December 4th

I have been soooo busy the last two days.Friday saw me having a day out to my old village,Walkern.They have a fantastic Christmas shop.The decorations this year where the best I have ever seen anywhere in the World.

This upside tree was my favourite.I LOVE all the colours. Hilary and I were very restrained, we took hundreds of pictures but didn't spend a single penny.

Then it was off to Linda and Danni's fabulous shop Jolie.Opposite my old home.We couldn’t resist buying some goodies in here

then it was time for a spot of lunch at the new tea rooms.They also had a beautiful little shop at the back.Were we couldn’t resist a few purchases,yet again.

I saw lots of old acquaintances on the way,which was a weird experience after two years away.

I was chuffed to see my photo was among the ones Cheryl had picked out from her photography course for her blog.

I now have lots of new ideas for pictures I just have to get around to taking them.

I spoke to my daughter at University,and I was surprised to hear that she was upset the Christmas tree was up,as she wanted to help put the decorations on it.So we now have a naked tree sitting in our window for a week till she returns next Saturday……….

It seems,its a tradition to her to help put the decorations on But as she pointed out,I don’t usually let her put many on,as I am a perfectionist.I‘m afraid I was never one of those mums who let their Children loose on the tree.At least it will give Teddy a chance to get used to having a massive tree sat in his favourite spot to look out of the window.

Here is my JYC Layout about a recipe for a perfect Christmas.

I have decided to change all my journaling on my first 5 Layouts for JYC.My husband is having trouble reading the font I have used.It has nothing to do with the fact he needs glasses for reading!!!!

George Clooney eat your heart out.

December 3rd -part Two

Well all the shirts are ironed,house vacuumed and I’ve been trying out an idea for our starter on Christmas day.

In the States I love to have a lunch of a soup bowl made from a sourdough roll with luscious thick soup inside.

But we can’t buy them here,so I set about making some huge rolls and a spicy butternut squash soup.I made sure they were nice and crusty and then scooped

out the middle.They were a great success

so I now have to make 9 for Christmas day!Whilst I was busy cooking Teddy was finding it hard to keep his eyes open.

But if I so much as move his eyes open.So I stood patiently waiting for his eyes to become heavy and off he drifted.ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

So after everyone was fed and watered I set about completing my JYC layout.I used two pictures of my Christmas cards I am sending and the basket where I keep all the card writing materials.Inside the envelope are

• letters from my Dad,Sister and me to my Mum in Australia,December 1975
• A card made by Jade,my niece
• a copy of a letter posted to Santa today
• and room for any interesting cards I receive.

December 3rd

I seem to be running a day late with my pictures for Cheryl's class.I like to look at other peoples ideas and then pinch them!!! The inspiration for these photos was a word.

Well that fits in with my theme this year ,each room has a different word as part of its decoration.The Christmas decorating is taking me forever.I must remember to stop buying anymore decorations.I haven’t even started on the tree yet,which is a bit of luck as I still have a bedroom left of unused decorations.Believe me I have more than most shops.

Here’s a close up of my paper chains.I still feel a bit guilty that they are tacked into the new ceiling.Plus my son pointed out that he has to limbo under some of them and its a bit difficult to open the fridge.Oh well,they look fab.

Here are the ones we put in the dining room.I had planned to put them in the kitchen as well but I couldn’t face anymore holes.

I hope you noticed my new counter today,for some reason my old one stopped working .I used to like checking out how many people had popped in for a butchers.

I promised to mention a fab Nepalese Indian restaurant in Kneesworth,near Royston.Yuva like Teddy it is one year old this week.They invited all their loyal customers for an evening of food and drink all FREE and as usual the food was delicious.Check out this stunning restaurant you won’t be disappointed.So thanks to Hilary for inviting me along.

I still have my Shimelle layout to finish and will post later ,but I HAVE to do some ironing,I am so behind with the jobs in the house.Ryan asked where all his shirts are last night.In the ironing basket is the answer.

Don’t they realise I’m busy…………

December 2nd

It makes me laugh when Shimelle says take 15 minutes out of your day for Journal Your Christmas.15 minutes!!!!!!

After taking my Cheryl photos,printing my journaling and photos I only have about 15 minutes of my day left.Admittedly it doesn’t help that I am not computer savvy and I also have the new printer to work out.But I now have a pile of ironing,the dog hasn’t been walked and nothing has been cleaned in any way in the house.

But look what I have to show for all my hard work.

This is a self portrait for Cheryl's workshop,which I also included on my December 1st JYC.Sorry about the flash ,but it was dark by the time I finished them.

I finally caught up with both of the Shimelle prompts and I must say I am thrilled with my new printer.It was the first time I have been able to print directly on card.

I used an old photo from a Christmas in the Grand Canyon

and a hidden journaling card about today's weather.I just have my candle to light tonight and add to this post in the morning.

My husband kindly put up all my paper chains today. I say kindly because in putting them up bits of our newly plastered ceiling came away.So he will have to refill and repaint it after Christmas.He just rolled his eyes.Bless him.But God they do look good.

December 1st

Well,what’s happening?

Two blogs in one day???

But I have been sooo busy today.I “popped” to Cambridge(2 hours stuck in traffic) to buy my new printer.My husband had found one for me in Jessops.£50 cheaper than anywhere else.So off I went to get it.I had to carry it to the car park and it weighed 12kg!!!But the worse bit was when I checked my watch and I had 5 minutes to get to the car-park.Anyone who knows me well,will know I ran as fast as I could with a massive 12kg box.I was not paying £3.60 for 2 hours.I breathed a sigh of relief when I got there on time.Admittedly I can’t move my arms and my back is killing me ,but I saved £51.60 in all!!!

Here is the new sexy beast,just waiting for hubby to get me sorted.No not that ,the printer ,silly you.

It supposedly has ink that will last for at least a 100 years on photographs.Plus it does everything and is wireless.So I will never have to move from the snugly kitchen.

I have been experimenting with my cameras today as part of Cheryl's new photo project.Which was handy as I need photos for my Shimelle Journal.All the decorations have come down from the loft and I admit I have rather a lot.It takes me about a week to dress the house.So I have started with the fireplace in our main sitting room.

These are massive letters I bought yesterday in TKMaxx.They are really going to be for the wall in my new scrapbook room.I have lots more to add to this fireplace.

Also I spent hours making paper chains.I had seen some I wanted for my kitchen in Cath Kidston.But they had sold out.

So I bought some Cath Kidston wrapping paper and set about cutting hundreds of strips

They look really effective.

I just need some drawing pins to put them up.

Happy 1st Birthday

Its Teddy’s first Birthday today.

I don’t suppose I can call him a puppy anymore ,he’s a big boy now.

He’s still mad as a hatter,but we love him.

He’s soooo looking forward to Christmas and the tree going up!!!!!!

I have a feeling there is trouble ahead.I usually put all the presents below the tree,but I don’t think that's not going to be possible this year.Teddy is always waiting for your back to be turned.He’s like having 4 toddlers in the house.

I have bought my new printer and once its all set up by Hubby,I will be posting my Journal Your Christmas pages on here and no doubt pictures of what Teddy has destroyed on the tree front.

Self portrait for Cheryl's photography class

 

Sorry for the poor quality of the picture of me inside the globe,but my printer has run out of ink.

And here’s another one I took of me playing our holiday grand piano.My Dad bought it as a joke for my daughter years ago.It has now weirdly become one of our favourites to get down from the loft.Its so bad taste and kitsch but it always brings a smile when the piano plays away and the snowmen spin around dancing.

I can’t wait for Shimelle’s JYC on Tuesday.I just need to get a new printer and I’m ready.

Here to fight another day

Well I have been having some medical tests this week and received the results this morning.

We had to break the bad news to my son,that he won’t be getting the Bentley he had been hoping for. That my daughter won’t be off on a  hastily booked trip to Disney World,Florida over Christmas.(she knew I’d want to do this)

Even my sister was disappointed to hear she’ll still have to pay me back the money I lent her to buy her new house.

It would seem since I had been sent for urgent tests to hospital,everyone had been imaging the worst.My Mother died of the cancer I was being investigated for and they had  all been thinking about it in their own way.

Tasmin,my daughter had inquired if she could get out of her university exams.My friend in Spain,came to see me and was upset that she’s returning to live in the UK and I wouldn’t be here to go shopping with her.

My Husband had been kept awake with thoughts about getting a cleaner,and cooking and had checked out life insurance for the both of us.

And I was in the process of buying an expensive bathroom suite and I did have a moment when I thought ,shall I just buy them a cheap one.

But its all systems go again now.The tests were all clear and I have just one more investigation in two weeks to endure,and then I’ll be signed off.All good,except I still have the pain in my hip and back ,which I’ve had for over 15 years,that I originally went to the Doctors about.

My sister said I was just like my Dad when we use to go to the hospital with him.He always cracked a joke with his Doctor and I couldn’t resist when the Doctor said at the end

“Do you have any questions?”

I replied,

”I’d just like you to confirm ,what you said before, that sex was out of the question,for good”

He couldn’t stop laughing and told my Husband

“she's putting words in my mouth”

So I’m afraid I think my breakfast in bed with a newspaper and hot water bottle will now be a thing of the past.

But at least I’ll get to use the new bathroom.

Today's Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving over in America.

So I thought I'd think about what I am thankful for.

• that we don't have Thanksgiving and have to invite all the inbreds over for dinner,that I've slaved over
• My Husband who adores me (God knows why?)
• My two children (who tolerate me)
• for getting through the night witout any pit stops to the toilet
• that I have my own hair and teeth.(well not counting the caps)
• My OCD suffering,ball of chaos-Teddy
• My friends
• My beautiful home
• being healthy ( except for my back,neck and hip pain)
• which leads me onto the NHS paying for me to go to a private hospital.
• the internet (what would I do all day?)
• Mc Donalds Mcflurrys.
• and you,thankyou for reading my blog

"I love Thanksgiving turkey...it's the only time in Los Angeles that you see natural breasts"-Arnold Schwarzenegger

My last week

Well ,the Around the World blog train was a great thing to be involved with.I loved how different the weather was in each Country.Its mind boggling to think that at the same time we are wrapping up for Winter,someone will be on a beach roasting.

I had a lovely Sunday,at Anna's crop at Southoe.As it was our Christmas party,we didn’t have a kit this month.It took me a while to get my mojo going.

I hate not having my entire stash to go through,but I got there in the end.This is my Nan with Tasmin .I have some journaling  hidden under the journaling card.

The journaling reads-Tasmin with my Dads Mum,who we called Big Nanny.Over the years this got changed to Fat Nanny in London.(now hidden)but Tasmin always remembered her as squidgy fanny Nanny!!!!

Now ,any Americans may not realise is that a fanny is something quite different here in the UK!

This is why the journaling is hidden.

The next layout came together a bit quicker and is of my son Ryan at about 3 years old.

Again this one has hidden journaling on a pull out card.

I finally finished my layout I had started  at the Crafty Stash crop.I’m afraid the light wasn’t very good when I took the picture.

I had been saving the bottom sheet of paper for over a year.It’s a map of Italy,with Naples right in the middle.So it was perfect for a layout about our time in Naples at the beginning of the month.Everything is inked and layered with 3D foam.

And finally here's a treat I bought for myself this week.I had spent a stressful day of tests at hospital and stopped on the way home to buy myself some flowers and I couldn’t resist the vase  as well.

I am looking forward to them opening over the coming week.What do you like to treat yourself with?

Saturday we had a lovely pizza to tuck into before X Factor started.But come Sunday morning I suddenly realised we hadn’t had the garlic bread to go with it???Well here it is -

I think its cooked.Do you?

You can’t smell anything burning in an aga.But as my Husband pointed out the neighbours would have.All the smells go out the chimney.It was that black I couldn’t see it in the oven.

I must admit I have done this several times.Chris just rolls his eyes and says “again!”