Read in order to live

long loooong overdue

2009-02-02T21:49:00.017Z

So. I'm back.
Not just 'back from lunch'
Or 'back from holiday'
I'm back from a very long blogging break.
During this semi underground time I...

put on a LOT of weight

lost (most of) it when I gave birth to my son Jack, who weighed an unexpected 11lb 3oz

made the decision to give up work for a while to stay at home with Jack
learnt some tough lessons about being a mum...
...and some fun ones!
surprisingly managed to find time to craft, including making Jack's baby book which is still not quite finished

watched a lot of daytime TV
experienced a lot of Jacks' 'firsts' including first smile, first tooth, first Halloween & first Christmas...with many more to come

and appreciated just how lucky I am to have my perfect little family

I've been meaning to get back to blogging, get back in touch with people, and before I knew it here was 2009 and we were on the home stretch towards Jack's first birthday. I just can't believe where the time has gone. So back to keeping in touch is my new February's resolution - not one to usually make new year resolutions as I only break them, perhaps starting one in February will help me keep this one!

I'll leave with a picture of my little man enjoying his first touch of snow today :)

antsy

2008-01-11T21:02:00.001Z

i have just spent the last half hour wandering around the house until i came on here as i feel like i want something, i just don't know what. do you ever get that feeling? i'm not sure if it's something to eat, something to do, or what, but there is this feeling that something needs to be done that isn't and i'm left feeling a little lost. it doesn't help that the little one as decided to practise for the 2012 Olympics inside me and so i can't get comfortable anywhere, anyhow :( i'm hoping that some photo sorting out will fill the time as i have a lot that need going through, and perhaps it's creativeness inside me trying to get out that's causing this - who knows, i could have a masterpiece brewing inside me at this very moment!!

getting crafty

2008-01-09T17:34:00.000Z

ken and i went to our first antenatal class last night and i could hardly sleep afterwards with all the stuff that was rushing around my mind. i'm very anxious about the whole birth process but am trying to stay positive and obviously focus on the more important issues at hand, such as 'how much scrapping can i get done before the baby comes along'? have been in a scrap funk for a while now, with only a few odd bits inspiring me here and there, but i want to get back on with it. the baby book does seem to be coming along nicely though, with lots of space for personal thoughts etc that i have found there isn't room for in a shop bought one. here is a sneak preview of the front cover:

i get excited just looking through it and i can feel all my creative energy returning which is such a relief after so long. and i'm not the only one in the family being creative...here's a picture of ken's 'chocolate house' he made with some leftover christmas sweets:
hee hee

alive...and kicking

2007-12-27T00:02:00.000Z

i am still alive - although i wasn't sure anyone read this to know i'd disappeared, but the emails i have had tell me otherwise. things have been so hectic that i can't believe four months have gone by since i last updated this but as i'm sure most people who care by now know, i'm pregnant, and minutes/hours/days seem to melt into one at the moment. christmas was fab but very hectic and i'm looking forward to calming down, chilling out, and catching up with life in the new year.

new years resolutions that need to be thought about

keep in touch with people more than i have lately
get back into craft mode - have only managed a few homemade christmas decs and attempted to start the baby book so need to get back on the wagon, so to speak
breathe more often - life is passing me by faster than i'd like at the moment and i need to take stock and prepare myself for what's to come

it may be a little early for new years resolution just yet but i like to be prepared and it feels good to get a list of things sorted - almost feel like myself again.

so, i have two more months of work to go before i start my maternity leave - then i'm off for about five weeks before the BIG DAY (due date) to get myself prepared in every way possible. am having small panic attacks on a regular basis now as am just now realising how much my life has already changed and how that hardly compares at all to what it will be like in a few months. i am, however, VERY EXCITED at the same time as i can't wait to be a mum and experience something i have only ever dreamt of up until now.

life, as i know it, is about to end. here's to a new year and a new beginning.

losing focus

2007-08-20T13:38:00.000+01:00

i'm in a funk at the moment...but it's a good and bad funk. i can't talk about the cause of it so that makes it even harder, but i just have no motivation left in me at the moment. i can't concentrate on anything, i don't want to scrap or read, i can't sleep but i'm always tired. i hate to sound so down as this is not what this blog is about, but i need some inspiration over here please.

go on

2007-08-12T18:19:00.000+01:00

watch the video

post a secret

be brave

i am

2007-08-10T10:01:00.000+01:00

a bad blogger.

i know i haven't updated in a while but things have been crazy hectic round here lately, plus my computer blew up so i have had to snatch moments on other peoples. Anyhow, i have some stuff i'm not quite ready to share with people just yet, but when i do you'll be one of the first to know!

so honoured

2007-07-30T21:47:00.000+01:00

to be tagged by Kathy
this makes me feel very special as when i started this blog i never dreamt that anyone would actually read it, let alone that i would make friends through it like i have. i know i am supposed to tag five fellow bloggers, but being relatively new most of the few people i know have already been tagged. i would however like to tag Ann and Jocelynne, and the other three 'tags' go out to the blogs i read and love and who inspire me every day-check out my links at the side of the page for these special ladies. i'm also supposed to list 7 random facts...

i had to save this post as a draft for half an hour and have just come back to it, so i could watch Eastenders - i'm obsessed!
ken and i are addicted to root beer but you can only buy it in Sainsburys anywhere nearby so i have to make a special trip to get it
i collect books by Enid Blyton - trying to hold onto my childhood as long as possible :)
my boyfriend has four kneecaps (not technically about me but never mind)
when i was a kid i wanted to BE American, to the extent that i told my mum i would marry an american boy just so i could live there...i have grown out of this. mostly
apparently i have smelly feet. this is probably not a good thing to announce on the internet
when my boyfriend and i don't know what to say about something we say 'butt-dance'. i don't know why, we just do. we get some very strange looks

a different kind of create

2007-07-28T21:08:00.000+01:00

tomorrow is the local music festival in our town, aptly named 'Create'. so tomorrow i am off to create music (or listen to it anyway), while tonight i am off to create masterpieces (or mess). i will leave you with a page i made recently about Ken and his bands; he's been in quite a few over the years, has had some scary hair, and even sang dressed as santa (as you do)

one word quiz

2007-07-27T21:24:00.000+01:00

taken from here

1. WHERE IS YOUR CELL PHONE? bag

2. YOUR HAIR? brown

3. WORK? weekend

4. YOUR FATHER? crazy

5. YOUR FAVORITE THING? books

6. YOUR DREAM LAST NIGHT? absent

7.YOUR FAVORITE DRINK? root-beer

8. YOUR DREAM CAR? bug

9. THE ROOM YOU'RE IN? spare

10. YOUR FEAR? dark

11. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE IN 10 YEARS? me

12. WHO DID YOU HANG OUT WITH LAST NIGHT? Ken

13. WHAT YOU ARE NOT GOOD AT? goodbyes

14. MUFFIN? chocolate

15. ONE OF YOUR WISH LIST ITEMS? baby

16. WHERE YOU GREW UP? Kent

17. LAST THING YOU DID BEFORE SEEING THIS? facebook-ed

18. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING? pjs

19. WHAT AREN'T YOU WEARING? turban

20. YOUR PETS? bunny

21. YOUR COMPUTER? electrical

22. YOUR LIFE? happy

23 YOUR MOOD? calm

24. MISSING? chocolate

25. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW? chocolate

26. YOUR CAR/TRUCK IS? new

27. YOUR SUMMER? wet

28. YOUR RELATIONSHIP STATUS? co-habiting

29. YOUR FAVORITE COLOR? purple

30. WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU REALLY LAUGHED WITH MEANING? today

31. LAST TIME YOU CRIED? yesterday

32. SCHOOL? over

33. FAVORITE WEATHER? warm

34. FAVORITE SOUP? chicken

35. MOVIE GENRE? weepie

and on another note, a message for J K Rowling:

thank you

only 3 hours and 15 minutes left

2007-07-23T13:43:00.000+01:00

until I can leave work and go back to Harry Potter.

new/old stash

2007-07-17T23:26:00.000+01:00

i have just come back from my parents house where my mum decided to go through her old sewing box and offload some of her *junk* (her word) on me

vintage ribbon (the white one my mum bought when she was 15, and one is from the Queen's silver jubilee!), old patches, many buttons...i am in heaven =)

next time i go over i'm going to look through my grandmothers sewing box...

new day, new hair colour

2007-07-17T17:54:00.000+01:00

from blond to brunette. i fancied a change :)

oh dear...

2007-07-15T19:05:00.001+01:00

hp6

2007-07-14T12:14:00.000+01:00

friday the thirteenth went by without a hitch & today i'm meeting up with some friends i don't see very often, so i'm very excited

when a friend of mine got married 5 years ago, 7 of us rented a flat in london for the weekend and had the BEST time. such a good time in fact, we decided to do it one weekend every year. we have had a couple of times when there have been babies in our midst (this year is one of them) and so the weekend is condensed to a day, but so far we have managed it every year. we have rented houses in lenham, isle of sheppey and goudhurst. this year (like once before) we are spending a large part of the day in a pub/restaurant where babies are welcome, then we go home about 6pm, the baby is taken to grans and put to bed :), and we reconvene at 8pm (ish) for drinking a-plenty

i fully expect to spend much of tomorrow in bed feeling sorry for myself but at the moment i am not thinking about the aftermath, just the fun part :)

last night i dreamt...

2007-07-09T19:15:00.000+01:00

...i'd been tagged!

and it was true.

obviously i need to get out more if i'm dreaming about blogs. but, i've been tagged nevertheless, so thank you sweet Rhi.

My roommate and I once: ...never had a room mate, unless you count Ken

Never in my life have I: revised properly for an exam. no matter what i may have told tutors in the past

High school was : uninspiring

When I'm nervous : i play with my hair, look down & blush a lot :(

My hair : is boring

When I was 5 : i was sick on my teachers' feet

When I turn my head left : i see my paints & it makes me want to make things

I should be : writing an essay on the importance of group therapy vs individual therapy in care environments. obviously i'm not

By this time next year : i hope to be a mum

My favorite aunt is : my dad's sister

I have a hard time understanding : myself a lot of the time

You know I like you if : i'm honest with you

My ideal breakfast is : in the afternoon

If you visit my home town : you'll leave again pretty quickly as it's not much fun

If you spend the night at my house : you can sleep on my lovely chocolate brown futon which is very comfy

My favorite blonde is : my friend Tammy

My favorite brunette is : Ken :)

The animal I would like to see flying besides birds : my rabbit. he's already convinced he's a dog so a bird wouldn't be that much of a stretch

I shouldn't have been : so eager to eat that whole tube of pringles earlier

Last night I: organised my craft supplies in preparation of the storage unit coming tomorrow :)

A better name for me would be : Melissa Graham. my in-the-future married name ;)

I've been told I look like : Jennifer Aniston. but only by my sister & my nan & i'm pretty sure they were both lying

If I could have any car, it would be : not broken like mine often is

i won, i won

2007-07-03T21:43:00.000+01:00

...a RAK from Bre. despite the fact that July is her birthday month, she is giving away stuff to make others happy :) this is a very sweet thing to do and i am so excited to receive my yummy presents. happy (un)birthday to me. and happy birthday month to the lovely Bre - thank you!!

one red paperclip

2007-07-02T15:29:00.000+01:00

i apologise for anyone reading this who may be thinking i've been living under a stone for the last few years, but i only just found out about this even though it is circa 2005/2006.

the 'one red paperclip' guy who managed to trade from a red paperclip up to a house in one year.

awesome. made me laugh.

rain, rain, go away

2007-06-30T22:16:00.000+01:00

okay. so not loving the rain at all. it just never lets up. the poor people who have had to evacuate their homes around the country due to the floods...it just doesn't bear thinking about. so while i sit snug indoors listening to the rain beating on the window, lets talk about happier things. let's talk about a village in a bag.

this is something i bought today whilst out shopping with my mum, and i happen to think it may be the best thing i've bought in a long time.

a village in a bag basically consists of lots of little wooden houses, trees, people etc making up a tiny village. in a bag. it's so simple you can't help but love it.

doesn't take much to put a smile on my face :)

from across the water

2007-06-29T17:44:00.001+01:00

the lack of post today due to the strike made me sad as i am waiting on some lovely things at the moment, but a friend from ken's work has just come back from a holiday in the US and brought me my favouritist treat ever

as you can't buy them in the UK i have many people who stock up for me when they go to america, and they all ask their friends too. i am very lucky, and the lack of post doesn't feel quite so bad now :)

i am an addict...

2007-06-29T14:36:00.000+01:00

...but it's okay, it's legal :)

i am so in love with etsy and spend way too much time browsing through all the beautiful things i would buy if it wasn't for that small money issue (in that, i have none). However, i may have to stretch to buying some prints from my new favourite shop belleandboo as they are absolutely adorable.

in other news, i am soon to have my very own craft storage unit! i am so excited by this prospect that i can hardly wait for it to be delivered (8-10 days? may as well be 8-10 years). this is all thanks to my wonderful boyfriend who offered to buy it for me (it may have had something to do with him getting fed up of finding ribbons in the toaster and chipboard in the fridge...). here is what i will soon own. and fill with pretty things.

lunch time

2007-06-28T11:19:00.001+01:00

greek honey courtesy of my parents bringing it back from Greece
greek yoghurt courtesy of Asda

good stuff

good things

2007-06-26T17:17:00.000+01:00

bargain £10.00 trousers from Matalan that make me look thin

scrapbooking products in the post

whole free evening ahead of me

just started new Stephen King book

dairy milk chocolate (which i can eat due to the magic power of the trousers mentioned above)

***today is a good day***

group art

2007-06-23T23:12:00.000+01:00

Discovered some amazing group art today on a website called Wet Paint. Here is my contribution:

just for fun

2007-06-23T14:44:00.000+01:00

Saw this on this blog & thought it looked fun

You Belong in Amsterdam

A little old fashioned, a little modern - you're the best of both worlds. And so is Amsterdam.
Whether you want to be a squatter graffiti artist or a great novelist, Amsterdam has all that you want in Europe (in one small city).

What European City Do You Belong In?

Got a bit carried away on the website though and found these ones too

Your Brain's Pattern

You have a dreamy mind, full of fancy and fantasy.
You have the ability to stay forever entertained with your thoughts.
People may say you're hard to read, but that's because you're so internally focused.
But when you do share what you're thinking, people are impressed with your imagination.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Your Element Is Fire

Your passion and emotion are as obvious as the brightest flame.
You make sparks fly, and your passion always has the potential to burst out.

You are exciting and creative - and completely unpredictable.
You sometimes exercise control, and sometimes you let yourself go.

Friends describe you as sensitive, spirited, and compulsive.
Bright and blazing with intensity, you seem mysterious and moody to many.

What's Your Element?

You Are Not Messy

You're so clean, people have accused you of being a clean freak!
You like things tidy, organized, and smelling fresh.
Messes drive you crazy, especially when you didn't make them.
It's hard for you to live with a slob - or someone who leaves their dishes in the sink.

Are You Messy?

things

2007-06-18T00:29:00.001+01:00

Can you believe this is a quilt? I found it while wandering the depths of cyberspace and think it is totally fab.

I love babies feet.

losing touch

2007-06-17T23:36:00.000+01:00

Sometimes it's hard to keep up with friends all the time when they're spread across the country and beyond. But how hard is it to pick up the phone and say "I'm back in town. Wanna catch up?"...? This has happened to me today and I'm a little hurt and confused by the lack of communication. It may be that I've got it wrong. That the person in question may be on her way back to town, but not yet here. But I don't think so. If I'm wrong, I'll hold my hands up and apologise. But if I'm right, what happened to the call mentioned above? Why didn't I get that?

I don't like to think that I'm losing touch with a person, or they with me. Not after that person has been through a lot with you. But when this happens, isn't that the only explanation?

something to do

2007-06-16T14:38:00.000+01:00

Copied from this blog:

1. Are you taller than your mom?
yes.
2. What color is your car?
red, when it's clean. which is never.
3. What is the closest thing to you that is red?
insect bite on my left knee.
4. What is your ringtone?
my phone is on silent. i hate ringtones.
5. Are you sick?
in what way?
6. What color is your favorite pillow?
um, i guess white. they're all white. unless you are counting when the pillow cases are on.
7.What is your favorite video game?
resident evil series. but only with the lights on. i'm easily scared.
8. Had a nap today?
it's 14.42 and i haven't been up long. but i am on holiday from work for two weeks so i'm allowed.
9. Gold or Silver?
silver.
10.Is there an animal that creeps you out?
spiders: they have too many legs. so do centipedes, but they don't brag about it so much.
11.Who was the last person you rode an elevator with?
don't ride lifts. they terrify me.
12. Did you go iceskating as a kid?
not often enough.
13. Ever have stitches?
no.
14. Favorite non-alcoholic drink?
ginger beer. or root beer.
15. How long ago did you kiss someone?
bout half hour ago.
16. What's something you want to do before you die?
have two or more babies. travel america. own a reliable car.
17. Have you ever caught something on fire?
no.
18. Have you ever seen a ghost?
wish i had.
19.Have you ever seen the northern lights?
no.
20. Do you know how to use chop sticks?
no.
21. Name something good that happened today.
my boyfriend brought me breakfast in bed.
22. What room are you in?
spare room/computer room/scrap room at home.
23. Are you worried about something you can't control?
no. if i can't control it, why worry about it?
24. Do you take daily medications?
currently folic acid.
25. Ever been in a fight?
not a physical one.
26. Are you wearing nailpolish?
no. too lazy.
27. Favorite color?
purple.
28. Innie or Outie?
innie.
29. Ever used a Ouija board?
no, never had the opportunity. but would if i did.
30. Sweet or Sour?
sweet.
31. Sun or Moon?
sun.
32. What shoes did you wear today?
not even out of my pj's yet, so no shoes.
33. Favorite eye color of the opposite sex?
my boyfriend has blue and his are gorgeous.
34. Most important quality in any relationship?
honesty.
35. Favorite zombie movie?
the one in the shopping centre. forget the name of it. day of the dead?
36 Time of day you were born?
23.10.
37. Do you know your blood type?
0 positive.
38. What would you spend 5000 dollars on right now if you were handed it?
pay off anything i owed out.
39. Name something annoying in public transit?
people with smelly armpits.
40. Did you grow up in the city or country?
suburb, i guess.
41. Would you ever consider going on a reality tv show if offered a large sum of money?
no.
42. Have you flown in your dreams?
floated, yes.
43. Hugs or kisses?
hugs.
44. You have 10 dollars to spend in the dollar store..what do you get?
like pounds in a pound shop? random useless things i don't really need but look good.
45. Slurpee flavor?
is that like a slush puppie? (i'm so english!) the blue one then. i think it's raspberry.

graduate

2007-06-13T18:19:00.000+01:00

My sister graduated from acting school on Saturday and we all went up to spend the day with her which was fab. I plan on doing a layout of some of the many photos I took that day, but just wanted to share this pic of her as a fully graduated actress:

very proud.

Here some other layouts I have been working on recently...

Anyway, must dash. Off to the circus soon!!!

let go

2007-06-04T15:56:00.000+01:00

I don't know why I'm writing on here today or what to write, I just needed to let it all out. My Grandad died on thursday and it was such a shock to all of us that I don't think any of us have really come to terms with it yet. The hole he has left in our lives is huge and nothing feels real at the moment. I am dreading going back to work and getting on with normal stuff so I am just trying to take each moment as it comes. Having lived a spoilt life with very little loss to deal with I am unprepared for any of this. His last day came shockingly fast as we had no idea it would be his last. The coroner seems to think he died from a heart attack due to calcium in the arteries around the heart, but that's all just words to me. It doesn't mean anything tangible. My Dad is knocked for six as he and my mum were away in Greece when it happened and I had to call him and tell him on Thursday evening. I never want to have to tell someone news like that again. I can't even begin to descibe how it felt, and that feeling is only a fraction of how he feels having lost his Dad. My Nan is in denial. She makes tea, offers cake, cleans up after us...she talks about Grandad all the time, even how he died, but she won't talk to anyone outside the family, won't leave the house. I am lost and confused.

No one reads these posts anyway so this is really just to let myself see how I am feeling by letting it all come to the surface. I have spent four days trying to be strong, but it's so hard.

my new logo

2007-06-01T18:00:00.000+01:00

back again

2007-05-30T20:50:00.000+01:00

It's been a long time since I last wrote on here & I feel like I have been neglecting it in favour of reading what others have written, so today I am making the effort.

I recently went to my first ever crop with a couple of friends from work, and I had a blast. Scrapping alone is always going to be my favourite way as I tend to drift to a place in my head that no one else can reach and am not good company when creating, but the opportunity to see what others were doing and to chat face-to-face about the things we make was really great.

Talking of chatting face-to-face, or not as the case may be, I have recently been sucked into the world that is SisTV and I love it! Elise told me I should get on board and she was so right. Everyone is very friendly and the work on there is amazing. Looking forward to many more hours of wandering the message boards.

Today I should be creating an essay.
Today I should be researching a project.
Today I should be hoovering the house.
Today I am surfing the net.
Today I am ordering fab 7gypsies products online.
Today I am procrastinating.

2007-05-15T23:25:00.000+01:00

If you're squeamish, look away now, as this is what my poor Ken's shoulder looks like just two days after the operation.

My poor love.

published artist

2007-05-15T23:16:00.000+01:00

A very good friend of mine, Daniel Sendall-King, has recently had a book of his art and poems published on a small independent label. It's very cool, Tim Burton-esque, and is well worth checking out. View it here. He gets £1.50 for every one someone buys...

2007-05-13T11:15:00.000+01:00

This in my inbox makes me happy:

Check it out here.

the end of the pain?

2007-05-13T11:06:00.000+01:00

Yesterday Ken finally went into hospital for an operation on his shoulder after a long and trying process. Having dislocated the same shoulder four times in fewer years, we have lived with the fact that it could happen at any moment and poor Ken has had to put a lot of things on hold for fear of aggravating the injury further. But, after being on the waiting list for such a long time, yesterday he had the operation that should mean his shoulder is just like a regular one again. Although downstairs now and in quite a bit of pain, with physio etc ahead of him, the ultimate goal is now so much closer.

He will now be able to play sports again without worrying.

He'll be able to lift our future children up onto his shoulders.

His mind will be at peace.

Today may be painful for him, but the end is in sight. And he deserves it so much.

oh, how i love to organise

2007-05-04T22:16:00.000+01:00

After my daily dose of blog stalking (having discovered I am by far not alone in this I feel less like I should have nightvision goggles & a notebook), I am off to organise my scrapbooking stash in preparation for some craftiness tomorrow. Just bought some clear zipper bags to separate out some of my stickers and rub ons to make it slightly possible for me to see what I have before complaining I have nothing and buying more (although that is part of the fun of it). Having finally settled my new computer desk in with the essential things set up (i.e. my photo printer) I am feeling my creative vibe come back to me. I have even 'altered' my computer screen a bit, to distinguish my computer from Ken's when we have visitors!! Hopefully I'll upload a pic of it soon.

Looking forward to some unadulterated scrapping tomorrow as have freed my schedule nicely. I also have £15.00 in gift vouchers for the local craft store so if I feel the need for a bit of fresh air, I can go shopping too!!!

Anyway, must get some sleep.

my sister: the actress

2007-05-03T22:49:00.000+01:00

East 15 Media presents...

fresh fruit in my inbox

2007-05-01T21:27:00.000+01:00

scrappy weekend

2007-04-30T22:35:00.000+01:00

After doing my exam and everything last week, this weekend I dedicated a large portion of it to me. I put a lot of things on hold (including the housework!) so that I could scrap to my hearts content. Unfortunately, now that I'm writing on here it's too dark to photograph the layouts properly as they look better in natural light, so I will try and put them up later in the week.

My sister called me last night to tell me she didn't like the picture I had put of her on Facebook - I can't think why...

Spoke to quite a few peeps about what they plan to do on NSD - I lack the opportunity to go to an organised scrap of any kind so I will be honouring the day in my own scrappy way. My boyfriend has suggested the idea of a synchronised scrap: the idea being that a group of 'net friends' all scrap for a designated couple of hours and then upload what they have done to show everyone else, and then everyone comments on them.

Bless him, I never thought he took that much notice of what seems to take over our entire house!!

chair for my craft room

2007-04-28T00:11:00.000+01:00

One day, I will own a chair just like this one from Anthropologie.

I will.

reasons to be happy...

2007-04-27T23:51:00.000+01:00

exam over
it's friday
two blissfully free days to spend with Ken
new scrapbooking supplies arrived
new pics calling out to be used
latest issue of Scrapbook Inspirations dropped through letterbox this morning
full belly of yummy chinese food for dinner
money in the bank: payday today

national scrapbooking day should be a bank holiday

2007-04-25T15:18:00.000+01:00

What are you planning to do for National Scrapbooking Day on 5th May? Here are a few ideas...

exam fever

2007-04-24T20:54:00.000+01:00

I have an exam on Thursday.
My head hurts.

Rational ways to deal with this situation:

claim sudden amnesia
change my identity
leave the country
leave the planet

Why am I writing on here instead of revising?

"We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated."
-Maya Angelou-

...I will try to remember this.

26 today

2007-04-21T22:33:00.000+01:00

Too many alcoholic smoothies equals hangover equals very good birthday!!!

Check out my new birthday shoes Ken bought for me:

I am so in love with these right now.

birthday eve

2007-04-20T20:37:00.000+01:00

As tomorrow is my birthday, Ken and I booked today off work and went out. He took me to Frankie & Benny's for lunch, and then he took me scrapbook shopping!! Alcoholic smoothies are the order of the day so we dusted off the smoothie maker and stocked up the drinks cupboard.

Merry (almost) birthday to me!!!

fruity

2007-04-19T23:29:00.000+01:00

2007-04-19T22:49:00.000+01:00

This is so cool - got the idea from Elise (thanx). Check it out here.

hard crimes

2007-04-19T19:18:00.000+01:00

So Tammy told me this story about how she almost got arrested yesterday for drinking in the street. As three burly policeman slid the door back on a S*W*A*T style van and leapt out, Tammy claimed that she thought it was okay for them to drink there as it was "just a piece of grass". The reasoning behind this claim? We'll never know. Thankfully the police realised that the time and effort it would take to jail our little Tamasina was not worth it and she was spared life as a convict. This time.

proud of me

2007-04-19T18:26:00.000+01:00

I want to record this feeling: proud. It is not a feeling I have often, not of myself anyway, as I never seem to reach the high expectations I set myself.

But... yesterday a certificate came in the post for part of my Finance diploma and I received the grade distinction; and today I recieved the grade for an essay I wrote for the Health & Social Care certificate I am studying online and I got 94%.

Proud is such a little word for how I feel today.

forces to be reckoned with

2007-04-19T18:20:00.000+01:00

There is something out there intent on reminding me to call my friend Tammy. All day I have seen references to her:

a lorry with Tamworth written across it
a map open at the page of a town called Tamworth
an advert for Tam airlines
Tammy Wynette singing on the radio
chocolate fondue (well, only Tammy herself will understand that one)

There are forces at work and I just wanted to let them know: I hear you. I'm dialling her number right now...

home

2007-04-18T20:04:00.000+01:00

This is a picture of the new house mini album I made when Ken & I moved in together last October. Both sides are used and it is filled with choice pics & journalling that I know i'll want to remember in the future. It also fits very neatly into a handy box I had lying around (shown below - apologies for poor quality of pic).

calculated error

2007-04-18T12:13:00.000+01:00

Home for lunch after my Wednesday morning Finance course before heading off to work, and something is bothering me. This morning in college I spent almost an hour on one section of my current course. The reason for this? I could not get the figures to add up to what I know they should have been. Now I like numbers. I love their order and the control I (usually) have over them, and the fact that there is always a solution if you look hard enough. I find it satisfying to do in the midst of the chaos we call life.

But today I realised something: calculators lie.

After the hour I spent on the problem I made a cup of tea and silently ranted for a short while, then went back to it. When I looked at the problem afresh I realised that there was no way numbers with zeros at the end could come to a total with an eight at the end. Ever. A mathmatical impossiblilty. Yet my calculator seemed to think it was an exception to this rule. So I threw it out the window. And I felt better. But it got me to thinking how much we rely on things such as calculators. Because when it really comes down to it, I didn't need it. I sat down and worked it out with a pencil and paper. And I felt better.

welcome home

2007-04-17T20:38:00.000+01:00

I have my car back after five long days without it and I feel great. How I lived before I drove i'll never know - it has been like missing a limb (not to trivualise that particular ailment). But now we are together again. It may be old and rusted and I will likely be cursing it when the bill comes in, but for this moment it is an old friend welcomed on its return.

I like the safe feeling I have of knowing it's just outside, waiting for me should I need it. Like those times when you have to have chocolate.

At 3am.

2007-04-17T18:22:00.000+01:00

Today felt like a quiet day. I didn't feel much like talking and kept very much to myself at work.

Enjoyed living in my own head for a day.

the beginning

2007-04-17T17:40:00.000+01:00

Having recently discovered blogging I realise I have subconsciously been doing this all my life. Like a diary kept in my head, I 'write' things as they have happened, analysing them and commenting on them later. Sometimes it's like I see myself as part of a movie - there are even soundtracks for some events. So blogging seems like an extension of this.

Except others can now see the movie.

But I find it calming to be able write my thoughts down and see them in black & white. Sort of like spring cleaning for the brain.