Thursday, August 31, 2006

An opportunity your way cometh…

...to have a little magic woven over your fave, but somehow 'flat' looking photos - and all for the cost of a couple of packets of brads...

A scrapbooking friend, Anita, is trying to raise some serious spondoolies to treat her very poorly sister to something a little special, which at the moment is just out of their reach. She's offered to do a wicked photoshop conversion for a ridiculously small fee to try tempt you to help...

See this fabby offer here: http://photo-pops.blogspot.com/

So girls, if you’re not able to do it yourself, or just can’t spare the time to faff around (and who can?), why not snap this offer up while it’s going...?

Alternatively, if you want to simply make a donation... well, that would be wonderful too.



I’m sure lots of you reading this know these girls... They’re our friends. Please give generously if you can. Next time it could you. Or me. Wouldn’t it be nice to know we had our buddies around us through the tough times?

can I ask...?

One good did thing happen today.

A friend of mine got back in touch. We'd pm'd each other a bit as she was having a few techy problems... Lord only knows why she contacted me?!! (of all people...?)

Anyway, I was able to point her in the right direction..... :-)

Now, this gal's just created herself a new blog

Her name's Laura Godfrey, and we used to work together on Scrapbook Magic.
She may be the most underated scrapper I know! Her stuff is amazing - not much on the site to see yet, but I'm hoping Laura will be sharing lots of her fabby and very unique creations with us real soon.

I'd suggest bookmarking her for future ogling sessions....this girl could make a page that would knock your socks off out of a handfull of scraps anyone else would throw away. She's got some talent.... I tell you.

So c'mon Laura - show em your stuff!

In the immortal word's of Sam... Today was a bad day...


Today was Not a good day, guys.

We - that is, my family - have had a bit of a body blow today, and I don't think there'll be much fun stuff coming out of me tonight.

Talk about bubbles bursting... there's a soap smear in a five mile radius around our home right now... and not much hope of clearing it for a while.

I'm feeling sad and depressed. Horribly worried, and so unbelievably anxious it's not real.

I suffered really bad dreams last night.

All night...

It was one of those occasions when I have a bad dream, and wake up and think "Thank God! It was just a dream... only to drift off, and find myself right back there in the same dream... time after time. I know this is anxiety. Goodness knows - I've been there before.

But I hate it. And I hate our current situataion.... and I just want to wake up tomorrow, and find everything's all alright... Know that feeling?

Bummer, ain't it? Specially when you know it won't be.

And a bit more about colour.....

The Meaning of Colors
Medical science has proven that different colors have definite and various effects upon our nervous system and that they act quite independently of our eyes or minds. All matter emits vibrations. A human being also radiates subtle emanations of everything of which he is composed. A person with extra sensitive sight is able to see the colours of these rays known as a person's aura. Colours are of the deepest significance to us throughout all phases of our life. They have more influence on us then we can possibly imagine. If we use them intelligently, they can help us by strengthening, soothing, and inspiring us. Dark, drab and dingy colors can harm our spirits and health. Strong bright colours may bring out the best in us, physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

Todays colour is Orange - Let's see what we know about that



Orange:
Spectrum: 2nd colour of the seven spectrum colors
Planet: Sun
Gemstone: Amber
Metal: Gold
Musical Note: D - emotional music

Attributes: The color of nature, warm, invigorating, confident and courageous. Encouragement, helpfulness, concentration, attraction, adaptability, stimulation.

Characteristics: As nature lovers, orange people love being outdoors, whether walking in the forest or participating in sports. Nature invigorates them and being housebound depresses them. They feel an affinity for both flora and fauna, recognizing that all people are also part of nature. Well thought of by others, orange personalities make good friends and excel at careers such as farming or ranching, wilderness guides or professional sports.
They may sometimes make others mad but it is short-lived, it usually doesn't last very long. Most are the nicest people but it's not smart to put them in a corner as they will bite. They are generally considered good lovers with a decidedly kinky side, in that they are completely open to try anything to please a partner. Egalitarian, they like to support the underdog and are very much good Samaritans. They do talk a lot, project their voices loudly and are not afraid to express opinions on anything. Learning from past mistakes, orange people are thoughtful and very aware of their actions and surroundings.Orange personalities are completely secure in knowing that what they wish for in life is theirs for the taking and that they deserve the best.
The Colour Psychology of Orange
*Orange is a combination of yellow and red and is considered an energetic colour.

*Orange calls to mind feelings of excitement, enthusiasm, and warmth.

*Orange is often used to draw attention, such as in traffic signs and advertising.
Orange:
"The mere sense of living is joy enough."
Emily Dickinson

Orange brings joy to our workday and strengthens our appetite for life! Orange is the best emotional stimulant. Great colour to bring you back to life on a dull, cloudy day. It also helps depression. It connects us to our senses and helps to remove inhibitions and makes us independent and social. Personality Traits: Enthusiastic, happy, sociable, energetic, sporty, self-assured, and constructive.
Spiritual
Love life
Emotional
Addictive behaviour
Spontaneous
Joy, happiness, enthusiasm
Sociable
Mental
Removes inhibitions
Creates new ideas
Stimulating
Physical
High energy level
Connected to the sexual organs, aids fertility
Eating habits – good & bad are part of this chakra Allergies and asthma
ORANGE.
Positive: Physical comfort, food, warmth, security, sensuality, passion, abundance, fun.
Negative: Deprivation, frustration, frivolity, immaturity.

Since it is a combination of red and yellow, orange is stimulating and reaction to it is a combination of the physical and the emotional. It focuses our minds on issues of physical comfort - food, warmth, shelter etc. - and sensuality. It is a 'fun' colour. Negatively, it might focus on the exact opposite - deprivation. This is particularly likely when warm orange is used with black. Equally, too much orange suggests frivolity and a lack of serious intellectual values.
Orange is made up of red and yellow. On the one hand it has the physical stimulation of red and on the other the mental stimulation of yellow.
Orange is a very creative colour. It is also an anti-depressant and stimulates conversation. Most people do not like orange in their environment, although it may be just the colour they need. If this is the case, the customer should find a tone of orange which is acceptable. Rust, terracotta, amber, peach or apricot all have an orange glow and will reflect the positive and lively qualities of this colour.
Orange has a strong and beneficial effect on the digestive system, so makes a good colour for a dining room or restaurant. Candles glowing in an orange or yellow room makes one feel warm, secure and cosy.

Summary:Orange - Activity, practical, stimulates appetite, joyful, sociable, creative
Have fun - Go create in Orange today!!!!

Quote of the day

Que Sera Sera... Whatever Will Be, Will Be...


Yeah, yeah... that old chestnut again.... Let's face it, this is such a famous line from an old country classic that there can't be many who haven't heard it, or even uttered it when at a loss to know just what TO say....

But this line always makes me ponder about life's unknown issues. Do you believe that what happens is for the best and what should happen will happen.... because it is destiny?

Does that mean success or failure is simply down to luck?

Or are we the masters of our own destiny? Creating our own opportunities and refusing to bow to obstacles and circumstances that strive to knock us back.....?

I don't know. I honestly don't. I'd love to think that through endeavour we shape our own future... and yet something in me can't quite let go of the idea that lady luck does indeed play a part in our lives also ....

what do you think?

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Guess who's coming for dinner....

...Natty Dreadlocks?

Umm... probably not... But the UKS Blog Prompt today is this :

You're having a small intimate dinner party with lots of good food, perhaps a glass or two of wine, and LOTS of sparkling conversation. Each of your five guests must be a real person but can be historical or currently alive. Who will you invite and why? What do you really want to talk about?

Well, for a start, I'm cream krackered and can't be arsed to cook... So I guess that means no one.... I've had a very tiring day, and there's no way I fancy sparkling conversation right now -
though I'd be the first to admit a glass of sparkling wine would go down a treat.

I s'pose at a push, I could be talked into nipping down for a chinese after my bath - but at the risk of sounding churlish here - if I'm perfectly frank - I really couldn't care less who comes with me and who doesn't... !

So if anyone else is feeling like me tonight - I'll see you at the Kam Tong about 8.00 !!


Pick your colour....?



Ok, everyone knows I'm a colour nut. I just Looove colour!
And I don't think I'm alone here....?

So, here's a bit of fun for you - every day I'll let you in to a different colour's secrets... explore a bit of colour psychology and tell you a few daft facts about certain colours - Colour up your world a bit maybe?

TODAY ~ PURPLE:
My fave colour....
VIOLET. SpiritualPositive: Spiritual awareness, containment, vision, luxury, authenticity, truth, quality.Negative: Introversion, decadence, suppression, inferiority.
The shortest wavelength is violet, often described as purple. It takes awareness to a higher level of thought, even into the realms of spiritual values. It is highly introvertive and encourages deep contemplation, or meditation. It has associations with royalty and usually communicates the finest possible quality. Being the last visible wavelength before the ultra-violet ray, it has associations with time and space and the cosmos. Excessive use of purple can bring about too much introspection and the wrong tone of it communicates something cheap and nasty, faster than any other colour.

The colour of royalty, purple connotes luxury, wealth, and sophistication. It is also feminine and romantic. However, because it is rare in nature, purple can appear artificial.
Purple:
Spectrum: 7th and last colour of the spectrum
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Fire
Gemstone: Sapphire
Metal: Tin
Musical Note: B - sacred music, hymns

Attributes: Nobility, spiritual aspiration, honor and self-esteem. Magnetic, tense, powerful, healing, spiritual, meditative, religious, royal and divine. Medically, it cools the nerves and is antiseptic.

Characteristics: Purple personalities strive to better themselves spiritually, mentally and emotionally. They are voracious readers, constantly seeking knowledge, particularly in tales of the lives of others. Wanting a greater spiritual connection, they love the subjects of theology and religion. Thus armed, they love to spread their findings to others to help them on their spiritual paths.
Being perfectionists, they are prone to self-sabotage by being overly critical of themselves. In an extreme form, those who like the muted shades of purple can become religious zealots who feel the God given right to judge others and mete out retribution. The search for spirit is lost in their fanaticism.
Those who favor darker purple work to find inner peace and love and a connection to God or their higher power. As givers, they are fine friends as they don't seem to ask much for themselves. If they do seek help from another and are not clear in their desire, they may resent the fact that their request is not forthcoming. They can develop a hard-done-by attitude in this case. Over-functioner resenting under-functioner.

The Egyptian queen Cleopatra loved purple. To obtain one ounce of Tyrian purple dye, she had her servants soak 20,000 Purpura snails for 10 days.

In Thailand, purple is worn by a widow mourning her husband's death.

A “purple heart” is a U.S. military decoration for soldiers wounded or killed in battle.

Purple is a royal colour.

Purple robes are an emblem of authority and rank.

Purple in a child's room is said to help develop the imagination according to colour theory.

Richard Wagner composed his operas in a room with shades of violet,
his colour of inspiration.

Any help out there?


Ok - Any suggestions anyone, on where I start trying to fix this photo????
I have so few pictures of my dear little Mum, and I'd love to be able to do something with this - d'you think it's beyond repair? No way can I afford a professional restorer.... but I'm willing to try if anyone could advise me. I have PSE4 btw, but sadly nothing in the skills dept.

Thanks bloggers.

jk x

Quote of the day:

We turn not older with years, but newer everyday.
Emily Dickenson
***
And a TIP to accompany it - from Joanie Winberg...
'The Happy Wednesday Lady!!'
A powerful way to feel "newer" versus older everyday as Emily stated in her quote, is to think back to when you were a child. Do you remember those natural feelings of joy, wonder and optimism? Do you long to have those feelings of excitement and adventure back into your life?
(You just know I do Joanie...)
Then, let me ask you a few questions: - As a child, what did you love to do? What brought a smile to your face?- How can you recapture those feelings of what you loved to do as a child and bring them back into your life as an adult?
Take some time today to answer these questions by writing down your thoughts and feelings. Maybe start a journal or add to the one you already have.
(You never know where it might lead you, until you try...)

So, how much do I want one of these?


Can it be real??
From Hot Products From CHA Summer 2006




Photo-opoly!!

WOW - I want one!

Apparently, one of the booths had this board game - made up using photos from a family Disney trip. The finished project looks wacky - but a truly fantastic way to preserve the memories of your fun filled family holiday. Think it will take off ...?

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Challenge LO for Creative Scrapbooking

Here's my challenge LO for August's edition of Creative Scrapbooking. Jenny Cocks asked me if I wanted to do the product challenge and as I'm always up for a box of free stash, I thought why not? I was in for a bit of a shock though, when it arrived - I just don't really do pastels! Or shiny paper for that matter...

Anyway, undeterred... I set about sanding the paper and altering a few bits with inks, like you do, trying to make something acceptable with it, and actually - and maybe coz I love the piccy - I eneded up with a LO I quite like!

Me and my sis got a bit of a thing about Camille's (Camels) anyway... and this baby was just SO adorable.



The hotel we stayed at in Tunisia was set in a huge complex, with a Zoo right in the gardens, and Vinnie loved to go and visit and collect a bag of food and feed the baby... while I got left to placate her Mum.

Oh happy days...

Oh Hell.. I knew it!

I am a strawberry Daquiri - I know this because I just did a quiz to find out...



You Are a Strawberry Daiquiri



You're a fun, playful drinker who loves to party.

You may get totally wasted, but you're always a happy drunk!


Hmmnn..... Like... there was ever any doubt....??

Quote of the day:

Right now, I am having amnesia and
deja vu at the same time...
I think that I have forgotten this before.
Anon
But that might be because it's very late.... or er, perhaps that
should be very early...?

Fabby Digi Dymo labels!

Spotted these on a friends blog - she made them for a pal but says she'd like anyone who could use them to have them as a gift.





















Visit Andrea
to collect your set of inspiring autism words.
(courtesy of Andrea Cox.)

Thank you Boodsyboo
for your kindness and generosity
hugs!
jakey x


Well done Beth!

Oooh.... Beth's site Inspire Me was picked up today by Angie Pedersen of BOM fame!

Well done Girly - dead chuffed for ya!

See - I told you it was good Lol!!

Monday, August 28, 2006

Treasured by me.


Having a go at this week's UKS Blog Prompt. A Treasure Chest:


You have a small chest and you’re going to place things in it that symbolise who you are, important milestones, etc. so that someone years after you’re gone will look at it and see the essence of you. For example, you might place a stethoscope if you’re a doctor or medical student, a Bible if your faith is important to you, etc. Which five items would you choose and why?
1.
A text book of some sort. Although I have flitted from job to job throughtout my life, quickly tiring of any occupation after a while, my studies have remained constant. I am a lifelong learner, and must always be studying something! Years after I graduated, I still have all my old Psychology and Women's Health books, and just can't bear to let them go. I don't even work in this field anymore, but they remain precious even though my years at Uni were not particularly happy, and were blighted at the end, by the loss of Moshie and Jen Jen within six months of each other.
2.
My gold cross and chain. I was always a sunday school girl, and though I don't go to church every week anymore, I still attend services regularly, organising them for my workplace. I believe strongly in God, and feel I am watched over in times of trouble and protected. I never take my cross off. Christmas would not be the same for me, without watching the children sing 'Away in a Manger' in church on Christmas Eve.
3.
My children's birth certificates, Nothing in this world means more to me than my family, and I am more proud of being their mother than of anything else I have ever achieved in my life. I've raised four great kids, and though they are all different they all make me very proud in their own way. I often trouble myself that I was not always a good enough Mother, but with kids like mine I know I must have done something right, somewhere along the way.
4.
Some seashells and a little sand. I love the sea and like my Mum, feel that it is somehow in my blood. I'm never happier than when close to the ocean with the wind in my hair.
5.
A CD of me and Carl's songs... Mr Moonlight, Winterlude, You're the best thing, Not the girl you think you are, Feels like heaven..... things like that. All the silly old songs that mean a lot to us. We're always playing music, acting daft and dancing drunkenly on a Friday night... Well, at least we're still dancing together.
I found this pretty hard. These may not be the proper answers, coz they're a bit rushed but they'll do for now. I'll probably think of loads more things later, knowing me!

Quote for the day:



We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams.
Jeremy Irons

I've always wanted to time travel... Guess I had the ability all the time...and just didn't know it.

Incognito....



"Think if I just keep my head down and stay quiet they won't notice me....?"

Lol!!

Just gotta love those naughty baby Seagulls... eh?
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Music and Me - a new weekly challenge!

Music features big in my life... I've always been surrounded by it and i'd rather listen anyday, than watch... iykwim?

The men in my life are musical, they love their guitars, and my Mum sang professionally as a young woman. She played the piano too, and boy could she belt out the Blues...She had a Helluva voice for a tiny li'l lady, and my fondest memories are of her singing - On the stage, in the garden, whilst cooking... cleaning....knitting, whatever. In fact - if she was awake, she was singing, and I was singing with her... I had four older siblings, and lived through Skiffle, Rock and Roll, the Sixties, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Folk clubs, Pink Floyd... and everything in betweeen. I myself, grew up with the seventies and eighties music, and as we had Pubs with entertainment licences there was always Music in my life and in my head. My own kids are all music mad too, and songs and their melodies and lyrics mean a lot to us.

I often use lyrics as a springboard for my own pages and many of you will remember that I used to set regular challenges on Scribblesonline and the Pad, often based around song titles, words or music.

For a bit of fun - and a challenge to you all, I thought I'd start a weekly music prompt. I might use an album cover for inspiration, a Title, or a line from a favourite song. It'll be whatever takes my fancy, and I'll upload my layout with the challenge every week, and you guys can drop me a link if you decide to join in.

Sound like fun?

We'll have a go then.

Week 1: Music

Music was my first love
And it'll be my last
Music of the future
And music of the past.
To live without my music
Would be impossible to do
In this world of troubles
my music pulls me through

John Miles


The words of this song seem apt for a starting point, so my layout is based round them – but we'll have no rules here – Just think about the song and create whatever you fancy from it. It might be a line, a word or two, the whole thing, or whatever springs to mind. I can’t say I’m any great fan of this song per se, but in general, it suits my purpose today. Please don’t forget to let me know if you play along – I’d love to see what you come up with.

Thanks for popping by

jake x

Thanks to all my lovely friends!

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the help with my blog over the last few days. I know I thanked you all on SP yesterday, and in person too, but you girls have been so great I feel I want to shout it out on here too!

So, thank you Clare! I can't believe how patient you've been and how much time you've given me. And thank you Karen for my lovely banner! It's perfect, and very very me! Methinks you know me too well girly!

And thanks as well to everyone who helped me and Karen with everything yesterday, and for having a laugh while doing it :-)

BTW - for anyone who doesn't know me IRL - I don't always dress like that! Hippy chick, yes... a bit daft, maybe... total nutter, erm...not qute yet!! :-)

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Inspire Me

Just popped onto Beth's new site - a fabby blog called Inspire Me where she'll be finding and listing all sorts of inspirational ideas, challenges, scrap blogs and other great stuff for us to drool over and participate in.

Bookmark it - I think it's gonna be WOW.

Remembering Speshal Days (dare no 17)

This lovely, laughy, colourful pic was taken while staying at JenJen's, in Funkyrolla. Me and Vin caught giggling like mad in a Mexican restauarant just up the road in Los Boliches. I can't remember what had made us laugh like this - probably seeing one of the guys getting clumped on the head by the crazy Mexican with the tin hat. But whatever it was, it had got us going, all right.


Not long after this holiday, Jen died. And the laughter stopped for a long time.

Jen always used to say "Life's not a rehearsal... As far as we know, we're only here once..." She thought life was for living - and boy did she live it!

I didn't know what was just round the corner then, but losing people makes you see things differently.

For a long time I forgot how to smile, but being sad and letting life pass you by is not the way to remember the ones we love. Living each minute and laughing and loving is.

Life's for living - Enjoy it.

Friday, August 25, 2006

Thanks Girls!

Just swapped over to Beta - and you're right - nothing bad happened and it's all still here!

Thanks for the push - I am such a Blogging wimp!

jk xxxx

Quick catch up

Ok, had no time to update for a day or two, but got a few seconds for a quick catch-up now, so here goes....

THE GOOD
A corner has been turned! Carlos has finally got the go ahead, and starts at the new company next week - Hallelujah!!

Had a fantastic night on Wednesday - I arranged a Pimms and Swing eve at work and it was a roaring success - picked up a few brownie points there, even if I couldn't move yesterday...

I've had an idea for something I want to do, and I'm quite excited about it - more on that on Monday (!!)

Planning a serious turf out in here - I can't move, can't scrap and it's time to weed out some junk and make some room. I'll probably take a lot of it into work again as they love playing with my castoffs :-)

THE BAD
Had a ghastly experience on the way home yesterday... Police everywhere, and crowds gathering... I was stuck in a traffic jam caused by all this, and by following everyones gaze I soon saw what it was all about....turns out a woman was on the roof of the multi storey threatening to jump! Heavens! All I could think was "Please God! Don't let her fall(jump)!! But if she does, then PLEASE don't let it be while I'm sitting here...." I swear I'm not callous or heartless - I obviously didn't want anything to happen to her anytime - but especially not while I was right there!

She didn't look old, not badly dressed, but she did seem very very agitated, throwing her arms around and shouting, and I was petrified she'd fall... or worse.

I really hope whatever caused her to be in such a desperate state can be resolved. I have no idea if it was drugs, drink or depression... but having lost two dear friends in my lifetime to suicide, I know it does happen - just like that. I clearly remember the pain and bewilderment that is left behind afterwards...even though it is many years ago for me now. I am praying someone can give her the help she obviously needs, and show her a little light and love before it's too late.

AND THE DOWNRIGHT UGLY...
Once again, in my circle there is disquiet... hurt feelings, side taking, unhappiness. Someone said this... someone else said that...

I know people can't get on all the time, but some folks do seem to thrive on a drama.


Me? I just want to pursue my hobby, scrap a little, preserve some memories and have fun doing what I love.

The sad thing is - there is room for us all. Life is not a competition.

(Oh, watch me get burned for that!)

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

SI Challenge: 2+2 = a gang of 3

2+2= {a} Family.....? Erm, actually, more like 2+2 = a gang of three :-)

Clare, Karen and I all got asked to do the £5 Challenge for SI in the same month..... Lol! How funny is that? Three of the old Scrapbook Magic Team back together.... hope that equals something good, eh girls?

<

Wouldn't it be lovely to be working together every month again?
wink wink...

The Pandora Inn and Restronguet Creek,



We had a lovely few days in Cornwall last week (travelling home notwishstanding...!) It's always nice to see family, and this time - as we're so skint - we did a lot less so it was more of a relaxing break, than frantically running around trying to fit loads of stuff in. We DID manage a few outings however! One being here to the Pandora Inn, on Restronguet Creek. Dave brought us here as he knows we love anywhere historical and ancient { we fit in and feel at home....! :-) }And we had a lovely time supping Magners on the creek, discussing the old place, the pirates it's famous for and trying to work out exactly where they sneaked up in the dead of night with their ill gotten gains... and how they hid their stash.

Bless Vin - he never gets bored sitting around with us old farts. He just joins right in and never moans. What a boy. One in a million, he is.

Monday, August 21, 2006

Memory Makers Featured Pages TOOT!

Just came home to find an email from Robin Hampton - associate Editor at Memory Makers. They recently used one of my layouts -'Dare to have Fun' - as their Featured Page in their Online Gallery, and he has written to ask if they can also feature it in the next "memoryprojectideas" email that they send out to their subscribers!!

Can they???
Hell, Yes! Lol!!
Doesn't take much to put a smile on my fizzog these days!

Email sign up here: :http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?AddNewUserDirect

The Layout was a competition entry in Canada's Scrapforums Funk It Up contest back in Feb/March, where I sadly went out in the final six. This was where I first unveiled my spinner idea! :-)

Anyway, here it is - and the blurb that went with it:

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

The blurb: My dd was pretty scared to go paragliding... but decided to do it anyway - Guess what? She loved it! I made the spinner to show that you can always choose to do something less, something other than that which is challenging you - but sometimes you just have to give it a go - and venture into the unknown. ..

Journalling reads: "Sometimes you just have to do it... take a risk, believe in yourself... and fly!!"

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Tagged by Yizz - and it's my own fault! Lol!

1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be?
Near my kids in the Canaries probably... but I'd have to bring eldest DD and her family too, and also my Dad, and my sis and bro in law.... Perhaps we'd better buy our own island, rather than take over little Lanzarote :-)

2. What's your favourite article of clothing?
PJ's, but if I must dress, then shorts and a vest - I don't have to look at myself, do I? :-)

3. Favourite physical feature of the opposite sex?
Nice smile - and in Carl's case, those cute dimples!

4. What's the last CD that you bought?
An Accoustic guitar complation - the boys have brainwashed me...

5. Where's your favourite place to be?
By the Sea

6. Where's your least favourite place to be?
Work - I'm a lazy bugger

7. What's your favourite place to be massaged?
Feet, neck, back, scalp... anywhere!

8. Strong in mind or strong in body?
Eeek! Might have been both once but getting feebler by the day lately...!

9. What time do you wake up in the morning?
Around 7.15 usually

10. What is your favourite Kitchen appliance?
Fridge - it holds cold wine.

11. What makes you really angry?
Cruelty to kids, oldies...and Bullying.

12. If you could play an instrument what would it be?
Piano. Esp ragtime... :-) My Mum could play and I so regret not learning now.

13. Favourite colour?
Anything deep and rich and vibrant - purple, crimson, turquoise, emerald, hot orange...cerise. I'm mad on sumptious colours!

14. Sports car or SUV?
Anything as long as it gets me there...

15. Do you believe in an afterlife?
Yes indeed.

16. Favourite children's book?
The velveteen rabbit.

17. What's your favourite season?
I love the sun and warm days, barbi's, beaches and stuff, so I guess Summer?

18. What is your least favourite household chore?
Oh, I'm a bit allergic to housework altogether so i'd have to say all of them!

19. If you could have one super-power, what would it be?
The ability to time travel

20. If you have a tattoo what is it?
I had a small star on my right wrist for about 20 years, but eventually paid a fortune on Ruby Laser to have it removed a few years ago

21. Can you juggle?
Erm... no.

22. The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to?
My sister, who died too soon and left us all with so many things we still wanted to say...

24. What's in the boot of your car?
A million things to do with my work.

25. Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger?
You can call it whatever you like - No way will I eat raw fish!
I don't particularly like them, but give me a Maccy D's anyday.

Not sure who I can tag now.... Um...maybe Karen?

Speshal Dare no 16 my favourite things


I got home too late to get this in on time, but I understand Clare is planning to slip it into the Everyone's Speshal blog with the others when she has time. Had a bit of fun with this..... I'm not actually a plonk.... OK, maybe just a little, but after a week with my sis& bro-in-law and THEIR amazing wine rack... well, it just seemed to be appropriate somehow! Hee heee!!!

Take a look here - at my teamies and our speshal guests

Uh-oh! Someone's got a new baby - and it isn't me!

The kids were having a barbie last night. Quite late, they heard a kitten's voice, mewling in the dark.....seemed like she was crying for help. Now, there have been a couple of feral cats around recently, and they had kittens which the girls know they can't touch. However, this was coming from outside the complex, and on inspection, they found a beautiful little white kitty.... only a few weeks old and very distressed... obviously abandoned, and shaking just outside their gate. They checked all the houses and apartments nearby, but no one claimed her, so they thought they'd better take her in for the night, and try again today. Meanwhile my son in law falls in love with her - it seems to have been a mutual attraction - and as no one has come forward yet they have adopted her rather than take her to Sara's for re-homing. Their own cat is less than thrilled... but she was rescued herself and was used to other cat's company before, so they are hoping for the best.... will post pic's as soon as we have them.... Ahhh.....

What is is with my lot that they are so soft....? I don't know where they get it from... it's not like they ever saw me bringing home animals and telling Carl we found them abandoned so we'd have to keep them..... :-)

Saturday, August 19, 2006

August's finally out



The good thing about Truro is that their branch of WHS sells scrapmags. I was able to pick up a copy of The Scrapbook Magazine, which i can never find round here, and also a copy of Creative Scrapbooking - which i've been waiting for, for so flipping long! Yeah! It's out at last :-) It feels like forever since I sent my contributions off, and finally it's on the shelves - and as they say, better late than never...

It's a good issue. Lots of nice stuff in there, and I'll be having a proper read of it all later, but I was very disappointed with the colours of my feature. The layouts both look horribly garish and over coloured.... though the verse sticks have come out ok...? Quite odd, that. Also, they got the title of one of them wrong.... instead of 'My Boy' it should have been 'My Boy Lollipop' - quite obvious really, as he's eating a lolly in the pic and it's written right across the LO !! Oh, well, musn't grumble, eh? :-)

It appears SI's out too, and I have a challenge LO in there, so I'll have to go seeking a copy in town. At least I know I can buy that one locally. Plenty of reading matter this weekend, and that's great coz I still feel rough as hell, and it'll be nice to snuggle up with all me mags and just rest.

Bit surprised to see another LO using one of my ideas... this time in print - and again - no credit given. At the risk of sounding like some sort of Diva, I have to say I was a bit taken aback, esp as it was from a class page! Ok, it's not exactly the same, but close enough and, clear where the inspiration came from.

Anyway - here they are. Hopefully reproduced in better colour.

God.. it's good to be home...

Ok, so we're home.

Absolutely shattered actually. Carl and I have got the Mother of all colds between us and feeling rough as hell, we spent more hours on trains today than we ever thought we would or could, in any 24 hour period.

We have decided that gettting to and from Cornwall is no fun at all however we chooose to do it. We don't love the drive....Christ - who does? But we hate the plane ride also. Dunstable - Stanstead is actually about twice as long as the actual flight time, and is usually only the begining of a very bad day... and how we loathe being so reliant on folks for lifts either end... But man - the train may be the worst of all... Lugging all that luggage is just hellish. Guitars, picnic bags, playstations... to say nothing of the suitcases... Are we mad? Why did we take so much??? The whole thing was a major trauma today... an almost certainly a never to be repeated experience.

I have no idea right now how I will ever get to see my sister again... but something will surely come up... Perhaps we'll try a boat next time... or time travel... Anything sounds feasible tonight.... Or of course, she could always come up here.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Long Distance Love....Speshal layout #15

This is the layout I made for The Speshal Challenge, 15 tonight.

I faffed around all day and left myself no time again.... (Clare - you're partly to blame!! :-) Lol!!) So... actually managing a LO I quite like in such a tiny amount of time is quite a feat!

Go Me!!

I've had this pic for ages, taken soon after she moved into the new house, but it reminds me of much earlier days too... before she lived here, when she'd scrimp up her tips to go to the call box from Princessa Ico and ring home every evening.. even if it meant no money for dinner... or at least no money for wine...



The words that accompany the Lo are :

My girl Jazz on the end of the phone to me... all those many miles away.

She's not so bad nowadays, but there was a time she was on the phone everyday, telling me how much she missed me and just wanting to hear my voice. Sometimes we'd pick up the phone and there'd just be sobbing... she couldn't even speak... And we'd stand there, hugging the phone while she wept, wishing it was her in our arms, instead of a dumb old cold piece of plastic....

I'm glad to say she's much happier now, and the sad, tearful calls come only very infrequently... Most of the time now it's the happy, bubbly, effervescent Jazzabelle we all know and love who calls up just to say "Hi Mum, guess how much I miss you?" And then we chat... and for ten minutes, she's right there in my ear... and I guess I don't need to tell her... she's always in my heart.

Friday, August 11, 2006

Well, I'll be....

It seems there's a dare out there to mat a photo over a photo.... and I've actually seen it done this afternoon in an online gallery...

Shame it's not an original idea though - coz I made this layout:



For a Product Promo for Creative Scrapbooking at the begining of the year.... and posted it up on UKS and SP on the 1st April this year, which is quite a while ago now... eh?

Cool technique I admit - but not new - and it only came about by pure chance at all!

My editor asked me to send the image as a Jpeg to HiTi, who would print the photograph with writing on it, and send me a hard copy. Meanwhile would I make the LO as the deadline was looming and add the photo at the last minute before posting to them? So that's what I did - assuming the picture would come back as a 5x7 - however, it did not. The largest they could print with the writing on was a 4x6, and this was obviously far too small for the page I'd made.

Being the inventive scrapper that I am... (for inventive read seriously panicking!)... I played around a bit, and decided to mat the photo with the original bigger photo - and that was it.

That's how it came about...

So Er, now you know ;-)

Monday, August 07, 2006

Hayley and Dan have moved :-)

Hayley and Dan have finally moved into their new place! It's a lovely first floor appt with 2 beds and 2 baths, a good sized terrace and plenty of light and space. We're all so chuffed for them as they've wanted to move for ages and have now found just the right place in a smashing gated complex with a pool and pretty gardens. The girls are now on first name terms with the manager at Arrecife's IKEA.... and the house is getting homlier by the day!

Here's the view from the terrace - nice eh?



And the boys 'testing the water' for her, while we were out there....

Izzy's turning 4!

Tinka's 4 this week... where does the time go??? She had a lovely dress up party at the village hall - well, what else would she have....? That girl lives in dressing up clothes! Plenty of super heroes and princessy type girls everywhere, and too much balloon bursting, which terrified the two tiny babies who came in their car seats, to say nothing of Great Grandma - and me and Jane! Donna's 30 weeks now, and seems quite well at the mo, so even though she's still seeing the Rhuematologist, we have our fingers crossed that all is ok at least for now.



GRRRRR..!. Now this makes me ANG!

Nearly got crushed by some idiot in a 4x4 on the way there... the prat was right up my butt all along the lane, so close in fact that I was unable to turn right into the grounds for fear of him actually hitting me! What I did do was indicate and pull over on the left to let him pass. As he went by I suggested in no uncertain terms that he was a less than coureous driver... at which point he slammed his brakes on in the middle of the road and started yelling at ME!!! Just sat there challenging me like we were going to get out and square up to each other.... Silly me - I'd forgotten people like him OWN the road.... I must try and remember next time.

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Sleepover!




Vin's 14th birthday sleepover in the garden this weekend.

All they need......A tent, a torch, a portable telly, lots of WWE wrestling videos, plenty of pizza, and an all night game of poker... boy, do these lads grow up!

Definitely Serendipity

It's funny how it goes...




...If Hayley hadn't moved to Lanzarote... if Jazz hadn't been cheesed off with the way her life was going and fancied a break, and followed her out there... Then she'd never have met Erkin and fallen in love.... Never met his family.... Never been introduced to his Dad's very famous best buddy....

...And you Vin... Well, you'd never have met your Hero. Now that's Definitely what they call Serendipity!

Friday, August 04, 2006

I'm having a baby!! - YES! I am!!

After watching Big Momma's house 2 last night which features the adorable Chihuahua Poncho, Carl has finally relented, and said I'm allowed to have a baby of my own!

He always tries to pretend he doesn't, but I know he misses Minniemoomoo (Jazz's chihuahua) as much as me and Vin do, and after just having had two weeks with her, and then seeing the cute pup last night... well, he gave in!

So we're having a baby! How exciting is that!!

Jazz will find us a doggie from Sara's Adopcion de Perros's en Lanzarote, the Islands pet rescue centre and will bring her home for us when she next flies out. This is where Lanza's abandoned dogs are likely to find themselves.... well, the lucky one's anyway. Here they are injected, chipped, nuetered and given a clean bill of health before being found a new loving home. They even get a pet passport so they can travel with their new owners to the UK :-)

Minnie wasn't rescued from there, but Jazz did save her from a horrible home when she went to work for some people who had decided she was too much trouble and no longer wanted her. At the time Jazz was pregnant, full of hormones, and just longing for a small bundle she could dote upon and care for. I guess they found each other at just the right time, eh?

So... shall we have a white one?, A black and tan? Or maybe fawn...? And what shall we call her? I'll have to start thinking of names - Im so excited! We don't really mind what she looks like but we do deffo want a girl - and we hope she has as much personality as Minnie, cos she is a dog and a half - even if she does only stand 8 inches high!

Thursday, August 03, 2006

1st week over - time for a little celebration :-)



Phew....!
I've managed my first week back at work.


I've done a lot more hours than I used to, and worked very hard trying to get things back on track but it's all been good and I'm having a well earned day off tomorrow - YAY!!

I can honestly say I've enjoyed being busy - and it's great to be back - sometimes you do find the grass isn't actually greener on the other side of the fence, after all.

It's been an amazing week, with my emotions on a helter skelter ride... I mean, I knew I was liked and respected there, but I don't think I really appreciated quite how much. I'm feelling pretty humble tonight after two different visitors today said that it made their day just coming in and finding me back in the house. Daft as it sounds, it does give you the warm fuzzies knowing you've made someone happy without even trying....

My resi's are exstatic to have me back and everyone's joking about me being unable to walk through the corridors without being mobbed by staff, families and clients... lol!

I guess I'm one lucky lady to have all these nice people around me everyday.

Off to open a bottle of Red and do a bit of celebrating.... AFTER completing my Speshal layout for tomorrow night of course!

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

third time lucky?

Ok... so after a period of winning nothing for a long long time... I have suddenly won the lottery twice in as many weeks.... Could it be a case of third time LUCKY?

Each time I got the mail I was scouring for those extra noughts.... :-) but of course they weren't there, so i'm keeping my fingers crossed that the next win - and I do think there'll be one - will be the one that has me whooping with joy!!


Think of the stash!
Think of the life!
Think of the fun!

Think of the sodding numbers Jakey...... Just think of the sodding numbers.....!

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Are we having fun yet?

Got a few pics via MSN last night - Not the sharpest focussed of them all but I just love this one!



Aw... lookit him!
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