OK so here it is - be warned it's long so hope you don't fall asleep before the end of it - I've highlighted the ones I've done in light blue (Cyan to be precise - lol)

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink

2. Swam with wild dolphins

3. Climbed a mountain

4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive

5. Been inside the Great Pyramids

6. Held a tarantula

7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone

8. Said “I love you’ and meant it

9. Hugged a tree

10. Bungee jumped

11. Visited Paris

12. Watched a lightning storm at sea

13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise

14. Seen the Northern Lights

15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)

16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa

17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables

18. Touched an iceberg

19. Slept under the stars

20. Changed a baby’s diaper

21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon

22. Watched a meteor shower

23. Gotten drunk on champagne

24. Given more than you can afford to charity

25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope

26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment

27. Had a food fight

28. Bet on a winning horse

29. Asked out a stranger

30. Had a snowball fight

31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can

32. Held a lamb

33. Seen a total eclipse

34. Ridden a roller coaster

35. Hit a home run

36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking

37. Adopted an accent for an entire day

38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment

39. Had two hard drives for your computer

40. Visited all 50 states

41. Taken care of someone who was drunk

42. Had amazing friends

43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country

44. Watched wild whales

45. Stolen a sign

46. Backpacked in Europe

47. Taken a road-trip

48. Gone rock climbing

49. Midnight walk on the beach

50. Gone sky diving

51. Visited Ireland

52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love

53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them

54. Visited Japan

55. Milked a cow

56. Alphabetized your CDs

57. Pretended to be a superhero

58. Sung karaoke

59. Lounged around in bed all day

60. Posed nude in front of strangers

61. Gone scuba diving

62. Kissed in the rain

63. Played in the mud

64. Played in the rain

65. Gone to a drive-in theater

66. Visited the Great Wall of China

67. Started a business

68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken

69. Toured ancient sites (only in the UK though)

70. Taken a martial arts class

71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight

72. Gotten married

73. Been in a movie

74. Crashed a party

75. Gotten divorced

76. Gone without food for 5 days

77. Made cookies from scratch

78. Won first prize in a costume contest

79. Ridden a gondola in Venice

80. Gotten a tattoo

81. Rafted the Snake River

82. Been on television news programs as an “expert” (BBC News West to be precise)

83. Got flowers for no reason

84. Performed on stage

85. Been to Las Vegas

86. Recorded music

87. Eaten shark

88. Had a one-night stand

89. Gone to Thailand

90. Bought a house

91. Been in a combat zone

92. Buried one/both of your parents

93. Been on a cruise ship

94. Spoken more than one language fluently

95. Performed in Rocky Horror

96. Raised children (or…raising children)

97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour

98. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country

100. Picked up and moved to another city to start over

101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge

102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking

103. Had plastic surgery

104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived

105. Wrote articles for a large publication

106. Lost over 100 pounds (cumulatively, if you count pregnancy! lol!)

107. Held someone while they were having a flashback

108. Piloted an airplane

109. Petted a stingray

110. Broken someone’s heart (or so I was told)

111. Helped an animal give birth

112. Won money on a T.V. game show

113. Broken a bone

114. Gone on an African photo safari

115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced

116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol

117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild

118. Ridden a horse

119. Had major surgery

120. Had a snake as a pet

121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon

122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours (only when I had the flu)

123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states

124. Visited all 7 continents

125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days

126. Eaten kangaroo meat

127. Eaten sushi

128. Had your picture in the newspaper

129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about

130. Gone back to school

131. Parasailed

132. Petted a cockroach

133. Eaten fried green tomatoes

134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey

135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read

136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

137. Skipped all your school reunions

138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language

139. Been elected to public office

140. Written your own computer language

141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream

142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care

143. Built your own PC from parts

144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you

145. Had a booth at a street fair

146. Dyed your hair

147. Been a DJ

148. Shaved your head

149. Caused a car accident

150. Saved someone’s life

There you go, I may have to look back at this at the end of the year and see if I can highlight any more, there are definately a few I'd like to do.

Time for New Year Resolutions

I promised myself that come the New Year I would get more organised and start doing things that I keep putting off, so.......

One of the things is to make sure I keep my blog updated more reguarly - well it can't get much worse than it has been (or can it :) ).

So I'm starting a bit early, but hey if I put it off for another couple of days it probably won't get started at all.

I've just seen an entry on Chrissies blog so I'm off to copy and paste and do my one.

Back later

Oooooooooh the sun has got it's hat on

A few weeks ago friends of mine
Chrissie and Debbie met up and went to the beach and I commented on how lovely it must have been. Well they got their heads together and invited me and the girls to join them the next time.

So last Tuesday after I'd shut the shop up, we got home and loaded up the car to go off to Swansea. I'd decided to treat us and use our Shogun which we don't use all the time because it has a higher fuel consumption than the Xantia which is my run around. And for those of you thinking we are rich having two cars then the Shogun is for towing our caravan which unfortunately the Xantia is too small for.

Anyway, the reason why I am explaining this is that I then managed to misplace the Xantia keys and as it was parked across the driveway in front of the Shogun this caused a slight problem. After about an hours searching and me beginning to get to the woah is me stage they were finally found and we toodled off on our merry way.

The M4 between Junction 21 and 26 during rush hour traffic is not a good place to be with two young children in the car! Once we got past Newport however it was plain sailing and we pulled up at Chrissies at about 7.20. Chrissie and Celyn greeted us at the door with Celyn eager to show the girls her room. It was obvious that they were going to get on well to start with and all three were soon running round squealing with glee.

We finally tucked the girls up in bed about 10pm after I'd nearly had a hernia killing myself laughing at Chrissie trying to straddle a camp bed - believe me girls this was a funny sight. Then Chrissie and I sat and chatted till the early hours of the morning until we realised that it was the early hours.

The next morning saw a grey and gloomy sky, but once Debbie turned up with her daughter Hannah and her daughters friend Molly we all set off to a lovely beach called Caswell.

I couldn't resist taking a couple of piccies of Debbie and Chrissie huddled up under blankets and towels. I didn't feel the cold until quite a bit later, but it was a bit windy and every so often it would try to rain, it was a bit like our holiday.

The girls were loving it though so we stayed for a few hours so they could have a run around

After a while though enough was enough and we all trooped off to the famous Joe's ice cream parlour in Mumbles - well Chrissie has told enough people about this place it must be famous by now :)

I must admit the vanilla was pretty special and had a very different taste, reminded me of condensed milk. We had a wander round for a while after this and then all too soon it was time to go back and pick up the car to make the trek back home again.

Oh, why the title? Well Alanna was not on best performance that day and kept having her little strops. Everytime she started to go off on one Chrissie would start to sing this and each time the Oooooooooh would get longer and longer, Alanna can't resist giggling if you can get it right and this certainly did the trick.

Thanks to Chrissie, Celyn and Danny for letting us stay over (the girls say thanks to Celyn for sharing her room) and also to Debbie, Hannah and Molly for a great day out. I enjoyed it lots, clouds etc... and all

I'm back

bet you didn't even miss me - see blink and I'm gone and back again. Some would say back like the proverbial bad penny, and others would just shake their heads and walk away muttering things under their breath.

OK so I could do with another holiday straight away, but isn't that what holidays are for - going away, staying up late doing things etc..

Well for those of you that are interested - yes I see you with your finger over that mouse button ready to click away to somewhere else - then we've been away for a week in not that sunny Dorset.

Had a nice time even though the weather could have been a bit better (OK make that lots better on some days), but the girls throughly enjoyed themselves and Sabrina was absolutely over the moon when we went Fossil hunting. At this point I have to tell you that my DH did make a rather rude remark about me when that was suggested - yes he did get kicked. Sabrina is absolutely dinosaur mad so the Dorset coastline which is part of the Jurassic heritage coastline was a fantastic place for her. Alanna enjoyed it too, but she hasn't quite got Sabrina's enthusiasm (yet).

Now we are back and it's just beginning to sink in that in under two weeks my little one (Alanna) goes to school, that's big school as she would say it. I'm not sure that I'm ready for it - she definately is, we'll find out if they are ready for her soon.

She's recently picked up a real accent and on holiday several times came out with " 'ere, oive got something to telly you" - we were picking ourselves up of the floor afterwards as it just sounded so funny coming from a 4 year old.

Anyway, not a lot else going on at the moment, got to sort out lots of US orders this weekend and make sure those that are outstanding are actually doing something so I guess I'd best make a start on that.

The picture at the top is one of the Jurassic Coastline at Charmouth

Just what the doctor ordered

I took the mobile shop to the South Wales crop yesterday and as I usually do there had a great laugh.

This month though I decided that I would have a play with some bit and pieces and also take one of the classes - it was just what I needed.

I felt more like one of the crop than just the shop keeper - and it was great.

Made a couple of bag charms for people and also played with some shrink plastic to make some jewellry bits, I love playing with bits :)

Dabbling with bits and pieces is great fun and it reminded me how much I love making my own jewellry - must dig out my box of semi-precious bits and all the findings.

Had a bit of a rush at the end of the crop though which I could have done without, must plan it all a bit better next month.

Thanks girls - you gave me a great day

I must be mad

and yes I can see you all sat there nodding your heads (especially those of you that may have seen my deleted post the other day *blush*)

Today Sabrina had some of her friends to the shop for a craft morning - So we had a roomful of young girls (aged between 3 and 6) doing sizzix die cuts, rubber stamping and general crafting - what fun, well it was actually. They had a great time and it was only for a few hours so I managed to survive without actually throttling any of them, although it was close with one of them.

I really do have the utmost respect for how teachers deal with other peoples kids day in day out without losing it - know I couldn't.

Where's the brick wall

Sometimes I swear blind that there is a brick wall out there just waiting for me to bang my head against it. And why do I think that, well when you've got a DH like mine who will not believe that he can do things when the world and his dog are telling him that he can what else do you do.

My DH is a keen amateur photographer, but mainly does wildlife photography. He is infact just about to have one of his photographs published in a photograpy book. However, as much as I tell him that he's just as good at portraiture photography he still doesn't believe me.

This week I designed a layout to teach at a crop today and used one of his photographs on it - everyone that saw that photograph thought that we had gone to a professional and paid for it. Shouldn't that tell him something, but no he still says he knows where all the errors are......

OK, so he can see where he could improve it, doesn't mean it's not blinkin good still though.

Here you go - what do you think

That was the week that was

Wasn't there some TV program called that, or am I just dreaming it all up.

Wish this last week could be called a dream, but it was a bit more like a nightmare!!!

It started Sunday when mil rang to say that the only two days she would have the girls was Tuesday and Wednesday. Now I've been saying over and over and over again for the last goodness knows how long that my only day off is Wednesday and that I would like to do some things with the girls on Wednesdays.

So to start with I get my pig-head on and become stubborn and say that's it their not going over there. Then I calm down a bit and think about it and realise that I'm going to be ultra busy Monday and Tuesday, so it would really help me if they did go over on Tuesday. If I have to give up one Wednesday then so be it, but that's the last one.

As it turned out it was just as well they went as I ended up with some sort of bug that started on Tuesday afternoon and my temperature sored and my throat got the green scrubbing brush feeling (still got the sore throat now).

So my delivery turned up Monday and I start getting manic to get as many pre-orders out of the door as possible - about 2/3rds went out which isn't bad if you knew how many there were. Tuesday morning sees me doing the hour plus round trip to drop the girls off before I start work :( Get the rest of the pre-orders done and all is well (except for the aforementioned temperature etc....).

Wednesday I drag myself out of bed before Gary goes to work, but decide to take the morning easy and didn't go down the shop until about 1pm. And that's when it really started getting bad!

I find that some lovely little cretinous darling has smashed the front window of the shop. Luckily it's a double glazed unit so it's left a hole and lots of cracks but has not shattered. I pay a premium to the council for the windows so I'm straight on the phone to find out what I have to do and that sets the ball rolling to get it sorted.

Then these little brats who I know range from 6-13 (one of them is in the same year as DD1 who is 6) start using the hole in the window as target practice for their football. First I tap the window and shake my head - this makes them jump a bit as I don't think they thought anyone was there. A few minutes later they start again, including punching the window. So I go out and ask politely for them to stop doing it, including trying to have a conversation about how they would feel if it was their window (one of them tells me he lives in a cardboard box - not a good sign). Anyway to cut a long and boring story short it gets worse, I ring the police - when they turn up I find that the lady in the flats above me and the lady in the house next to the shops have also rung the police as they realise that things are getting out of hand.

Trouble is although a policeman turned up, so did two community policewomen. Now I know they do a job and they have their place, but basically these kids were laughing about it all. All they did was take their names and go - they didn't even talk to any of the three of us that had called them - so what good was that.

I was told that the window would be boarded within a few hours of me ringing, however I gave up after three hours and went home to see to the girls, they turned up after 6 hours. So now it's boarded and apparently will take about 5 days to be reglazed.

I guess Thursday and Friday sort of blur into insignificance after that, but at least we are through week one of the school holidays and I still have two daughers and what little sanity I ever had.

Well done if you got this far :)

WOW that was hard

I recently sent out an open invite on UK Scrappers asking for two more members for my design team. I got loads of fantastic entries and I've spent most of today deliberating over them.

I kept going back and back elminating a few at a time until I whittled it down I to the last few - then it really was crunch time.

E-mails have gone out to the final two so I'm now just waiting to see if they want to accept and then I'll be able to announce them.

Yesterday Chrissie and Julia from Scrappers Unlimited held their Colour Seminar in the hall across the road from the shop - great day and some fantastic layouts. And yes I even managed to do most of the seminar too. Will be looking at booking another seminar for the future, but I want to get the next few weeks out of the way.

Will be exceptionally busy tomorrow as I'm expecting a delivery and I have to turn a lot of it around straight away as it's on pre-order for the UKS Summer Holiday Kits. Oh what joy, very busy day and first day of the girls school summer holidays - where did I put the prozac.

Just toooooooo hot

OMG how much hotter can it get!!

I'm not a fan of summer as it is and at the moment I'm just a little fedup with constantly being soaked.

OK, it's my fault that I'm well overweight, but I defy even the skinniest of people not to be getting a bit of a sweat at the moment.

And sleeping is a no go area unless like yesterday evening I'm so dead on my feet I just doze off.

We went over to the inlaws for lunch yesterday and then it was my youngest neices birthday party in the afternoon. Not a particuarly strenuous day, but we got back here and by the time I'd fed us and put the girls to bed I was wiped out. Went and laid down for a minute and two hours later I got back up again.

Still didn't get anything sorted out with regard to the girls going to their grandparents for a few days in the holidays - I know what will happen, it will suddenly be September and they still won't have gone. The funniest thing was that yesterday the inlaws were moaning that they'd hardly seen them this year - like that's my fault. Between DH and them it's like banging my head against the wall, probably why there's a head shaped dent in ours then.

Sorry will now step down off soapbox and shuffle away

Nobody is perfect

OK maybe a newborn baby is, but it doesn't take long for that to change.

As much as we may strive to do the right thing and live our lives to a certain set of rules, sometimes we fail. And boy do we know about it when we do, either by beating ourselves up about it or having others do it for us.

A friend of mine recently made a mistake, not a big mistake in that she did what was expected, however maybe not quite in the way it was expected so it became a mistake. She has acknowledged that she made a mistake, but has explained what was done instead. All seemed well for a short while but then BANG it's back again and again and again.

At this point I will hold my hands up and say I wasn't there so this is all hearsay, however I have personally spoken to several people who were and they have all told me the same thing. Strangely enough others that were not there seem to have a completely different story and they are being believed.

I believe my friend, not the chinese whispers hearsay that seems to be so much more agreeable to others. I have seen how much this has upset my friend, I have heard the tears in her voice when she has spoken about what has happened. Even today, a week after it all rose it's nasty little head, this has been thrown in her face again.

So just remember, nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes - or can you claim to be the one that can throw the stone.

It's been 9 years today

since we got married - wow is that all.

Actually we've been seeing each other for nearly 17 years which is why when I say 9 years it doesn't really feel right.

We've had our ups and downs like most couples do, but it's definately been more ups than downs which is what makes it work.

Not a lot more to say about it really, except roll on the next 9 years :-)

Another busy week over

Well this week has certainly been a bit different - what with doing things with/for the girls, the shop footfall was amazing this week.

I've also been involved in a project - sorry can't say any more at the moment (don't you just hate it when people do that), but suffice to say all will be revealed in a couple of weeks.

I'm still trying to decide about shutting the shop for an extra day during the school summer holidays so that the girls have a bit more mummy time. If I do then it will probably be Mondays and Wednesdays, but I really don't know yet.

And I really need some "me" time at the moment too - I know this because I'm getting to tetchy about everything, mind you the weather hasn't been helping that one.

Oh bless - I so love my daughters - they are currently laid back on the settee together with little Sports Relief hand fans and Alanna turns round and says "Why is there so much wind"

Right, off to sort out school uniform etc...

My girlies

When I first opened the shop - nearly two years ago now, I promised myself that I would not compromise on one thing. My family always come first !

So in the last week I have shut the shop several times to do things with the girls, last week was take Alanna on her Nursery day trip and today was for Sabrina to do her very first ballet exams.

I haven't attached pictures before so not sure if this will work.

- oooooh it did, here is one that I took of Alanna last week - not that good as she wouldn't smile properly

I like this one better as the light coming through the window just makes it look surreal - well I think so anyway - OK so I have to work out how to place them all a bit better

.

OK on to todays photo's of my little ballerina - she passed by the way and was sooooooo pleased with herself - so was I




Isn't she just so gorgeous

Still Gobsmacked

It's been a bit of a strange week for me, was just getting myself sorted after the 12 hour crop and beginning to think about the next one when this week I got a phone call.

It was Kirsty Wiseman and the news she gave me just knocked me off my feet - Cotswold Keepsakes are closing!!!!!

Just as I'd almost finished reeling from that bit of news (and I'm still in shock), she asked if there was any chance I could hold her workshops for Emily Falconbridge here - now a bucket of water is needed.

I think I went into total auto at that point, anyway the long and the short of it is that I have booked the hall for that date and the workshops are being moved to Stonehouse.

That's the good news, the bad news is that some people can't make it due to the location, but good news is that there are now other people wanting to book so hopefully she'll get the full numbers again - so if your reading this and you might be interested then contact Kirsty to see if she has any spaces.

On the home front things have been a bit up and down recently, Gary is on the verge of handing his notice in which is not a good thing. However today he has the day off and is going on a photography portraiture course. If things go well and he likes it as much as his wildlife photography we have some plans for the backroom of the shop (oh yes, say those that know the backroom).

Off on a day trip with Alanna today so the shop is shut - always said family came first and I've tried not to compromise that too much.

Right best go get the ET's (Evil Toads - nickname for the girls) ready

Another one done and dusted

12 hour crop that is.

Brilliant time as always and some fantastic classes - sorry very tired today so will see if I can upload some images another time.

Not sure but think the dreaded lurgy bug has finally got me today as I'm feeling blinking awful.

Off to give the girls a bath in a while and then once they are in bed I'm going too.

Pass the bucket please

Well I'm seriously thinking of painting a big cross on the front door at this rate.

So far this week I've had Alanna sick and then today both Sabrina and Gary have gone down with tummy bugs.

Both the girls were sick, but it was all over and done with within 12 hours or so and then they were both bouncing. Can you guess who is the odd one out.

You've heard of man flu, well Gary has Man tummy bug :)

Just hoping I don't get it now as I'm far too busy to be ill.

Is it really June already

It's true you know, as you get older the years start going so much faster.

I can't believe we are nearly half way through this year and that it's only another 2 months and the shop will have been open for 2 years - eeeeeek my life is slipping away.

Mind you hopefully so will my body soon - started a diet last Sunday and when I weighed in this morning I'd lost 5lb (I'm 45 so I do it imperial for all you young whippersnappers who prefer metric :) )

I'm following an online diet which is free, yep my favourite words FREE - if you want to have a look at the site then it's http://www.sparkpeople.com it's an American site but if you work out the conversions for cups and also change a few of the foods around it works quite well. It's got a forum and various motivation bits and so far so good for me.

OK got to go now, must try and do some accounts work tonight - I am the worlds worst procrastinator when it comes to accounts work but I have made a promise to myself to get better so ........

3 C's

mmmm, just finished my tea tonight - Curry, Cheesecake and all washed down with Cider :)

Not everyone's cup of tea, but as I didn't have to do any cooking (except bung the dishes in the oven) then I'm a happy bunny.

The girls have gone over to mil's for a couple of days and I'm determined to have a bit of me time for a change - although I am sat here doing some work, well obviously not right now as I'm typing this, but ......

Do you ever feel like the world is passing you by

or that you must have your head stuck in the sand or something.

I've just been round reading a few other blogs as I felt it was time I did and I've found out there is a closed forum out there that a lot of "friends" belong to. An alternative art forum that seems to ban people at the drop of a hat and all sorts of other "behind the scenes" things going on that I had absolutley no idea about before.

Oh well, diddly dum back off to my cupboard I think - well they do say that mushrooms grow in the dark

Proud mummy moment coming up

First of all though I'll tell you about yesterday :)

Alanna and I had our meeting with the Headmistress at the school to find out which teacher she has when she starts school in September. I'm really pleased that it will be the same one that Sabrina had - the school here covers a large area and has a 75 pupil intake capacity for reception. This year it will be two classes, although some years it has been 3.

It was quite funny to start with as my little one can chat for England (no idea where she got that from :) ), but she was really quiet to start with. However, once the ice was broken a bit she started coming out with random answers to questions,

OK on to today :)

This morning was Sabrina's class assembly, they do this every term, each class gets to put on a special assembly and the parents are invited along.

It was all based on eating healthier and excercise. Three of them did a little "play" read from one of their library books - Yep you guessed it, Sabrina was one of the three. I came away almost in tears after seeing my "little" girl do such a great job. I know she's bright and can read fantastically for a 6 year old, but to hear the comments of other parents and the applause the 3 of them got was just so great.

Oooops I've done it again :-)

Things have been a bit chaotic around here the last couple of weeks, and posting on my blog has been one of the things I've let slip a bit - and yes I've been nagged again :-)

Well what has been happening

First of all I was having one of my blue funk times - I get a bit down every so often and everything and anything just does my head in for a while. Can be the slightest little thing and it really sets me off. No it's not period related before anyone suggests that as it's not monthly. Sometimes it doesn't happen for 6 months and then other times every couple of months - anyway I seem to be through that for now again.

Next it was Alanna's 4th birthday - oh my, just where has that 4 years gone. Only another couple of months and she starts school - eeeeeek. Mind you she sooooo needs it, I feel quite bad some days when I'm really busy as she is such a bright thing and could be even more "there" if I had the time to do more with her. I don't think she has suffered too much though, and I feel good that I've still had the day to day care and contact with her rather than me working and her being in a nursery every day.

What else, oh yeah I finally went to the doctors about my stomach problems and also mentioned my foot as that had started playing up again. I had a steroid injection in my foot last year which worked great, but you can only have 3 of those in any one joint in a lifetime, so the doctor decided tablets for now. Was also given tablets for my tummy, she thinks I am suffering from Acid Reflux - lovely !!

All went well for the first couple of days and then the headaches started, and boy did they. Waking up on and off throughout the night with a screaming headache is no fun. By the third day I worked out it was the tummy tablets that I was on, unfortunately I had taken them later than normal the night before and was still very rough (including being sick) in the morning. Was due at the Newport crop but there was no way I could drive let alone lift boxes etc......

So I'm off those for now as the doc wants to sort out my foot first and then try something else for my tummy . In the meantime I'm trying to lose some weight and eating rabbit food as I'm fed up with being told everything is down to my weight.

Right that was a lot of waffle so I'm going to sign off now and try to remember to get back here again later in the week - maybe I'll have something to say then :)

JUST WHY

Do some people think it's such great fun to write computer viruses that buggar up other peoples computers. Yep you guessed we've got a virus.

I just don't get the mentality of the people that do this, or is that just it - they are bloody mental.

We've managed to find a work around for now, but it looks like we are literally going to have to rebuild the pc to clear it - we know we have a virus, can even sort of tell you it's name (it has several mutations) but not one of the virus checkers that we have used so far can find it on our hard drive.

OK think that's enough from very angry and agitated from Stonehouse for tonight.

Best do this tag thing then

OK Chrissie has tagged me so I guess I'd best answer them :)

1. 5 things in my fridge

Milk
Cheese
Squeezies (the girls name for the froobe style yoghurts)
Lamb shank for tomorrows dinner
films (gary keeps his unused film in the fridge)

2. 5 things in my wardrobe

Office Suits that will probably never be worn again (and won't fit anyway)
Suede fringed jacket that I love but is way too small for me
Various court shoes that again I'm unlikely to wear
Boxful of teddies - some collectible ones I used to get
Various floaty scarfs that I never wear anymore but still love

3. 5 things in my bag

Ummmm, what bag ?? since I stopped working in an office I don't use a bag anymore

4. 5 things in my car

Cabbage patch doll
Bottle of water
A jacket for both the girls
Packet of scrapbook papers
Various rubbish and junk

5. 5 programmes I would save on TIVO

Ummmm, hardly watch tv but I guess

Doctor Who
Lost

and I can't think of any others at the moment

I think that's it, don't know who to pass it on to though

Small but perfectly formed

that was the crop today :)

Had a great laugh, natter and putting the world to rights today with Rach, Ange and Viv. OK so my language at one point was a bit bad, but the CJ cover that I had envisaged in my head just wasn't working and I got a bit pissy about it.

It was a good day though and with a bit more clearing and sorting out the layout of the tables I think it may have to turn into a bit of a regular thing.

The girls are both much better now and when I got home Alanna was wandering round the front room in just a pair of tights that she'd decided she was going to wear - I could tell that as they were on inside out. It amazes me that my 3 year old seems to be able to put on her own tights, but my 6 year old always seems to need me to help her.

Sabrina was well made up today though as she has finally received details of doing her first ballet exam. Poor mite missed out when all her friends did them as due to me doing so many crops she had missed a lot of lessons. However, now that she goes more reguarly due to Gary agreeing to take her each week she is being booked into the next lot.

OK time to go as Alanna is not settling yet and I really need some relaxation tonight

How bad do I feel

I've picked up the girls from my mums and I feel so wracked with guilt that I left my little girl there looking like this - OK so she didn't look like that when I dropped them off on Friday, but bless her she has soooooooo many spots.



Not only is her face covered, but so is her neck back and tummy and she has quite a few on arms and legs too.


Lots and lots of mummy and daddy cuddles going on this afternoon.

I hate this

It's now 3am and I've been up for the last 3 hours being sick, woke up with a stomach ache and knew what was coming next as this is about the 5th time this year that this has happened.

Within 20 minutes I was in the bathroom talking to that great white telephone - I've promised myself that this time I will go see the doctor, but of course I have to wait until Tuesday now because of the Bank Holiday.

I went into the girls room to try to get some sleep and not disturb Gary, it's OK the girls are not there as I dropped them off at my mums yesterday. However, as I then played yoyo between the bedroom and the bathroom I know I'm going to have woken him up.

Trouble is it's quite painful, but I can't take anything for it as whatever I drink/eat just bounces. Normally it's just a matter of waiting until it eases itself off, but why it has to happen in the middle of the night is a mystery to me.

Anyway, other news is that Alanna came down with the Chickenpox - you could play dot to dot on her back. Spoke to my mum and she was still happy to have them so I dropped them off and will, all being well, pick them up on Sunday.

Oh, oh think I best go now

In this day of technology and communication

I've just spent the last 30 hours trying to contact my parents who are probably only about 20 miles away from me!!!

They do house sitting from time to time and I knew they were on a job this week as my mum let me know last week. However, I needed to contact them to let them know about Sabrina's Chickenpox as they had agreed for the girls to go to them over Easter so that both Gary and I could do our own thing on Saturday (he's off on one of his photography days and I'm a the Newport crop).

Also I'd heard from Ange who works in the shop on a Saturday that she couldn't make it this week.

So I really needed to check that my mum would have the girls still before I made a decision about what to do about the shop etc.....

I ring the mobile number I have several times to keep getting a message that the phone is switched off. Then I decide to ring my kid sister as she's the one most likely to have any contact number for them. Nope she doesn't but at this point I discover that mum has changed her mobile and I don't have the new number. We sort that out and I then try ringing the new number only to keep getting her ansaphone.

This evening my sister rings saying that they've rung her and she now has a number for me to ring - it's a Cheltenham number which means they are only down the road from us !!!! Apparently mum is having trouble with her new mobile phone and they are not meant to use the house phone too much. The long and the short of it though is that they are still happy to have the girls, spots and all (although Sabrina's are crusting well and will be beginning to go by then). Just hoping that Alanna holds out a few more days before going down with it now.

So we have made the decision to shut the shop for the whole of the Easter weekend instead of just the Bank Holidays and will carry on with our original plans - don't you just love it.

Just a quick post to add a picture of Sabrina - can't help but feel sorry for her.

Got to see how to make this look pretty

It's very boring looking isn't it - will have to see what I can do to pretty it up a bit.

At home at the moment, Sabrina was not a very well girl at all this morning and so I made the decision not to open the shop. It really wouldn't have been fair on her to drag her down there all day, although we are off down there in a while for me to do a few of the internet orders.

She definately has conjunctivitis with the chickenpox and her poor eye looks so sore. Spoke to the doctor and there is a prescription at the chemists for us to pick up this afternoon so hopefully that will kick in quickly.

Still waiting for the mighty terror (Alanna that is) to come down with it. They were both meant to be going to my mum's this weekend as Gary has a photography day booked on Saturday and I'm at the Newport crop. Will wait to see how things are tomorrow before I speak to my mum and try to work out what's happening.

Sunday we have tickets to go see Hi-5 in Bristol (one of Sabrina's favourite TV programs), but again it's under review at the moment, hopefully though by then she will be "crusted" and we will be able to go.

OK, best battle with the ET's (for those that don't know that stands for evil toads aka my two daughters) and get down to some work.

Where did March go

After being seriously nagged at the weekend, I've promised I will try to update my blog at least once a week, just have to find another 50 hours a week to get everything done (and that's not including the housework).

Had a fantastic weekend at the Scrappers Unlimited Brecon Beacons retreat, even if I did end up driving backwards and forwards all weekend.

My daughters were both in a ballet show on the Friday evening and I had agreed that I would come back home to see it, then on the Saturday I discovered I'd managed to take the shop keys with me. So my weekend went like this

Thursday late afternoon drive to the Brecons and set up my shop - drop into bed about 1am
Friday get up at 6.30 and finish setting up the shop, then chat and eat and drink (soft drinks) until about 2pm when I then drove back to Gloucestershire. Sort out girls and drive to Cheltenham to watch the show which (had to have them there for 6.15). Watch show and finally after picking up the girls get back home at about 10.45. Take them to bed and read a story before setting off back to the Brecons - got back there at about 12.30 and finally went to bed at about 2.30

Got up Saturday at about 7.15 and after some lovely cooked breakfast started my one and only class of the weekend (one of Chrissie Willicombes fantastic journalling classes). Then came the bombshell - Gary rang asking me where the shop keys were - yep you guessed it. In my pocket!!! I'd popped down the shop quickly on the Friday and had forgotten to take them out of my pocket when I got back.

So after much "discussion" I set off to meet him and the girls part way (about Ross) and then back to the retreat again. After this I had just about lost the will to live so all thoughts of even trying to finish the layout I had started or any others I had planned went right out the window and I just started having a play with some Utee.

Back at home poor Sabrina has come down with the Chickenpox and is not very happy at all. Looks like she may have a bit of conjuctivitis as well. Just waiting for Alanna to get it now (and she will be a real misery - well what will be new there then :-) ).

OK, I still have to work today, so best get the girls sorted - now do I put an "UNCLEAN" notice on the door to warn people of the Chickenpox or just try to hide her away in a cupboard (yes I am joking)

Bored, bored, bored, bored

Do you get the picture, yep I'm bored.

Been doing lots of accounts work, boy do I hate it and tonight I decided I'd have an evening off. Trouble is I only decided this at about 8 o'clock and I have absolutely nothing here so I can't play or design or anything.

Gary says I should just relax, but watching telly isn't my thing and I have nothing else to do. I took most of my stuff down the shop a while back as we were trying to sort out the house, big mistake. Think I will have to sort out a mini kit so I have some bits here. Guess I could try sketching, but again it's not really my thing.

OK, will stop moaning now and try and find something to do

Must make an effort

OK so I started this blog and then got carried away with other things - got moaned at for not keeping it updated at the weekend.

So I must make the effort and try and get on here a bit more often.

What have I been up to recently ........

Changing bedding in the middle of the night as my darling daughter was sick everywhere - oh bleugh. Poor mite kept apologising and I kept on telling her it was OK and she couldn't help being ill - am I such a horrible mum that she feels she need to apologise??

Went to the Newport crop on Saturday with the mobile shop and as always forgot some things that I was meant to take (big apologies to Julia on that one). Had a good day and the Rags and Ribbons range went down well which was really nice as it was the first "in life" view of them.

Must remember to watch how I do things as I upset someone and didn't even mean to (you'll know who you are if you read this). Didn't even realise that I was doing what she thought I was, but hey that's me all over.

Sunday I went up to Stitches, some really nice new stuff there and got to bump into loads of people that I know and don't see very often so that was brilliant. Didn't stop too long as my foot was playing up again (got a manky toe that won't heal properly).

Put in some orders and lugged lots of catalogues home with me to drool over and place orders later.

Right the girls are stirring upstairs and I need a cuppa (ok so it's my second one), so I best get moving.

Will look at the Tag soon Chrissie, just got to find another 10 hours a day :-)

Finally got Weenie Bits started back up properly

When I changed the shop name over to Crafty Pastimes I always said I would use the Weenie Bits name as a manufacturer and start packaging my own bits. Well at last I've finally got the first product ready.

It's been on the drawing board for a while now, but due to all sorts of reasons I just hadn't got there. However, after seeing how popular the Weavewerks products have become I decided I would go ahead and do it.

So Rags & Ribbons has been born :-)

All I have to do now is cut up lots more of the colours I have sitting here !!!!

I think I've just blogged

After reading a few other blogs recently I thought it might be fun to have my own and jot down my thinkings/doodlings etc....

So here we are - has it worked - LOL

Yey it did :-)

OK guess I'd better think about how I want to use this blog now, do I just ramble on or do I become serious (yeah like that's really me).

Just sat here at the moment finishing of a bananna milkshake from McDonalds - took the girls to get their feet measured, buy a pressie for their cousins birthday on Saturday and picked up a few things to finish of a project I'm working on (will be released on the site soon). Then decided to have a treat and get us all a McDonalds as we haven't had one since before Christmas - also means no cooking for me tonight which is a big bonus as I'm full of cold and don't really feel like it.

Pondering on what to do later, accounts work which I absolutely loath or look for new products. Well I know what I'd like to do, but I guess I'd best get the accounts work done really.

So with that I'd best sort out the girls (they are screaming at each other as I type) and then set myself up to be bored rigid all night.