NVQ and away...

Here I am at home updating my blog when I'm supposed to be working on my NQV. busy day today again - NVQ all day amongst other bits and bobs I need to do, then pick the kids up from school, James has choir from 4-6pm, Sophie is swimming from 5.30-6pm (and James will need a lift home from choir!) and then a Governors' meeting from 6.30 till goodness knows when! I still have a commissioned birthday card for my sister too, which she needs before the weekend.

Better plod on instead of blogging...

Eight going on eighteen

Nothing much to report tonight, but I'm just de-stressing after a nightmare run-in with sophie. What gives an eight year old so much attidute and audacity? Not to mention the constant arguing and backchat. I've had a serious talk with her about her having to calm down, and the upshot is that she got very upset, and promised to try to be calmer.

I still want her to be Sophie...just a little better behaved and less words per minute out of her 'motormouth'. I've told her that if she doesn't calm down, that I'll start by cutting down her e-number intake - and the thought of no sweets really brought her down to earth with a bump.

I'll let you know if it lasts!

One more

Not much else to say really - but this is the card I made for my friend's daughter's birthday this week. Image is from Ruth as per tha last post. I believe it is a Whiff of Joy stamp - Melinda Blowing Kisses - but I can't find it in stock anywhere :( - can anybody help me?

Poorly pussy

My lovely beautiful gorgeous feline friend has been poorly. Very poorly. In fact, I thought he was off to chase mice in the sky on Thursday night. However, as these things tend to go, he improved vastly overnight, and although I still took him to the vets this morning, he was given a clean bill of health.

Not bad for a 15 year old moggy. She said that in most cats of 15, they would expect to hear quite a significant heart murmur, yet his was pounding away like that of a 3 year old. That's not to say, of course, that there's nothing at all wrong with him, but from the checks she could do, she couldn't find anything to worry about. Bless.

I finished a card for one of my best friend's daughter last night, ready for her birthday today. I haven't uploaded the photo of it yet, so I can't show you, but I will tomorrow. It's using another of the lovely images Ruth sent me as part of my Secret Santa pressie on my forum (she sent me a hand made book, entitled a Year of Cards with a stamped image in each pocket ready for me to use. It was truly lovely, and the image on the sister birthday card from the other day was one that she had stamped too.) I've added the pictures of the book and the other goodies I got below. Enjoy.

8 years ago today...

and I was in agony right about now! Having had an 'elective' c-section (not elected by me I hasten to add! A medical decision was made on my behalf!), and not having a very good reaction to the morphine they kept on pumping into me. However, here we are, 8 years later, and was it all worth it?? Hmmmmmm........

Of course it was (mostly)! Happy Birthday Sophie!

Here are Sophie's birthday cards, the first one from us, and the second was from James (although as you may have guessed, he had very little to do with actually producing it):

Oh Dear

Well, that didn't last very long did it? I've been so busy with work and general 'stuff' that I haven't got around to doing much crafting, but I have made a couple of cards this year.

I can show you one today, and the other two tomorrow, as they're for Sophie's 8th birthday. I can't believe she's 8 years old tomorrow!

Anyway, this one was for my cousin's daughter, Imogen, who was born 4 days before Sophie. (sorry for the poor photo - it was taken on a phone by my manager at work, as I'd forgotten to take a photo whilst I was at home - it's better than the photo taken by my phone though :-( )

New Year - New Me?

Well, maybe not, but here I am again! I'm about to start taking all my decorations down. I say all, but all we have up really, is the tree, a bit of tinsel on the mirror, a couple of stuffed snowmen, and the Chirstmas Cards on the doors. It will be quite nice to get rid of them actually - and arrange the furniture so you don't have to breathe in to get past it!

I also hope to make some cards this weekend, so I'll endeavour to photo all my cards this year (I got into the bad habit of not taking pictures towards the end of last year) and pop them on here for all to see.

Happy New Year

No New Years resolutions from me - 'cause I never keep them. But I really am going to try harder in my aspects of my life - to be more organised at home, more organised with my crafting, try to eat more sensibly (notice how I worded that? No promises).

I will blog more too - even if it's a short and succinct post - just to let people know I'll still alive.

Went to see my Grandad on Monday - he was 105 yesterday. Yes - that's 105 years old! Go Grandad!

James, Grandad and Sophie.

Advent

I wish somebody would invent a few more hours in a day; there never seems to be enough. I have almost given up on the idea of making mt christmas cards (apart from a few which I need to make, like very close family and a couple of swaps).

James is at a choir concert tonight (although thankfully a short one) as the choir are singing for the opening of the Christmas Craft Fayre this evening at school. I won't mention (much) about the magnet that James swallowed last weekend. It's enough to say that I'm fairly sure it's out of his system now. Honestly - you'd think he was nearly 10 monthsold , not nearly 10 years old!

We spent the whole weekend tidying the kids' bedrooms - and there is still more stuff to sort. We have bags and bags of rubbish/recycling/clothes/toys to give away (some has already gone to friends and family) and I can only imagine what the bedrooms will be like after Christmas again. Saying that - James' birthday is next week so it's going to get worse sooner rather than later. I can't tell you what he's having, as he reads my blog from time to time. Bless.

I'm just at work now catching up on here, but needs must and I'd better get back to doing the stuff I'm paid to do. Will pop back later.

Christmas is coming...

Oh hecky thump! How on earth are the days passing so quickly? Since I last blogged I can't even remember what's happened. I know that Sophie was ill again, and James has been bullied at school (although I am quite satisfied with how it's being dealt with - so far!). I made the rest of the Christmas gifts that Emma at work had ordered, and also a birthday card for her Mum (shown below). I still have to make any impact on my Christmas cards though - I've made, like, 10 maybe? No flipping good at all, I can tell you.

The washing machine broke last night, so we're now £46 lighter, but at least it's fixed. Bloomin' good service from my repair man I can tell you!

Strictly will be on soon, and however controversial I may appear, I'm actually quite glad that John Sergeant is now gone.I am sad and disappointed that the public didn't vote him out, but nonetheless, I think the context will dramatically improve from now on in. I also received Tom Chamber's autograph this week (via my wonderful sister who works in the bank where his Dad banks, and who asked him on my behalf to get a personalised autograph off Tom when he saw him). It arrived on Tuesday, and the kids and I were whooping around the house for ages! LOL - big kid me or what?

Go Tom!

Study leave

I've been off work today with a day of study leave - I've actually used it properly too - I've been a good girl and written my first reflective account for my NVQ in business and Administration. Had a bit of a rum deal though - my lovely employer has registered with an NVQ help website so that we can log on and get tips and hints. However, when I did this, I tried to register for the level 3 NVQ, but it kept defaulting to the level 2 one. I e-mailed the website, and they replied to me saying that my employer had only purchased the level 2 one (bearing in mind that 90% of us are doing the level 3 NVQ in Bus and Admin - so I rang poor Charlie at work and she's e-mailed the woman who runs it all. We'll see if there's an explanation when I get into work tomorrow.

James has been fine today (although still quite pale) - eating properly though, and quite chirpy still, so I'm not really worried. He had a bad night last night though, and wet the bed for the first time in months. At least I was working at home so I could wash all the bedding and get it dry. Bless him.

I got 3 more orders for mini clipboards off the back of one I did for a girl at work, so I need to get those done soon, as well as the ironing that I've been putting off for days. I'll have to do it tomorrow, or we'll all be in out birthday suits before too long (not a pleasant thought for anybody!).

Animal Magic

We've just come back from a school choir concert for James (it was called Animal Magic - just in case you're wondering) - it was quite eventful - he fainted half way through the last piece! He was on the front row of the choir, and we were sitting 3 or 4 rows back right at the side. We watched him get paler and paler and start to sway a little, then I dived out of the audience and up the side of the seats, and as I went forwards, his music teacher spotted me, then looked at James and ran forward to catch/lift him off the stage and sit him down. Phew! He had completely drained of colour and gone all clammy and I'm sure was about to topple over.

Funny thing is, he had done something similar earlier on in rehearsals, but had been fine after 10 minutes and a little sit down.

He's fine now we've got him home too, so not sure what that's all about. Perhaps it's his version of the bug that Sophie had over the weekend? He should hopefully be OK for school tomorrow - but if he isnt he can stop at home as I have a study day tomorrow (well, technically a half day study day and 1 1/2 hours of flexi to top the day up). I think he'll be OK though.

The sad news is that a local man who was found dead in the church yard at the weekend is the step-dad on one of the boys in James' class at school. We've known the fammily for about 5 years, and although I wouldn't call them friends, it really brings it home how sad these tragic events are - and you never think it will happen around here, so when it does it really comes as a shock.

Sad, sad times.

That card

Sorry about the quality - I was in a rush on the morning I had to take it into work to be signed by everybody. For anybody that's wondering, Helen and her boyfriend Baz have a large German Shepherd (Baz is a security guard and 'Kato' is a trained guard dog). So whilst the card might have an odd picture for a leaving card, it was very appropriate, and very much appreciated by the lady in question).

Dead or alive?

If I have any loyal readers, you'll all be thinking I've deserted you by now, I'm sure. However, as you can see, that is not the case - it's just that sometimes you can be poddling through life merrily minding your own business, when things just seem to catch up and overtake you on the odd occasion. Nothing major, no traumatic events (thankfully), nothing special to write home about, just 'stuff'.

I'm doing my NVQ 3 at work (business and administration), and I worked full time last week as it was half term, and I like to get my money's worth out of the holiday club I use for the kids - add that to the fact that work will not only let me take flexi time (like today - for an inset day), but they'll also pay me for some of the extra hours I work. Thank god they will too, as Michael is now on flat pay with no travel expenses or overtime at all. This last month was the first 'flat monthly wage' he's received, and OMG was it a shock! So if I can get a few extra hours in and paid for, then I will! It all helps!

I also helped out at Shirley's annual jumble sale on Saturday in aid of Breast Cancer Research. As a survivor of Breast Cancer, Shirley has organised a jumble sale for the last few years, and we broke the record again this year by raising over £600. A long day (but a few perks by being able to have first pick - so the kids got a few bits - some Spongebob DVDs, some Dr Who action figures, Sophie got a little collection of photo frames, and I even got a couple of decent books to read - Autobiography from Gary Barlow, and a Biography of Ronnie Barker, and a couple of Joanne Harris novels too - and a few other odds and sods like note pads and a couple of tops for James for the future).

Well, I have only made one card lately (a leaving card for one of my dearest friends at work) and I did take a quick picture, but I haven't uploaded it to either computer or laptop yet - so that will follow as soon as I get get chance or have the inclination.

The only other point to note is that I had to get a man in last week - the laptop finally stopped working (and I tried and tried myself to get it connected again with no joy). It turned out that I had got too many spyware and such programs running and they all conflicted with each other and booted me off the Internet after being connected for only 2 or 3 minutes at a time. All sorted now, and he also sorted my wireless connection (made it secure after 2 years of it being unsecured) and also created my little network so I can see files on the PC from the laptop and vice versa, and I can also print from the laptop now, which I have never been able to figure out for myself! He was here about 2 hours, at least, and only charged me £35 for sorting it all out! What a bloke, and a serious bargain too!

Only 51 days to go until the fat man comes then? Trouble is, it looks like we might have to choose between presents and food this year - (well, not quite that bad) but seriously tightening of belts will be required!

And Tina - if you read this - more info please!!! It's killing me not knowing!

Another week

goes by without a post from me.

I really thought I was getting back into the swing of this blogging malarkey, and then it all goes to pot again.

I've had a busy week, with the kids having after school stuff and two governors meetings...one of which lasted until 8.45, by which time I was shattered, but still had to fill the car up with petrol and get a takeaway for tea. I barely stayed awake long enough to eat it (although it was yummy KFC). To cut a long story short, other stuff just got in the way this week.

I did finish the card for my (stand-in) line manager's daughter's birthday - here it is:


I did get a wonderful bargain though - our local 'Au Naturale' shop was having a '20% off' day, and Michael and I had been chatting about how rubbish our cushions on the sofas are (we have 2 x 2 seater sofas and no single chairs)...so it was decided that I would look for some nice, good quality, well filled, plump cushions to replace them. So in to Au Naturale I nipped, and spotted some lovely large faux suede cushions, in a mushroomy/biscuity kind of colour - perfect! £12 each they were, but with 20% off, I could get two for under £20 (we can make do with 2 I thought - don't have to have 4 all at once). When I got to the till, the young girl behind the counter said "These are a real bargain today - they're coming up on the till at £5 each" - which meant I was going to get 2 for £8.

When I got them home, Michael asked why I didn't get 4? Because I only have two hands and I was carrying 3 bags of shopping before I bought the cushions, and the cushions were so big they needed a bag each...so that's why (the polite version anyway).

Needless to say I went back the next day and bought two more (after checking that the price was the same of course). We're now using the old cushions in lieu of a door draught excluder (anything to save money on heating bills) - but I'm going to look around for a proper draught excluder in the near future, I promise.

What a week

Well, this week has been a busy one. I've had a birthday (I will photo my cards and pop a picture on here soon), I've been on a course to start my NVQ3 in Business and Administration (I must be mad), I've been running around left right and centre with the kids swimming and clubs and stuff, and I haven't started my Christmas cards yet, despite it nearly being October, and the fact that I'm fast running out of time! It was also 21 years on Thursday that I lost my Mum, and strangely I find myself missing her more and more as the years go by, and I see my kids growing up without her by their sides. RIP Mum.

My friend Helen from work has only gone and got herself a secondment for 3 months, so after having finally thought we were settled at work, it's all up in the air again. It's great for Helen, as it's more money for her, but on a purely selfish note I don't want her to go!

I have to get my posterior into some sort of gear today as I have loads to do, in the form of housework and card making (neither of which are floating my boat at the moment). So that begs the question; why on earth am I sitting here updating my blog when I should be running around the house with a duster or something...(I think, dear reader, that you probably already know the answer to that one in your heart fo hearts).

As promised

Here are the cards I made yesterday (well, and one from this morning too). I still have to put inserts into these, but for the first time, I've inked the edges of a couple of the envelopes to match the inking on the cards - it looks quite effective, even if I do say so myself! In Jayne's card, I'll be putting an image on the left hand side of the insert (as you open it - the left page) to tie in with the front. (It's the same Jayne that's on secondment - so I hope she's not reading my blog to keep up-to-date!)

General birthday cards:

A couple of anniversary cards:

A card for my cousin's son (10 this week and a mad-keen footballer):
A 40th birthday card for Jayne:
And another general birthday card:

Itchy and scratchy

is how we've been feeling for a couple of days as Sophie came home from school with some little tiny multi-legged friends in her hair. Well, that is , I assume she did, as I could see the eggs, but couldn't find the actual little pests themselves. All treated and presumably gone now, but it doesn't stop you itching when you think about them.

The consent form for James to appear on TV came (via Special Delivery 9am - guess who wasn't here?!) so I went to the sorting office to pick it up, and it's duly been completed and returned. We'll just have to wait and see when he will appear now (she said within a couple of months).

I've spent all this morning making cards! Yippeeeeee - finally! I shall take some piccies either later today or tomorrow and let you have a peek. Nothing spectacular (I bought some of those 'No Scissors Required' decoupage sheets, so I've been making fairly quick cards with them, and also some Paper Nation decoupage which I seem to have had forever.

I might get around to making something completely original one of these days, but don't hold your breath!

This evening, I shall be mostly watching 'Strictly Come Dancing' - I love the program, and since the gorgeous Tom Chambers (Sam Strachan from Holby City) is appearing, it will be even more worth while. I didn't realise that my sister knows Tom's dad though, until I was speaking to her about Strictly the other week! Apparently they're quite local to Matlock and they come into the Bank regularly - jammy cow [smiles sweetly].

Anyway - come on Tom!!!!!

Famous at last

Well, it looks like James is going to be famous at last! He's pestered me for days to take some photos of him that he can upload to a CBBC website Funky Fables - he needed seven photos of him with different (pre-defined) expressions on his face. We did this exercise on Sunday, and they were duly uploaded. They are then used for animated clips on the website where a character uses your face and it appears to talk etc. I'll try to post a link to his clip later on when he gets back from his piano teacher's leaving party (I'll tell you about that another day).

Clip is here

Now along with the website, there is also a TV Program, which is 10 minutes long and on the CBBC channel. Photos which are uploaded are randomly selected to be chosen to appear on the actual TV prog (with parents' consent) - and James has been chosen!

I was contacted on my mobile today by a producer from the program who asked me loads of stuff about James and confirmed he will be on the TV program within the next couple of months.

Can you imagine how excited a certain 9 year old boy is?? I'm not sure I can put it onto perspective, but I think the whole school knew about it by 8.50am this morning!

Sophie's been off school poorly for the last two days, with a stinking cold and a bit of sickness, but I'm hoping she will be well enough to go back tomorrow (she is slowly regaining her appetite) as I really need to be at work!

Right - Michael's cooking tea as I type, so you can guess how popular I am for being on here again. Must get around to crafting again soon...or I'm going to found buying birthday cards late at night under cover of Tesco's.

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