Another rainy day!

It's another miserable day here, it's cold and wet, let's hope July is better. I got up early and made a weetabix cake and some chocolate chip cookies, good job as Jenny and the children came round for lunch! Andrew informs me he likes my cakes better than chocolate bars, the little sweetie, now I shall have to keep cooking!
I treated myself to 3 new books yesterday, The risk of darkness by Susan Hill, The memory keepers daughter by Kim Edwards and Me and Mr Darcy by Alexandra Potter, there was a buy 3 for 2 deal on in Smiths.
We are ordering a pizza and going round Jenny's tonight for the last episode od Dr Who, it looks like it will be a good one!
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Design Collective Class

This is my layout for class 2 issue 11 of the Design Collective, Alex enjoying a kiss with a friend!
The sun has actually been shining this morning so I got out in the garden quickly and cleared a space to put in some beans Ed gave me, they had started to take over the greenhouse!
Off to get the children in a minute as they are coming back to play and have tea. Then Ian and Andrew are off for a game of snooker and I am round Jenny's.

Pencil Lines Sketch #38

Jenny and I started to do the P.L. sketch when it was put out on Sunday night, I've just got round to finishing it! These photos were taken on our day out in April, one of the rare times we were all together, all except Andrew who would have really enjoyed it if he came! I got so carried away that I put his name on my journalling and have had to alter, oh well it makes it uniquely mine I suppose!
I'm enjoying a book by Michael Ridpath at the moment, called The Predator. David leant it to me along with some other books. I find this author very easy to read as his stories go along at quite a pace.
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Pictures for my favourite son-in-law!

Becca enjoyed her Sunday dinner, she helped me make the yorkshire puddings and lay the table!

Surprise, surprise, Alex played on the computer and was very hungry all the time!

Jamie decided to watch football with Grandad and Uncle Andrew as it was raining so he couldn't play outside.

Becca found a nice pile of books for nanny to read and told me she didn't like Daddy being in India!

Sunday Lunch!

Have not posted for a couple of days as I have been round Jenny's. Got back yesterday lunchtime and quickly did the washing and hung it out in the lovely sunshine, shortly afterwards the skies blackened and the heavens opened, had to bring it in and spin it all again!
We did manage to take the children to the park for an hour to run off some of their energy. Alex told me he was missing Daddy and Jamie was asking how many days until he came back, I don't think it has really registered with them how long Ed is going to be away!
In the afternoon I managed to play on EQ2 for a while with David and Peter which was fun.
After tea we watched Dr Who, I love the Master, and then Inspector Morse. I have never really watched this series before and I'm enjoying it even though I find the main character very grumpy!
I must get ready for lunch now as they are all coming round. I have had my orders, don't forget yorkshire puddings, stuffing and most importantly onion sauce!
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Dickens Week

Ian and I went for a walk last night as we had been stuck in with work being done on our house.

We thought we'd have another walk this morning as we love walking by the sea.

It is Dickens week here and a lot of people like to dress up for the occasion! Charles Dickens lived here for a while and is said to have written Bleak House here. The festival play is The Pickwick Papers and all sorts of activities are going on. We stopped and listened to a school duo who played keyboard and drums, they were very good. There was a Punch and Judy show and later a singalong at the bandstand.

Someone invited me along to "Undressing Mr Darcy", sounds interesting!

I would like to have a parasol like that!

Ian is now recovering, watching TV, as his legs are hurting after all that walking!!!

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Rain!

Had a bad thunderstorm last night which brought the server down! It certainly tested our new guttering and we have been able to point out all the leaks to them this morning, they must love us! I don't think they will be going on to their next job soon!
I will be glad when it is all finished as I want to get out of the house, the biscuit tin is looking too tempting!

Crabby old man!

I saw this whilst looking at some blogs and it really touched me and made me think.
This poem was found by nurses after an old man had died and they were collecting together all his personal thngs. They were so touched by it that they had copies made and sent all around the hospital.
Crabby old man!
What do you see nurses? ...........What do you see?
What are you thinking .........when you're looking at me?
A crabby old man ........... not very wise?
Uncertain of habit ........ with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food ........... and makes no reply?
When you say in a loud voice .........." I do wish you'd try"
Who seems not to notice ........ the things that you do
And forever is losing .......... a sock or a shoe
Who, resisting or not .........let's you do as you will
With bathing and feeding ....... the long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?......Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes nurse.......you're not loooking at me
I'll tell you who I am ......... as I sit here so still
As I do your bidding .......... as I eat at your will
I'm a small child of Ten .......... with a father and mother
brothers and sisters ........... who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen ........ with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now ........... a lover he'll meet
A groom soon at Twenty ........... my heart gives a leap
Remembering the vows ............ that I promised to keep
At Twenty - five now ......... I have young of my own
Who need me to guide ........ and a secure happy home
A man of Thirty ............ my young now grown fast
Bound to each other ........... with ties that should last
At Forty, my young sons .......... have grown and are gone
But my woman's beside me ............ to see I don't moan
At Fifty, once more ....... babies play round my knee
Again we know children ............. my loved one and me
Dark days are upon me ........... my wife is now dead
I look at the future ....... I shudder with dread
For my young ones are all rearing ........... young of their own
And I think of the years ........... and the love that I've known
I'm now an old man .......... and nature is cruel
Tis jest to make old age ........ look like a fool
The body it crumbles ........ grace and vigour departs
There is now a stone ...... where I once had a heart
But inside this old carcass ............ a young guy still dwells
And now and again ........... my battered heart swells
I remember the joys .......... I remember the pain
And I'm loving and living ........... life over again
And accept the stark fact ........... that nothing can last
So open your eyes, people ............ open and see
Not a crabby old man ........... Look
Closer ........ see ....... ME!

Happy Birthday Mum, Nan and Great-Nan!

Happy Birthday Mum, hope you have a lovely day and have lots of fuss made of you! And no there is no connection between you and the man in the poem, you are a very young 84yr old whose family all love you!

9.40am!

Well, I have changed the bed, tidied Andrew's room, cleaned the bathroom and kitchen and done some washing!
Now I want a coffee and I must try to ignore the lovely biscuits in the barrel!

new week, new diet again!

Well I'm off again on another new diet! It has started well, I have had two glasses of water and a small banana with my home- made yoghurt topped with seeds and a tiny splurge of honey!
It is nearly 9am, just got to get through the rest of the day!

Air Show

Here are a couple of photos of the planes flying over our house during the local air show.
It has been very cloudy here today, unlike last years show, so the photos aren't very good!

UKS June wk 2 challenge

Here is my interpretation of the June week 2 challenge, David when he was an usher and Madeline and Steve's wedding. I used an old kit from scrapping angels (another chance to use that heart paper!)

My "when I grow up" book

I have finally finished my book for shimelle's "when I grow up" class. Having done it I have realised I have achieved most of my goals the only exception being I didn't marry Davy Jones from The Monkees!
I know I have put 2 of the pages in the wrong order but I'm tired out from all this creativity!

Films!

Have been trying to watch some of David's DVD's so I can give them back to him.
Thursday evening I watched the original, and best, version of The Thomas Crown Affair. I loved that as I have always enjoyed watching Steve McQueen films, he was a very charismatic actor as well as being very dishy!
Last night I watched Man on Fire starring Denzel Washington, David told me I would like it and he was right even though it made me cry! Jenny wants to borrow it so I will see what she thinks!
I had a nice soak in the bath this morning and read my latest library book, Secrets of a family album by Isla Dewar. I'm really enjoying this although it is making me feel a bit guilty. One of the characters is very tidy and goes around clearing up after her husband, so much so he feels that the only room that's his in the house is his study! I hope Ian doesn't think that! Another couple are trying to adjust to retirement, not very well in the wife's case as she thinks her husband is intruding into her well organised life, she wants him back at work out of her way!
Hopefully Ian and I have adjusted well to spending all our day together, the thing is to get some hobbies, trying to convince Ian that gardening is his is hard work though!

happy birthday Maureen!

Firstly, happy birthday Maureen if you are looking! I hope you have a lovely day.
Secondly I would like to draw to Ed's attention (look at Jenny's blog) that I spent less than £3 today on a pot of tea down by the sea! My daughter gets her thrifty nature from me!
Ian and I decided to go out while it was sunny and walk down to the sea. it was nice to get out in the fresh air and we enjoyed our pot of tea. We then kindly said we would collect Jamie from school and spent about 30mins looking for his school jumper which was eventually found outside on the pavement! We were all worried Jenny would tell us off if we didn't come home with it!
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Bridge at Remagen

The capture of this bridge was instumental in bringing the war to an end. It was bombed by the allies to stop the germans,then bombed by the germans to stop the allies. The americans crossed it and it fell down! Seriously it was quite impressive and sad to think of all the lives lost there. There is a peace museum in it's towers to tell people about the effects of war and how important peace is.

Have had a nice day shopping with Jenny and making mum a card for her birthday on Monday. What do we do with her? She has been told not to carry heavy things and then tells me she helped her neighbour carry some lino to her house, we will have to tie her down I think!
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Design Collective

Here is my layout for the DC class by Debbie Jewell, a picture of Becca. I had great fun cutting out flowers from kellypanacci jumbo flowers papers, I think I have got a bit carried away!
Apart from that have done some gardening today and put in some plants I have grown from seed which will please Ian!
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sea mist!

Ian and I had a nice walk down to the sea yesterday even though it was a bit misty! Jenny, Ed and the children came round in the afternoon and it was good to get my football practice in!
Today I have been up early doing the ironing and general housework! Ian and I then walked to the library where I got an Inspector Morse book to try, Ian has pinched it though!
Have my new classes for the Design Collective so need to get down to doing some, it's that or some gardening, what a choice!
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Bruges

It is 7.45am on a cloudy Sunday morning and I have been up an hour already! have got Ian up now and we are going to walk down to the sea as the start of our fitness campaign! Yes you have heard it all before Sue but I really have to do something! Exercise is the key I think so I am going to try and do some each day and eat sensibly of course!
The photo above was taken in Bruges on the last day of our holidays, between horse and carriages, cars and bikes it was a pedestrian nightmare but I loved looking at the lace and cross stitch shops there.
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Pencil Line's Sketch #35

What a lovely morning it is here, the sun is shining and Ian and Peter have gone to watch the cricket, Kent v Yorkshire I think! This means I have all day to scrap, read, garden etc without any interruptions, life is good!!
It is Zen's birthday today, Happy Birthday Zen!, and they have just phoned sounding very busy and happy as they are having a barbeque. Jamie sent us a postcard from their holiday and they seem to be having a nice time. Judy is recovering well from her operation, I hope you will soon be back to normal Judy! Andrew has finally surfaced from his bedroom, I was beginning to wonder if he was ok! Mum is staying with Judy and Tich so I know she is ok, now I need to hear from Sue!
Done my first layout of the day, can you let me know where photo was taken mum?
Finished 2 books from the library, That certain age by Elizabeth Buchan and The Inspector's Daughter by Alanna Knight.I enjoyed both of them and will look for more by the authors. Now off to eat a packet of maltesers!
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Edinburgh

Ian and I have been away for a few days, up to Scotland. It was a sad visit as it was for Ian's Uncle Bill's funeral. It was a lovely funeral though with well over 100 people there as he was a very popular man, quiet but very kind and friendly. He and Elma his wife, had been married for 56yrs and although they had no children they took a special interest in their nephews and nieces. At the end of the service a song called Sunshine over Leith (where he was born) by The Proclaimers, was played and it was really beautiful.

Busy Monday!

Had a very busy morning getting the housework done and making 3 birthday cards. The afternoon was less hectic as Ian and I watched an old episode of Foyles War on the TV. This is such a good series quite slow paced but brilliantly done, I wish there were more of them.
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Design Collective class

Here is my layout for class 2 issue 9 of the Design Collective. Have spent all afternoon folding and sewing little strips of paper. I am not really a pink heart sort of person but Becca is!
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I've been tagged!

Here are my 7 random facts!
1. I cant swim.I would love to but was never really given the opportunity and now wouldn't be seen dead in a swimsuit!
2. I don't drive. I'm getting all the negative ones done first! I would much rather walk than drive a car!
3. I started going out with Ian when I was 15yrs, got engaged on my 16th birthday, was married at 17yrs and had David at 18yrs, followed by Jenny at 20yrs, Peter at 22yrs and Andrew at 28yrs! I'm a glutten for punishment!
4. I always wanted to work with children and managed to do that when mine had grown up (nearly in Andrew's case)
5. I am the youngest of 3 daughters. Ian said I was Cinderella which didn't please my 2 sisters! Yes I do remember Tich saying you were the rose between two thorns Judy!
6. I hate being in a mess and can't relax until the house is tidy!
7. I wish all my children lived nearby as I miss David and Peter a lot. (hint to come and see me soon!)

funny day!

It has been a funny sort of day. I have been out buying presents as we have 4 birthdays in June, whilst out I had a really bad pain in my chest and had to come home and lie down for a while, I think it was indigestion but I was convinced I was having a heart attack!
Ian's uncle died last week and we have been trying to sort out how to get to his funeral as he lived in Edinburgh it would mean about 10hrs+ in the car each way, something I couldn't face, so we have booked tickets on the train today, only concern is getting connection at Kings Cross.
Have watched TV all evening for a change as "Any dream will do" was on, although I agreed with the choice of Ben to go out I felt a bit sorry for him as he sang really well for the final song, better than Lewis, but he was the weakest over all.
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