Gosh. It is ages since I blogged. I have been soooooo busy the past few weeks with work. This is our busiest time of the year and really cannot moan about being busy cos a few other conservatory companies that we know have gone bust this year.
However, our youngest son Matthew had his 18th Birthday on the 16th of this month. He passed his driving test on the 5th of this month, so we have bought him a little run around for his 18th. More worry !!!! When does the worry ever end!!! As I work/live in Swindon, and he and my older son live in Worcester, each night before I go to bed, I pretend in my mind that they are both safely tucked up in bed, reading. That's the only way I ever manage to sleep!!
Here he is with said car. We are quite pleased with it. Bought it from a lovely family in The Lawns, Swindon (anybody who knows Swindon will know that it's a lovely area). Only had two owners, full service history and incredibly low mileage, so we paid a bit over the top for it, but have had it checked out and seems worth it. Don't want to talk about the Insurance however, as I am still taking inhalers for the shock. Years ago, when I passed my test - admittedly in those days, think I was one of the first women drivers on the road, lol - but I just was added to my Dad's insurance. Can't do that nowadays, and the quotes were unreal. 3rd party, fire and theft only with some of them was over 2k!!!! As he is doing his pass plus (another new thing to me), we managed to get one for 1300 quid. phew!!!! Imagine having four kids and buying cars for each of them as they passed their test. Not that I have, thank goodness. Just the two and that will do nicely.

Band of the Banned
I appear to have joined the realms of the Banned people over at an altered art forum. It is all very strange. A friend of mine came to stay for a few days, and was using my computer. As I am automatically logged in to various forums, she was posting in my name, save keep logging in and out. She happened to ask, on this particular forum, why she was unable to 'pm' one of our other friends. Apparently, due to this awful indiscretion, we were both banned. Turns out that lots of people have been banned and lots of other people not even allowed on to the hallowed ground of AN Forum. All very strange if you ask me. Still, their loss. I'm certainly not going to lose any sleep over it. Can't be bothered with such small minded bigots.

Thanks to the wonder that is the INTERNET, I have found my cousins that I have not seen for getting on 40 years. Our mothers were sisters who came over from Ireland in their teens to make a new life for themselves. We were all very close when we were young, but unfortunately, my mum died when I was 13 and my aunt, uncle and cousins had moved away to London by then. Everyone then just went their ways, as we do in life, and we all lost touch. So it is absolutely fabulous to have found them again and we are all hoping to meet later this year. So here are my cousins: Angie, and Patricia. Angie is pictured with Pat's son Robin, Pat is on her own (picture wise that is) cos the lovely looking fella in the flowered shirt is her hubby, Pat's other son Pete is on his own gazing gorgeously out (to sea, I think as he is a Diving Instructor) Angies lad Christopher is the one with the gorgeous long hair. I have yet to get a piccie of my other cousin Teresa and family, but when I do, I will post on. Can ya tell I'm all excited. Can deffo see a family resemblance, and can't wait to meet them all.

Bless
I'm a bit of an overprotective mother, it has to be said. My two boys live in Worcester and I live and work in Swindon. I pop up to Worcester to see them one day each week. I was back there yesterday and whilst in Tescos replenishing their stocks, got a text from Matthew, my youngest, saying to check the laptop when I got back. Ooooeeer, thinks I, looks like Im gonna be spending the night fixing viruses. When I got back and checked, he had written me a poem and left it on the laptop for me to see:

My Old Dear
Never left wanting yea my mum’s a dream
Cook you a dinner n sew up your seams
Unquestioning love gladly received
Think I’ll come home early so you can rub my feet



You’re always up waiting when I come home
Kind of feel bad you’re left all alone
I know that you worry but mummy I’m grown
Finding a way to make this life my own



You don’t have to be there every day
I know your love won’t go away
My guardian angel, my modern day saint
My love for mum will always stay



You never seem to stop til the day is done
Never have time to feel the rays of the sun
Taught me some lessons, I ain’t forgot one
Want you to be proud that I am your son

How sweet is that!

What a Week
I got robbed - and it's definitely taken the wind out of my sails. Got a panic phone call from our accountant asking which one of us was in Bangkok!!! We were both in our dressing gowns at the time - in sunny Swindon - deffo not Bangkok. turns out one of our cards had made 5 separate transactions in 5 separate banks in Bangkok amounting to the princely sum of fifteen hundred smakaroonis. Some robbing sod had 'cloned' our debit card. After scraping DH off the ceiling, he proclaimed that it had to be me cos of all the internet shopping I do, and as he is a total technophobe, he couldn't possibly have done anything wrong. I was absolutely dying for it to have been his card. alas, however, it did turn out to be my card - but absolutely nothing to do with the internet. Although I live in Swindon, my 'home' town (City actually), is Worcester, where I have a house and my children live in it. I travel up weekly to check they haven't totally wrecked the joint (partially, I can and have had to handle,lol). On my way back, I call in at the local petrol station before hitting the M5, which I found out today is under investigation for major fraud. So after lengthy police calls, bank calls etc., it turns out some little weasel at that petrol station has cloned mine and dozens of other cards, passed the information on to an accomplice in Bangkok, where they draw out literally hundreds and thousands of pounds at different banks over a period of 2/3 days at a time. C.I.D Police and Fraud people from the Bank are investigating as we speak, and I am hoping and praying we get our money back. Not a brilliant week. I blame my Buddha, or actually my husband. I have a lovely Buddha water fountain with a revolving crystal over which the water cascades. About 3 weeks ago, my husband decided to clean it out. It stopped working. The past 3 weeks have been rubbish although it wasn't until this morning that DH said, 'things have really gone wrong since that Buddha stopped working, Im gonna try to fix it'. So he takes it apart to find, dah, dah, an on/off switch that he had obviously accidentally switched off whilst cleaning. So Buddha switched back on. Within minutes, had a phone call from a potential customer. A phone call from the Bank saying we should get our money back, and a phone call about a planning application (we erect conservatories), that we have had a problem with due to a sewer pipe, giving us the go ahead. My hubby is now definitely a convert.

Life Before Mobile Phones
My hubby is constantly moaning at me cos my mobile phone is usually somewhere at the bottom of my handbag and by the time I answer the blooming thing, he has cut off. Anyway, we were mooching around a market last weekend when I saw this lush mobile phone holder that hangs round ya neck. Wear it or I strangle you with it, was my darlings husbands retort. So, so far he has managed to get me in the loo at work. At the checkout down Asda, talking to a customer, and a phone call at 1am in the morning (Im in bed and he is downstairs), to come down and photograph the cat cos she looks so cute and I don't want to disturb her. aaaaaaarrrgggggghhhhhh (no I dont wear it to bed - i hang it off a chair).
I actually quite enjoyed going for a blood test this week, cos I could turn the blooming thing off.
I know they can be a godsend in our hour of need, eg. when you get stuck on the pub car park and you get locked out of the car and need the AA (& no, I hadnt been drinking - just coffee and lunch with me ol mucker Jaks), but omg, they can be an absolute pain in the but at times.
Still quite like my holder though. Great to store ya lippy and money, instead of carrying a handbag.

ooooer. she who must be obeyed has tagged me. So here goes Jak:

5 Things

(1) Five things in my fridge

Leerdammer
Muller Lite
Philadelphia
Tandoori Chicken (leftover)
Salad

(2) Five things in my Wardrobe
Mikes many clothes
My large clothes
My smaller clothes
Mikes Panama hat (lol)
shoes

(3) Five things in my bag
LIPPY (I dont leave the house without me lippy)
Mobile phone
Credit/Debit/Loyalty Cards
Keys
Junk

(4) Five things in my car
Scrapbooking mags (to read whilst waiting for OH when in Hydrotherapy/acupuncture
Coat
CD's
Change (money that is, not clothes)
Business stuff

(5) Five programmes i would save on Tivo (If I knew wot it woz, that is)
Medium
Supernatural
Crossing over (bit of a theme going on here, lol)
Friends (cos I dont care how many re-runs, i still love it and laugh as if it were first time Ive seen it)
Will and Grace

Worked most of Easter Weekend. Booked for Scrappersunlimited Retreat at Gloucester in November. Hoooooray. Really excited about that. My sis has come down to stay as its her birthday. We have been 'doing' all the local craft stores, as she has decided to become a 'card maker'. I made her a canvas for her birthday, which she loved. Its is based on Kirstys layout 'Baby Blue' . It is the last piccie she had taken with Dad before he passed to the other side. Did it it Lilac as this is her fave colour and will go nicely in her bedroom.

Its Been A Sad Week
Cos Scott and Janine have split up. They have split up a couple of times, but this time I think it is the real thing. It's a shame as I do believe they had a genuine love for each other, however, their rows over the past 12 months have become difficult for everyone else to live with, so goodness knows what its been like for them. Always sad when a relationship comes to an end. I hope they can stay mates though, as they shared an important part of each others lives.

Ally Pally

Looking forward to Saturday. Going to the Ally Pally Show (by Limo, just in case i forgot to mention). Looking for loadsa stash, cos just joined two luverly CJ's. One is doodling and flowers and my theme is 'Favourite Musicals' and the other one is for ATC Newbies, which is me, as i have never made an ATC before - my theme is Angels and Fairies. Looking forward to both of those, so need loadsa new stuff for them. Will have lots more piccies to post too, whilst doing them. Apart from that, started a canvas for my sisters birthday, which I know will make her cry. Will post a piccie when its finished. made a few cards. worked. Thats about it.

Had a great day today. Swindon crop. I love it. We have a great bunch of girls and have a good laugh. Making a canvas for my sister for her birthday, so worked a bit on that. Did the weekly challenge on UKS this week. Had to include water, something shiny, something from the house, and a hidden tag. here is my little effort. Did it a bit quick to get it in in time, but at least its a page for the album.

Blonde Moments

This is the layout i did yesterday of my son's lovely girlfriend Janine having her highlights done. Seemed very appropriate to use the gorgeous Blonde Moments paper for her Blonde Moment.
Apart from that, worked most of the weekend. boo. Hoping to go up to Worcester to see kids tomorrow, then back to it. Swindon crop next Sunday though, so have that to look forward to, and then Ally Pally the week after (in a limo), wooooohhhooooo.

Gosh, can't believe it has been a full week since i have blogged. Sorry. seems my life is one round of work work and more work at the moment. Hoping to be part of a new cj, doodling and flowers. Due to the fact we have all had so much fun with Kirsty's challenge, that we all want a whole book of doodles and primas and all things flowery. Looking forward to that. Took some piccies of Janine with her 'foils' in the other week, so hoping to do a 'Blonde moments' layout on my blonde moments paper. lol. Might have a go at the tomorrow. will post it when its finished. Also bought some gorgeous antiquey buckles and bits and bobs from a lady selling antiquey bits and bobs. lol. so want to do a heritage page as well. (50pence each I may add, fabby).

It's been a bit of a sad week. It was the anniversary of my Dad's death. 3 years. His dog, Elsa, who he adored, died this week, 3 years to the day of my dad dying. Bit weird, really.
On a lighter note. I have spent the afternoon doing what we scrappers love best. Up to my eyes in paper, glue, etc. Have done the lovely Kirstygorgeouspants (mine and Jak's nickname for her), challenge. A page with a piccie of myself on. I hate having my piccie taken. Would happily scrap piccies of me before the dreaded weight went on, but now its not so easy. Chose the last piccie I ever had taken with my dad in memory of him (had to crop him out unfortunately - gotta keep ya sense of humour, lol), don't worry, still got the original. Luckily Kirsty said we could go back 5 years, so well within the limit (3 years). so this is my little effort.

Now that we cant add our layout point on our signatures, Im gonna have to be really boring and keep count on my blog, cos I'll never remember otherwise. So this month have done, so far, 3 x 12x12 los for Homegrown plus one tag. One 12 x 12 layout challenge Italy for UKS. A jiggy piece for a jigsaw swap. so all up to date now and can concentrate on doing Kirsty's Woman Challenge.
This is my entry for this month's Italy challenge. Had to be done. How can i not when my favourite for ever in the world paintings are by Italian Artists.

This is another layout I did for the Homegrown Challenge. We had to incorporate the No. 3, with 3 frames, 3 buttons, 3 layouts and 3 patterned papers. Quite weird cos I think it is really naff, but hubby really liked it (think its probably cos he is on it). Got loads to do this week and really busy with work. Wanted to do this months layout for uks as well, cos I've got a good idea lurking around my one creative little grey cell. Supposed to be working all weekend, but gonna skive on Saturday to go to Jak's crop in Droitwich. She betta bake a nice cake, seeing as Im driving 70 miles to it.

Swindon Croppers
Wene to Swindon crop yesterday. It is really good as we are all getting to know each other quite well now and having a right laugh. In fact, we are all going together to the Ally Pally in April, and boy, are we doing it in style. We have booked a limo to take us and pick us up afterwards. Champers on board. There has even been talk of pole dancing in the limo on the way home. note to self : must remember to ask my ol mate Jak if she is using her broomstick that weekend, sure she can find another mode of transport for the day, she won't mind us using it as a pole. bless. (lubs ya Jaks). We are opponents in a competition at the moment for Homegrown, so Im not allowed to be too nice to her - got to scare her into submission. lol
Anyway, here's one of the layouts I have done for the challenge. We had to use ribbons as a main part of the layout.

Strange thinks happening.

I blogged yesterday, but it has disappeared and the blog I did the day before is dated today.
So, here's what I blogged yesterday, today:

This is the box and album I have made for my father-in-law who lives in the Phillipines. i have based the box lid on a class I did last year at the Scrappers Unlimited Retreat (which was fabbo by the way). Hope he likes it. Not quite sure if he will 'get it', but hey ho, can only try.

HELP

I think I have a slight idea now of the kind of pressure the Designers are under to complete layouts to deadlines. Not that Ive suddenly become a designer - no chance of that. However, I have joined a challenge on one of the American Sites. I have enjoyed the challenges I have been doing lately on UKS for my House Team and the weekly challenges, so decided to give it a go. It will Inspire me I thought. Aaaarrggghhhh. Today we were given our 'challenges' and we have TEN, yes 10 different challenges to do and be uploaded by March 8th. That is 7 days away as it is half an hour to 2nd March. I am panicking now, as we are in teams and I dont want to let my team down. Have never had to work to that kind of deadline before, and have work plus nipping (60miles), back home to Worcester at some stage in between now and next Wednesday. oh well, ho hum, better get scrapping......

Wierd Day today

It is my mother in law's birthday today. She was diagnosed with Lewy Bodies Dementia last year - her hubby died a couple of months later, so she is now cared for in a Care Home. We went to see her to take her for lunch and I made her a card. She was, without a doubt, probably one of the most intelligent women I have met in my lifetime. She is widely travelled. Could complete the Times crossword over a cup of coffee. Having said all that, she would have described herself as a 'Homemaker'. She loved her home. She is now but the a shadow of her former self, and would be mortified if she knew I had to go into 'Ladies' with her, to help her with her knickers and tucking in her blouse and zipping up her zips. Life can be very cruel. I pray she doesn't drag on in this scary (for her) zone, that she doesn't understand, and has no return.