as I added the star afterwards because I had seen something similar in Cath's CJ and thought it pretty, I can't decide whether to take it off and use it on another page, so any advice would be welcome!!

This page came together quite quickly if a bit wonky!

Have been down to the sea and to do some shopping this morning and now must sort out my next page. Phoned mum and she seemed quite bright again although she was talking about going out shopping which always worries me.

sudoku - 248 - my best score I think

Canterbury

Jenny and I went to Canterbury today to try and finish our christmas shopping. I managed to get most of mine done, just have Ian's and a bit of mums left to do. Ian decided to go and play a game of bowls instead and was pleased his team won, despite him!!
I have the next prompt from Shimelle to do, have to incorporate some thing to do with christmas cards in the layout, so looking forward to doing that. Couldn't take photos of my two layouts again as the light was too bad when I got home so will do that tomorrow.
Mum seemed quite bright when I talked to her and was doing some cleaning which was good.
sudoku - 463

The weather

Today's prompt from Shimelle was about the weather, how typically english from an american girl!! I looked out of the window and it was pouring with rain and the wind was howling, definitely a day for staying indoors and doing some craft.
We always associate christmas with snow but rarely get any. As a child I can remember it snowing on Boxing Day and my grandparents couldn't go home till Easter!
One Christmas we bought Andrew a bike and thought it a very clever idea to wrap up a key to the garage with some clues for him, when he got to the garage it was so cold the lock had frozen and we had to spend ages warming it up so he could get his bike, our weather is always contrary!
Anyway, I have done my first two pages and hopefully will take photos in the sunshine tomorrow!
sudoku - 449

A time for me!

Today I am starting my Christmas Journal, you can find out about it at http://shimelle.com/
We all need a time in the day to ourselves during this busy christmas time. A time to reflect on what christmas means to me, christmas' gone by, silly things, sad times, happy family times, that is what my journal will be about. I promise myself I will find 20 mins a day to do this journal, surely that's not too much to ask!
So far I have collected together all my christmassy bits and cut my cardstock, now the fun begins!

Empty house!!

It has been very quiet here today as mum has gone home and Andrew is away for the weekend. Ian and I quickly did some housework/jobs this morning and then we decided to take advantage of the last day for a £5 roast dinner at a carvery with Jenny and Ed. Everyone else in Thanet seemed to have the same idea as it was very crowded but we didn't have to wait too long and had a lovely meal.
We then went looking for a new bed settee but didn't have any luck, will try again tomorrow.
Off for a game of bowls now!
sudoku - 567

The woodpecker

We had a very busy woodpecker on our lawn this morning having a good dig around. I tried to creep out of our kitchen door to take a picture but it flew away, when it came back I crept out the front and managed to take a picture over the garden gate.

This is a close up. I get a great deal of pleasure watching the birds and spend a fortune on bird food. Fortunately our cat was sleeping on Andrew's bed at the time.

I've just posted the next CJ to Sharon, what a relief! I now have to think of the next one.

We are taking mum down to the sea front this morning for a last stroll and a coffee, she goes home tomorrow. I think it has done her good being here, she certainly looks a lot better.

sudoku - 589

So much to do!!

Ian has finished the bedroom and last night I sorted out all my stash and have my desk back to normal, I just need to encourage him to put up some more of my pictures and apart from a new carpet, we are finished. It is such a relief to get everything back to normal as I am getting withdrawal symptoms from not scrapping!
Today I want to get my CJ done, I need to research my birth year first which will be very interesting and then I think I will keep the page very simple as I have to post it on Tuesday.
Next I want to get all my christmas stash together ready to start Shimelles christmas class, I'm really excited about doing this and hope I will be allowed the time to enjoy it!
I also have a few pages of her last class to finish and all my christmas cards to do so I have a busy time ahead.
Ian is taking Jamie to the football this afternoon and Jamie is also coming around for lunch tomorrow so that he can watch West Ham v Spurs, I think it had better be a draw to satisfy everyone in the family!
Mum seems better in herself but still very forgetful, I think the company and the daily walks by the sea are helping, she can be a little moody though which isn't like her but I put that down to the steroids. She is helping with the dishes and making me the odd cup of tea which is more like her.
sudoku - 435

Ian and the seagull!

Had a nice day yesterday with mum. We decided to go down to the sea front and get a bite to eat. As it was a nice day we sat on one of the benches with a hot cheese and bacon pastry, something Ian drools over but I don't let him have much as they are too fatty. I gave him his pastry and with great delight he raised it to his lips for a bite, only to have a large seagull swoop down and pinch it out of his hands, I wish I had taken my camera!! He was not impressed and neither was mum as she is frightened of birds, after I had moved us to safety and given my pastry to Ian, things settled down again and when we went into Morellis for Ian to have an icecream, he actually managed a smile!
Today, after several months, Ian and I finally have our first appointment with our new NHS dentist, I can't wait!
sudoku 440

Lovely day

Mum has come to visit for a couple of weeks as she has not been feeling too good. Friday, as the day was so lovely, we took her down to the front to get some fresh sea air and a pot of tea and a scone! We had a good walk along the front and I managed to take a photo complete with shadow!
Yesterday I took her to my hairdressers and she got a well needed perm to cheer her up and today Jenny, Ed and the children came round to see her. Hopefully with me reminding her to take all her pills, walks by the sea and a few good meals she will soon be feeling more like her old self.
Have just watched Strictly come dancing and poor Kate and Anton are finally out, I thought she really tried hard for the dance off and felt quite sorry for her and I will miss gorgeous Anton. Must be out of practice because my sudoku today was too bad to record hope I'm better tomorrow.
Our bedroom is getting there slowly, everything seems such a muddle and I desperately want to do some more scrapbooking, I have been trying to finish a cross stitch instead.

Happy Birthday Jenny!

It's Jenny's birthday today and I couldn't let it go by without saying happy birthday to her. Here she is at Grandma's on her second birthday, just after this photo was taken she was sick all over the table!! The look on her face suggests she was planning to do that all along. We all went out for a lovely meal last night to celebrate and tonight I think Jamie is having "baby food" while Jenny and Ed have a delicious M & S meal, he is hard done by!

Here are two more pages for my shimelle book, not the right sort of bowls I know but this page is about us taking up bowls, we had our last coaching lesson today and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I have always enjoyed teaching young children and this is why, everyday to them is exciting and new and there is always so much to learn, I wish we could all feel like that.

sudoku - 503

Design Collective

Ian, Peter and I walked along by the sea this morning to blow the cobwebs away!! A lot of the beach huts had been damaged after the very high tide last week and the sea was still quite choppy. Peter then treated us to a coffee and scone.

I did this layout of mum using a class from the Design Collective by Scrapdolly. I have been a member of this from it's very beginning and can't recommend it enough, I have made some good friends there and have enjoyed all the classes and the support from the designers.

Jenny, Ed and the children came round in the afternoon and nearly demolished a chocolate cake.

I'm looking forward to the result show of Strictly Come Dancing soon, so not a bad Sunday!

sudoku - 657

Assertive or caring?

Apparently I am not assertive enough, I can choose whether to visit my sick 84yr old mother or not. Other people choose not to, they are being assertive.
Well in that case I choose to love, worry and care for my mum, I will phone her up and listen to her worries and try to cheer her up. I will visit as often as I can, have her to stay several times a year, include her in family weddings and Christmas. We don't choose to be ill, as we know all too well, circumstances dictate otherwise. The one thing mum has always worried about is being a burden on her daughters as she grows older, I choose not to make her feel that way.

As promised!!

I've actually done some scrapping today, I'm trying to finish off my shimelle book before I do a class from the Design Collective. This page is about the dreaded weekly shop!
This is mum outside her bungalow, she is the kindest person I know, she has always been there for everyone, now it's our turn to be there for her, love you mum!
This one symbolises (not sure if that is spelt right!) how I have been feeling lately.
We all went out this morning to do a bit of Christmas shopping, Peter managed to get a few things and I ended up with a scrapbook magazine and a cookery one. I came home and whizzed around getting the housework done so that I could do a bit of scrapping and relax a bit. Have just watched It takes two and I'm looking forward to tomorrow night, hope John Barnes does well.
sudoku - 427

Busy cooking!!

I spent the first half of the morning trying to get Ian out of a very bad mood, I have never seen him like this in all the years we have been married, it's usually me who has the moods!!! We went to the shops to get some goodies in ready for the children tonight and Peter who is coming back for a few days, yes I have made you butter tartlets Peter! I wasn't sure right up to today whether we would actually be here to see him so it is nice that things have fallen our way for a change.
I've just spoken to mum and a very kind neighbour had brought her in a casserole which she was tucking into, I had to remind her about her pills again and I'm a bit concerned she might have taken the wrong dose of one of them, but she seemed a lot brighter.
Yesterday I had to add some more pages to an album to finish shimelles class, I got myself in such a muddle with it I ended up bursting into tears, shaking all over and so hot I had to open the window wide, Ian came rushing to the rescue and it was soon all sorted, I am an idiot! After that I was so stressed I couldn't do anything else and I've been too busy cooking today so hopefully tomorrow I will get the book finished. My blog seems to be one long moan at the moment and I want to get back to posting some layouts etc. Be patient with me I will get back to normal soon.
sudoku - 437

Have been finding it hard to blog lately as too worried about mum. She is still very confused and not feeling like doing anything. Thank you to my friends from the Design Collective who always ask after her and to Jenny who always sticks up for me and also loves her Nan.
Ian and I managed to get a game of bowls yesterday, it is only a 6wks course and we have had to miss 1 and 1/2 lessons to go to mums so we really had to start from scratch, it was fun though and my team won!
Today I was going to finish shimelles class as I have just signed up for her christmas one, but things got in the way as usual. Ian and I ended up going for a walk by the sea which was just what we needed.

Back!

Well, I'm back from Mum's, having missed Jamie's birthday and party, something I absolutely hated doing. Mum is home from hospital and is hopefully settled in her home now. We did the garden, cleaned the house from top to bottom, did all the ironing and filled her fridge and freezer. I felt terrible leaving her but we had to get back to sort our own house out as we weren't expecting to be away more than a couple of days. Hopefully Sue will stay the night tonight as she is popping in.
Jenny and Ed very kindly invited us for lunch as we have nothing in to eat and it was a chance to see the children and say happy birthday to Jamie. We had tuna pasta and some lovely cheese and onion bread that Ed had made.
I've caught up on all the news on the Design Collective and UKS and I'm now going to have a relaxing bath and read my book.
I read a really good book whilst over at mum's called The Tenko Club by Elizabeth Noble. I haven't read a book so quickly for quite a while and would definitely give it 9 out of 10. I must look out for more books by her.
Jenny has leant me the last series of 24 so I have that to look forward to, might try and persuade Ian to watch it too! I have so much to watch at the moment, most of it Ian doesn't like though so I have to choose my moments carefully!
sudoku - 545

My Circle Journal

Have finally done my entry for tmy circle journal, My Home Town. I chose as my favourite place, Joss Bay. I did a layout on Saturday but my heart wasn't in it because of several worrying phonecalls, so I tried again yesterday. I have to get it posted by wednesday and was worried I might be called away again, so I am glad to have got it finished. I kept it quite simple, following some ideas from shimelle that I have done for my last book.

Have had a busy morning out shopping with Jenny and Becca and then having them all around for lunch, Jamie is starting to get excited about his birthday and seems to think everything I buy is for him!!
Mum wasn't very good today and I had to ask her neighbour to pop in and sort her out. Hopefully she has now gone to the doctors to get some of her repeat perscriptions sorted out.
sudoku - 611

Have a nice weekend!

Jenny, Ed and the children have gone to David and Zens for the weekend, I do hope the children end up like this and don't stay awake all night!

I have had another "do nothing" day I'm afraid. I knew Jenny and Ed were popping in to see mum and I worried they would find her a bit vague, but thankfully all went well. Mum enjoyed seeing them all and apart from being a bit forgetful, was fine.
sudoku - 459

How girly am I?

saw this on Jenny's blog and had to have a go, perhaps that does make me girly!

You Are 32% Girly

You are a pretty hardcore tomboy, and a very free spirit.Gender roles be dammed, you like to do things your way.

How'>http://www.blogthings.com/howgirlyareyouquiz/">How Girly Are You?

I have always known I am not very girly, this just confirmed it!

Feeling Lazy!

It's been a funny sort of day today, can't seem to get down to doing anything.
This morning we did our weekly shop and then went to a local farmer's market, wasn't that much there though. This afternoon I have been trying to motivate myself to do my CJ pages but instead have been messing about on the computer doing nothing in particular. Would like to thank all my cyber friends for their concern over mum, it's nice to know they are out there thinking of me.
I'm convinced now that mums problem is linked to the medication it is only a part of her memory that seems to be affected she is very aware of everything else.
Going to put on the last disc of Alias now and chill out a bit, might even buy some maltesers!
sudoku - 462

Go Willie!!

Just a quick post today as I'm off to bed in a moment. Had a nice walk along by the sea this morning but apart from that haven't done much, have been too worried about mum. She seems very confused and forgetful at the moment and I'm hoping it is all the medication she is on that is doing it She walked down to the doctors twice today and then phoned me up cross as they were not open, I had to remind her it was Sunday, glad she could laugh about it!
Watched Strictly come dancing and was sorry to see Willie go out and surprised John Barnes was in the bottom two, I think he is quite good, didn't like the singers tonight but Anton and Erin's dance was good.
sudoku - 431

I've been tagged!

Just a quick post as I have been tagged by Sue aka greyhound lover.
I have to share 7 facts about myself and then tag 7 more people, unfortunately I don't know 7 more people to tag who haven't already done it so will just do my facts!

1. My favourite colour is green.

2. My family seem to think I am stupid although I went to a grammar school!

3. I am very competitive and hate losing at anything.

4. I have been on a diet all my life.

5. I too love maltesers.

6. I am a tidy person and hate any mess ( as my children know)

7. I love Dr Who and have watched it from the very beginning, unfortunately I wont be able to watch the new series as I cannot stand Catherine Tate.

Smile

Did this layout this afternoon from a class by Amber Harrop-Johnston on the Design Collective, it was perfect for this lovely photo of Becca.

Ian and I went out early today for a nice walk down to the front, we had to take advantage of the lovely weather and my leg is starting to feel a lot better. I then came home and made some polish cake and had egg and bacon for my lunch, so much for the healthy start to the day!
sudoku - 367