What Can I say.........Im Pants!!

Ok as the title says i am utterly pants, I cant believe the last post i done was in August, that is terrible! so my much needed apologies.

So what has been going on with me over the last few months, well to be honest a little or nothing a tad of alot LOL. August came and went and put my new camera into gear and took hundreds of photos we actually had a lovely August and September really for taking photos.

The main thing that has really taken up my time is trying to sort out a new mortgage, its been hell on earth, lets just say we dont have the best of credit ratings at the moment, but we had found somewhere that was willing to help, then the interest rates went up, they put their rates up and it all fell apart, but now we have another one in place and it should with everything crossed go through in the next week or so, and we are hoping that it will be in the next 7 days at least that will give us some kind of Chirstmas to be honest.

So that has really drained me, its been hard, we have been so skint over the last few months that my dear loving hobby Scrapping has had to go on hold which is hard really as its my little release, and im desperate to stock up!

Then we had another little surprise in September, Roger and I found out that June next year we are going to become parents, we are very excited, happy and ellated, its been a long wait and finally after many tears and tantrums our little peanut will be here in June. I am now 15 weeks gone and we have had many hours of searching the web for all sorts of bits for it.

We are hoping to convert half of our garage to put the computer and my scrap area in as at the moment its in what will be the nursery, i always knew that one day i would have to give the room up, and i think being so skint over the last few months and the lack of scrapping it hasnt really bothered me, but it is a must for us to sort out the garage as we now have even more of an excuse to scrap done we! For once we can scrap our own baby and not someone elses for a change LOL.

So i promise to be a lot more up to date with my blog, and for those that do read it im sorry that i vanished for so long, life just took me away with boring and annoying problems and for a little while i forgot the fun side of life.

Thanks for reading
Claire xx

OOOOOOOOOOO New Camera

Well as the title says!!

For my birthday which incidently was 1st July, my lovely friends and family clubbed together and gave me money, cos I had been after a new DSLR Camera, I could have asked for money to go towards maybe a Ciricut or Craft Robo, but maybe that will be my next birthday LOL. But I thought to myself, since I have started up scrapbooking some 2yrs ago, I have looked a photos in a whole new light and the ladies on UKS give me nothing but inspiration to do more and create better photos, along with fantatisc new LOs.

And as Roger and I are also hoping for some baby news I thought it was time to invest in something that would benefit all round.

So, like I always do when purchasing something of value, I researched and researched some more and as our other digital Point and Shoot compact camera is a Fuji we looked into a Fuji DSLR, ok fine its not a fully grown DSLR its what they call a bridge, but hey for what it does the cost of it and the sheer beauty of it I was not going to attempt to pick holes. And to be honest with you my dad was a keen photographer and had all the get up that you needed and the amount of times we used to laugh as my dad would say "oh what a great photo stay in that postion" and then runs off to grab a half a ton of equipmenet LOL - not saying that the photos he created werent good cos they were, I am just not sure if I was cut out for that.

So after alot of thought and research we chose the camera I wanted, and here she is-----------

Never thought a box could look so good

And here is the little beauty (not the image behind the camera, the camera itself)

We took a look on PriceRunner.com and found a company on there that sold the camera, and extras (Recharger, Batteries, Case, Tripod, 1GB card) for a lovely price of £260.00 I was well chuffed to be honest.

And to make it event better I got it on Friday, I was not meant to have it till Tuesday, but I got home from work to a message from the courier saying he will be back at 4.00pm so off course I stayed in with baited breath LOL and have been snapping all weekend, and here are a couple of examples.

Look out for more, but for now thats your lot as I have a cat to snap LOL (she looks terrified already)

Bye for now xx

Thoughts and Layouts

OK so I am sat here thinking, that I cant believe that I have now officially been scrapping for well over a year, time has flown by, and that I have not made a single card since LOL.

See I originally started out as a card maker, it was the first thing crafty that I took too, but found that I was getting fed up spending all that time, effort and money and giving it away. Don't get me wrong I had a real sense of gratification and pride when I gave them out and got some lovely comments back, but at the same time I was seeing nothing afterwards, and that's when I stumbled on this little joy of joys, and have never looked back.

Its funny I have found the most amazing community connected with Scrap booking UKScrappers is truly the most amazing place and the people there (male and female) are so friendly and warm. I have in my time been on some forums and communities and have found them after a while so bitchy and cliquey, and its not nice, but I have now successfully been a member of UKS for well over a year and I have not once found that - so to the creators and the members of UKS thank you for such a great forum and to the members, thank you for being such good friends, I have not once felt alone or lonely since being a member, its also nice that so many outsiders kind of frown when you say scrap booking the overall consensus is amazing as to what people really think it is. So its nice to have like minded people out there.

So for my post today I thought I would share some of my LO's that I have created over my time so far, I thought I would add some of my very first LO's and some of my latest, brace yourself there are a few LOL

I hope you enjoy and thanks for looking
Cxx

So....Here are some Layouts

Ok so this week my inspiration came back from holiday and hit me head on, so firstly here are 2 layouts I done in the week.




Ok so this is my first Cat Brandy, he was called anything from just plain ole Brandy to Brandy Snap, Brandy and Ginger LOL he was a lovely cat, handle kids so well, he truly was a soppy cat and would let my nephews stroke, pull and meow in his ears and wouldn't lose it once - bless you Brandy Snap I miss you my little lion xx






This one is our first family holiday, the same holiday I created my White Bits LO - it was a lovely holiday, Mum, Dad, Lee and myself - I still remember it to this day and that was some time ago, and that dance we are doing is the one and only 'Birdie Song' come on shake those bums !!





Its also a very good friend of ours Nikki's birthday at the beginning of August, and I thought as she is going through a hard time at the moment, and will be travelling I thought for her birthday I would make her a little Friends Book, and I have and I'm well pleased, and as I have taken quite a few photos I thought it best to just put it in a slide show! otherwise this post would be never ending LOL, so enjoy - I know I'm pleased - just have to do a few finishing touches and that's it - Thanks to Caz on UKS who is RAK'ing me a few larger book rings as the 1" ones just don't cut the biscuit LOL. Heres hoping that my mojo and inspiration don't take another holiday!!

Thanks For looking xxx

Picture This.....................

Ok so I dont normally blog twice in a day, but I got home from work today and found a little parcel waiting for me..............which made me smile.

See the story behind this parcel is a naughty one..........................last Sunday was my birthday and Sarah (Beesbabe from UKS) sent me a birthday card and a gift voucher from Capture the Magic which was very naught, but it would have been rude not to induldge so I did, and when I logged on the Capture the Magic I was over the moon that there was a sale YES A SALES woohoo, so I promised Sarah that as soon as my little package arrived I would post some piccies - just look at what I got for my money......

I have a thing with 3 bugs lately love it, also there is some Bazzill and other card stock in that photo and loads of it!!

Ok so here is another photo but close up of the yummy 3 bugs (never thought i would say yum to a bug!!) drool with me please

Epoxy Stickers, a Friend brad book and some alpha circles

ooooo card card and card oh yeah and MORE card

So I think you can agree for my money I done well, now im sifting through my many printed photos. So Sarah my little hun thank you for my pressie I appreciate it, and even though very thoughtful and nice but oh so NAUGHTY

Love ya

Cxx

Ok Lets Face Facts............I'm A Blimp

Right so it seems that somehow over a certain period of time, so pounds and stones have made friends with my body, and have taken up residence and living it up, this shock move announced itself the other day after spending between 4-5 a week kickboxing and general workouts, I had this stupid notion to go weigh myself thinking hey I have been working out like this for the last 4-5 weeks you never know something might have happened.

Well alls I can say is OMG is that such a figure, I was stunned, shocked, nausous, angry and verbal, alls Roger heard from downstairs was comments like, how is that possible, but im exercising, its not fair bla bla bla.

So after the intial shock and the temper tantrum and trying to get Roger to weigh himself in hope that it would make me feel better, but now thinking about it would have made me feel worse knowing that I weigh more then him, but having him weigh himself would have just highligted exactly by how much and think at that point I would have happily thrown myself of the roof of my house. So I sat there with Roger gobsmacked and frankly devastated, im now officially the heaviest I have ever been in my life and it totally rocked my world and truly dont think I have ever felt so elephant like !!

I sat in stunned silence for at least 30 mins feeling disgusted and angry with myself, and declared that we have to do something and something fast I cant feel like this, and if one more person says to me "oh but your tall" I shall do damage, it makes no odds im fat im over weight it makes no odds if im 4'3 or 6ft my weight is extreme!! So Roger and I sat there and went through what we eat and weigh it up against the exercise. Now with Roger he has a physical job he is a window fitter so clearly does 100% more exercise then myself in an 8hr period as im stuck behind a desk - not that this is an excuse cos its not, its more highlighting that the both of us need different exercises, so we have realised that im not eating enough and far too little exercise. So we went and brought some fruit for me last week and have had some for 11am and 4pm which is where I find I dip! made sure I have had breakfast (a bowl of Special K) and after dinner we go out for our brisk 20 min walk, and on top of the kickboxing each week im hoping that im doing enough.

But this was highlighted the other day by a rather funny post on UKS, it was all about weight and how much over we all are and its amazing at how alike we all are, with our busy day to day lives fitting in exercise, fitting in healthy eating, cos lets face it eating healthy is far from cheap, which is my bug bear, we can go and get a terrible takeaway but by the time you have walked out of the fruit and veg section in the supermarket its cheaper to go and stuff your face with a takeaway (not that I do its a point). Seriously the other day we went to Sainsbury's (ok not the cheapest but the same in all supermarkets) and by the time I had picked up a handful of apples, oranges, strawberries, bananas and veg on top the bill was already over £10.00 (scan and pack).

Whats that all about, I know people have said go to a street market its cheaper, but we are not all blessed with street markets, and would much rather buy from local farmers but we dont have that around here, so how do you win!! ok exercise yes this is a pitfall of mine and Rogers and we are aware that we need to kick our fat butts into gear which we are - but its the healthy eating.

Oh dont get me wrong, we dont eat bad but there is room for improvement, we only mainly eat Chicken or beef and everything is grilled or stir-fried, we have veg every night and everything we have is half fat, I dont think there is one thing in my house that is full fat, not due to the diet but just tastes nicer in our opinion!

Aarrggh.....oh well sorry for the rant and sorry ive not posted any LOs lately, but cant fit behind my craft desk LOL no seriously just not had the time, but have some wonderful photos from this weekend so need to crack on.

So to all those out there struggling with their weight or exercising - Your not on your own, we need to be strong and find the time - so all together now lets fight the flab **I wave my fist in a revolutionary way whilst shouting I will fight the fat**

And to those who read my blog, an update on the camera, we have my birthday money, we were due to order it over the weekend but had family up so didnt have the time, but will be ordering it this week - so watch this space for some practice shots LOL

Thanks for reading and one last time *wave your fist* we will win

Photos..............

As promised some photos of my trip to see my dads rose tree, and a sleepy cat in my flower pot hehe

Happy Monday!!

OK so I'm trying to be good and get back into blogging, I don't mind waffling away on my blog of my dreary days with nothing major to talk about, but I worry that if I do have any regular readers I will bore their little socks off!

Nothing major to report on this side, though I must admit I was very very good this weekend, I created a LO woohoo, I have taken any photos yet as Saturday and Sunday just seem to fly by and before I knew it I was setting my clock for work this morning. So hoping to take a few snap shots tonight so I can upload to my system, UKS and here.

Ah yes the lovely UKS..............I am utterly lost, even though I work Mon-Fri 9-5 and incidentally very busy at work, I always like the have UKS running in the background so I can pop in and see all my lovely friends on there and catch up with them, and read the posts and generally gather very informative information! It has been down since 9.30 last night for a server swap, so we all know that its serious but I miss it, my little life line, oh OK I know I have work and that is a life line, but somehow being on UKS I feel more (trying to think of the word!) I feel more not welcome but part of something, that's it UKS makes me feel part of something big, and crafting of all sorts is something big.

And I'm even more lost today as my good friend is off work today, so have not had our daily catch ups and chats today, and I think because I'm on my own in the office every Monday my day is dragging even more, I hope she is OK bless her she is going through a difficult time at the moment, so a little word to you my little buddy I'm here to listen and hopefully make you chuckle at least once during your day :-))

Still slowly reading through the book I purchased by Cathy Zielske, I can tell you now that woman is god when it comes to photography, design and scrap booking, I created my LO on the weekend with her in mind, and how she uses the pages, tip, tricks and techniques I think she is utterly amazing, and have put her second book on my birthday list!

Birthday I hear you shout, its your birthday LOL!! well it is on 1st July I will be the young and tender age of 32 (mum argued with me the other day saying I was 33!), and for this birthday I have decided to ask for money, I would normally spend it on crafting stuff, but this time I have an aim.........this little beauty

Its the new Fuji Finepix S9600 and its lush, so I have put my one item list (OK that's a fib) in front of Roger and gave that sigh and lost puppy look.






Talking of photos, I think cos I'm so into photography I'm finding all sorts of amazing things to photograph, and we have a decent Fuji 5.2 compact now, but I feel I just need that stage or two up, but yesterday we picked mum up and took her to the cemetery to see dad and put our cards on his rose, and it truly was a lovely moment, the sun was shining, perfect blue skies, and we walked into the part where Dad, Nanny and Granddad's roses are and the array of colour and the smell of beautiful roses was breath taking, I was so glad that I had my camera on me and took a photo from where I was standing!

I know a cemetery is not the kind a place you should take pictures, but my reason was two-fold, firstly the beauty took my breath away, and secondly as my brother lives in Spain he has never seen dad's rose bush in bloom so I thought it would look lovely to have a photo with dads cards and in bloom and send it over to him.

The cemetery in question is the Putney Vale Cemetery, and its truly the most amazing one I have ever stepped foot in, I know they are sad places and not a place to talk about, but these things I take notice of as Dad was a grounds keeper for another cemetery and was a keen photographer, so both of these in mind I pick up the beauty in the strangest of places, this place is slap bang on the A3 and if anyone knows the A3 its a busy road, but when your in there it all pales out, you cant really hear it, its amazing.

Anyway, I have taken some lovely photos of my trip there but again did not have the time to upload, so when I get home tonight I shall upload a few of this photos into a slideshow.

I feel I have waffled on for long enough, so for now ttfn xxxxxxxx
Cxx

Over-Worked!

Hello everyone, first my apologies for leaving it so long to log on and update my blog, I check it everyday but just not had the chance to update it. Its been a funny few weeks, again my mojo has upped and left me for a short break probably somewhere a lot more desirable then drabby UK.

Anyway, a lovely lady from UKS called Jac helped me big time not so long ago, I was given some old piccies from my mum and she wants me to do something with them, they are of myself and my brother, I had them scanned at work (they all laughed and wanted to know where my innocence went - cheeky buggers!) and I then sent them off to print, but obviously not using my noddle I didnt realise that they would have printed them in 6x4 format even though they were 3x4 format so you can imagine what I got back LOL.

Anyway, I posted on UKS for some advice and Jac stepped up to the plate and helped, so now I have plenty of copies of these photos to try and do some wonderful things with. So watch this space for my next creation.

I am also very pleased with myself I have not spent any money in the last 2 months on Stash, I took a hard evalution on my stash and even though I dont have a lot I have enough for my scrapbooking knowledge, and whilst I am on a dry spell of inspiration it seems silly to spend out.

News on me at the moment, went to the Drs last night due to a funny and rather irrating cracking sound in my left wrist, she done loads of twisting and moving motions with it and bascially told me and I quote "its over used" ok so how would I explain that one to my ignorant boss who incedently has time off and doesnt tell us - Knobber!!

So anyway, my left wrist is heavily strapped and will have to wait and see the outcome.

Roger and I have spoken alot about weddings lately and we are now tallying up a cost, just so we can see how much we need to save.

Right I think that is it for now, will try to make sure I am good in the future

TTFN
Clairexx

Peeves..............

OK so today I feel really crabby, its that time of month, its cold dank and wet and frankly just cant be bothered!!

I am sitting here at work really not wanting to be here, I am lucky at the moment that the IT regs still allow me to post on here, so I'm going to post and be all yukky and moody LOL. My motivation seems to have vanished along with the sunshine so hopefully when that comes back so will by motivation.

I have loads of photos and plenty of stash (well not plenty) there is more then enough that I could be getting on with.

So the latest news from me is mum has decided that she wants to see the house now, she realises that the house is just far to big and hard to manage now its just her on her own, so we have found a lovely 2 bed maisonette just around the corner and she is in love with it, we have also had loads of interest in her house which is always a good thing, just its just a case of watching and waiting and hoping it will all sort itself out. Also the estate agent well he is a bit of a lad I must say, he looked a little tangoed when I met him LOL - I think he needs to have a rest from the ole tanning beds LOL.

I know I said I was going to blog at least once a week, cant remember the date I last done one, so I thought I would get my trusted Blog Prompts list out and take one from there, and as you can see by the title its about pet peeves and there should be a law against.............................

My pet peeves, probably are the same as most others, I think for this one it will be in list fashion LOL:-

• Petrol Station attendants that stay on the phone whilst serving you and hold their hand out for the cash!!
• People who NEVER call back
• People who say "if only you had told me last week I was selling one!!!!"
• Cold Callers on a SUNDAY MORNING
• Learner Drivers in rush hour (sorry I know I was a learner once, but never in rush hour)
• Pregnant women chuffing on a fag
• People who hear my London accent then start talking to my in rhyme "whose on the dog and bone" "up the ole apples and pears" "ah lovely mince pies" do I look like a pearly queen LOL
• Or when you have a argument/discussion with your OH, and you say you always do that and they come up with the smart arsed comment "if I always do that then give me examples" oh that really gets my goat cos you know sods law says you cant remember a single example!!

I know there are a whole host more of annoying little things that I feel should just be law that they cant annoy me. Anyway I will try and think of something better to blog about next week, hey you never know the sun might come out and my motivation to come back and I could blog about scrap booking now theres a chance!!

Seeya xxx

Toot Toot

I know I have posted today, but only just got my photos uploaded and havent shared my new car with you loverly lot................so here is my sexy little black number..........isnt she yum....................

She is the new shape Seat Leon, fab and fun to drive......just thought I would share

Random Fact for a Random Monkey!

Ok so here are some random facts about me, I found this on Gems blog and as she hadn't tagged anyone in particular and I hadn't blogged I thought I would take this opportunity to blog and share some randomness about me.

The rules are to list 7 random facts/habits about yourself. Then choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names (don't forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog and they need to write the rules in their answer too). So...7 random facts/habits:

• Lamb will never pass the threshold of my house, unless it is a pet, as a child I had to eat what mum served but hated it from my earliest memory
• I cannot physically look out of a downstairs window, that backs onto a dark area like a garden, I am scared that someone will be starring back at me of pop up in front of me
• At nearly 32 I am still petrified of clowns, one of two things could happen if I came face to face with one 1. I could cry and turn into a blubbering wreck or 2. punch the living daylights out of whoever it is, and it could even be a friend playing a joke, I wouldn't see it!
• I had my last cigarette on the 14th August 2004, the day Roger and I moved into our first house together and am now officially the worlds worst ex smoker
• I kick boxed for several years, and competed
• I started Ice Hockey at school despite not being able to skate, and even now if you put me in those blue boots it will look like I have never skated a day in my life
• I have 2 false teeth at the front of my mouth, thankfully they don't look false, they were knocked out by a flying Puck and yes OUCH is the right word!

As for tagging someone, I think I am going to take a leaf out of gems book (blog) and let whoever hasn't been tagged to take this opportunity to share some randomness with the blogging community, but if you do then comment back here so I can go and have a peep.

Thanks for reading a little snippet of my random world, it was nice to invite you all in

Claire xx

Oh my goodness!!

Can you believe it !! its nearly a month since I last posted, so I'm sorry to those that read my dreary going ons, LOL but I really don't know where time has gone, I really am shocked that we are now in MAY!! whats that all about?

So May brings the end of the CC on UKS, which was a totally fab weekend, I tried different things, I actually worked outside my comfort zone and regularly over the weekend found thinking out of the box which was cool, I feel that as I have really only been scrapping for just over a year, I have found that I am comfortable with certain things like colours, embellies, number of photos etc.... and this weekend saw me scrapping more then 1 or 2 photos, and using different sizes have a look:-

And I found that because I didn't buy any kits I made things, like one of the classes needed a clock and I was able to make one, ok albeit not as perfect as the one that would have been in the kit, but I truly had fun making them!

Also, May brings loads of birthdays, my Brothers 41st!! I cant believe it was this time last year we were all in Mallorca celebrating his 40th! its mad where the hell has 12 months gone?

Also, sad to say it also sees the first anniversary of my dear dads death, its crazy, I sit here now and wonder how I got through this year, and to be truthful I cant answer that, I have had my days of realising that I will never see him again or have that hug and become inconsolable, but yet there are days where I think he is in a much happier and pain free place, I think I am one of those people that hide emotions as much as I can, and just get on, and try not to think too much about what is going on, I am not saying that I don't think about him because I do and a lot, like with the crap I am going through with work I could see my dad and have a good ole rant and he will tell me "oh stuff em tell to go **** themselves your better then them" LOL a true Irishman I can tell you, and he would listen even though I was probably boring the pants off him he would always shake his head and have an answer, or if he knew I needed to rant he would rant with me, and that is something I do miss a lot! funny isn't it, the silly things that get you.

Funny, the silly sod is always in my mind, maybe not always at the front, but is always there, you know my philosophy in life is never to regret, and 99% of the time that is so true, but sometimes I think "oh how I wish Roger and I had gotten married" you know just to save that little bit of pain on the day!! Hey ho never mind........................(just reflecting), it would have also been his 66th birthday on the 26th May!

I managed to get some old photos scanned the other week, and here are just a few of my favs:-

This is me and dad in our back garden in Putney, London in the early 80s (not a daddy's girl at all LOL)











Now I know full well that Mum would not be happy with this photo, but it is of mum and dad on holiday in Malta (2nd time) in the early 90s

This is a fav of mine, I have always looked up to Lee in more ways then one, and this was our first visit to Mallorca back in the 80's, how strange that we now seem to go there every year, as this is now where he lives, the birdy song obviously had a lasting affect on him hehe

Mum gave me a few of these photos, and have enjoyed finding things to do with them, and is nice to have them in my vast collection of photos both on my pc and the hard copy ones. I know mum has many many more for me to play around with so looking forward to getting my grubby mits on them too.

Anyway, I am sure I have waffled on far to much now so I am going to sign off - but not before wishing my big brother a happy birthday for tomorrow, and my several friends throughout this month, and a happy birthday to my dad I know he is probably reading this over my shoulder LOL, and I miss you more then you know xxxxxxxx

Thanks for reading peeps, promise I will get back to once a week (honest!) - I have been badgering a good friend (Sarah) for not updating hers, and she quite rightly pointed out my month absence today x

Catch you all soon
Clairexxx

I'm Alice and im in Wonderland

Well I cant be happier, UKS have just launched another CyberCrop!!! Excitement all round I think, I had my first ever experiance of a CC last year with their Harry Potter one, and I have truely never had so much fun as I did on the run up to it and that whole weekend.

And now im here for a second one how totally fab is that, and im apparently a Diamond whoohoo so I am now a proper sauff London Diamond bird heheh.

So roll on all the fun, games, frollics for the next 3 weeks and a many hours of chatting to my new teamies.




Which Alice in Wonderland Character are YOU?
created with QuizFarm.com

The Colours in my life..................

Ok I forgot the Sunday blog last week, so I thought I would give it a bash now!!

This Sundays blog prompt is encouraging you to grab your camera again.. And this time capture some of the patterns and textures of your home... What colours do you surround yourself in your home?

Do you find your tastes in scrapping paper relates to tastes you have in your interior fashions?
I do.. I am quite taken by funky fabric prints, logos, textures and colours.
I like a "hint" of colour and then go mad with accessories!I think you can have features in your house that have far more of an impact that a whole room of random colour.
Show me yours and ill show you mine!

So here you go:-

Thanks SJ for another brill prompt xx

Where has the time gone................?

Ok so it feels like I haven't blogged in months but actually just realised I only blogged last week LOL, well so much for blogging every day, last week just seemed as manic as you like really!!

Well the overwhelming pain finally subsided by Thursday, I went to see a Locum Dr and apparently she reckons that it was a pulled muscle, I can 100% tell you now that WAS NOT a pulled muscle, I have broken bones, trapped nerves and pulled muscles in my 31 yrs existence and I can firmly and honestly say that woman had no flipping idea, dappy cow.

As for my foot, I have been put on a one final dose of Antibiotics, she said that should it stay the same then she will put me in for having some sort of toe op LOL sounds lovely doesn't !!

I managed to get a Monday off from work yesterday woohoo, wonders never cease to amaze me LOL, and yesterday I went to pick my new car up, its still a Seat Leon but just an 06 and its in BLACK wohoo im well pleased, obviously Roger wasnt as ecstatic when I said I wanted a black car as its him that has to keep it clean!! but either way its lovely, its gonna take me a little while to get used to it but it lurverly!!

Im such a dappy cow, I got all sad leaving my old car there, she has done me well bless. So driving home yesterday, it felt like I was driving across the world I drove in every weather you could imagine, I left home sunny, then rain, then sleet, then hailstones, then snow, back to rain, the sun, the pulling up outside the house and low n behold snow. Every season in one day, how mad was that!!

I feel a LO coming on with my cars, I do get so attached to my babies, especially if they have done be well, unlike a few pigs I have driven LOL

So thats all my news, I forgot to take photos of my mother day gift that I gave to my mum, it was a little mini album and I must admit I was very proud of it, and even brought a tear to mums face!!

Take care
Clairexxx

Unearthly Pain

Ok so I feel like im falling apart at the seams!!

Firstly, I have an in-growing toe nail thanks to dropping something bloody heavy on it and breaking it, so thats ongoing.

Secondly, I have a cold (see previous post) sneaky bugger

Thirdly, due to the said cold I had a sneezing fit yesterday at work, and then experienced a pain I have never had before!! as a female I get a pain around this area every now and then on my left and its one of those pains I know and can explain, but yesterday it was on my right, so automatically thought holy crap appendix!! so in true Claire style I left it for a few hours thinking whatever it was would go away cos im clever like that!!

So around 8.30 ish and a few pain killers later, and hours of trying to get comfy, I gave in and called NHS Direct, to cut a very long and tiring conversation short, I suffer from PCOS, which means I have a large amount of Cysts around my ovaries and a couple decided that they wanted to bite the dust and ruptured!! NHS Direct said that they could get me to come up to the hospital but alls they can do is give me a pain killer and make me comfy, so he suggested that while the pain was dull I could stay at home, unless it became too bad to come up immediately.

And yes it bloody hurt, and my tummy is still sore and still very tender, needless to say I didn't go to work today, I was hoping to get to see my GP but because I didn't get to sleep till 3am I missed the 8am calling slot for an appointment.

Im due to see her next Tuesday regarding my foot so I shall have a chat with her then.

So note to any PCOS sufferers have that pain, dont worry LOL its only a cyst throwing a paddy.

Cxx

Its finally Caught me..........

So today I wake up, stretch, open my eyes, yawn and swallow and at that point let out an almight ouch, yep I wake on this fine Sunday morning sore throat and streaming nose!! I have managed to run from it for months and in the middle of the night it snuck up on me, I was so defenceless !!!

So all day I have been walking around with tissues galore and soothers, oh and the sneezing whats that all about!! ?? so as write this I will probably have sneezed all over you so sorry if you catch it LOL.

Last night we had a party to go to, it was my cousins 40th, it was an ok affair, my cousin is a lovely fun girl, but does sometimes forget her roots so to speak, and I find that a little hard to swallow (even more so today LOL) I am a firm believer that you are who you are and people should like, love or loath you for that and that only, but the thing with my cousin is now and then she remembers her roots and we have such a blast, and always end up going home with a change of opinion and say she so funny, and then other times she is this totally different person, someone I just cant relate to and I find it so hard to try and keep up.

But even still she had this party, and it was a funny night, the DJ was this caberat type, he DJ'd for a while, then done several dress changes, and ranged from Bee Gees to Elvis and a few in between, and trust me he was a funny looking thing, but certainly was a crowd pleaser! the food was amazing, and the company was just as good, and found myself having a laugh.

My mum got a little upset last night, the guy was doing an Elvis song, and a bad attempt at that, but it wasnt that that upset her, I think it was more the song, and the fact that she couldnt have her dance with dad, its amazing you forget how much it still effects her, I mean its totally understandable, after 45yrs of being with someone 24/7 and then having them taken from you, I can imagine how hard it is, what I mean is when you see or speak to her she is so strong, and always tries to have a smile on her face, and its at times like last night that you realise how fragile she really is.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the party, and some of my crazy family LOL

So March

Ok so March has stormed in, I cant believe its here already, and I have found that some things in my life need a little shake up, well not some things, mainly work, I have been fed up since my boss was made redundant, not because that happened more to the fact of how after 24yrs she was treated appalling!! and ever since then we have been put under someone else and he is a nightmare and I really mean that!!

I'm lucky if he graces me with 2 words in a day, unless he needs a favour then its hows you, hows your weekend, whats your partners name bla bla bla and its like oh please spare me the in betweens!! he never tells me where he is going, and more annoyingly he will walk off without putting his phone on voicemail!! (real pet peeve). And to top it off I'm the only one out of us 3 girls that work 5 days a week, the other 2 are part times due to having children.

So the other day I decided to put in for some holiday, which meant me not being in on a Monday (the only day I'm on my own) and was met with, "oh but there wont be anyone to cover you" "not sure I'm happy about that" "let me think and I will consider it" CONSIDER you cheeky git!!

I work 5 days a week, Monday to Friday I am entitled to take any one of those days off!! its never been a problem before and it shouldn't be one now. Consider my good god.

Trust me I am not that important that if I'm not there for one day my work is going to fold into a heap LOL and nothing ever comes in on an individual day that is ever that urgent its needs dealing with there and then.

So in my wisdom I thought to myself, hey I need a change, OK Roger and I are planning to start trying for a family this year, but 90% of companies nowadays only provide SMP so there is no major issues there really, and even still the chances of me falling this year is slim so I suppose there isn't much to worry about!

So I suppose its a watch this space moment, and besides I need a payrise to keep my scrapping addiction up LOL

Claire xxx

A Reflection on Time.......

A bit of a funny one today, I read a friends blog today and it got me thinking, that I am not the only one in the world in difficult times, we have all somewhere got ourselves into a pickle, and no one more so then Roger and I. Thankfully we are in the middle of sorting these issues out, but its amazing how quick they dont sort themselves out LOL!!

We are well and truly on the right path now and we are certainly not going to be sorted out in the first year, but slowly things are getting back to normal and there is that little glimmer of light, im not sure if its someone running away with the flashlight, but even still look at that positive! I am a faster runner I will catch the little sod LOL.

I am thankful for what I have, and reading a fellow bloggers entry made me realise that there are just so many things in my life im thankful for and never really realise it, so I have spent the last few hours sitting at my desk flicking through the photos and actually counting my blessings.

I count my blessings for Roger! he is truly my rock, yes we have our moments of higher vocals but that never lasts long in our house, we love laughing and giggling too much, im thankful that he shares my warped and bizarre sense of humour and he knows exactly what to say and when to say it in order to get the biggest impact. Bless him he got into this pickle with money trying to help me out of my past, how can I thank someone for being so selfless!!

My blogging friend said blogging on here is her diary, and letting off on here sometimes makes her shoulders feel that ikkle bit lighter (not exactly her words, I spun my own LOL) but its true, I come on here I waffle, I baffle then I leave, but its true you do feel better, im pretty sure if I waffled this much rubbish to Roger he would buy a set of ear plugs!!

Im also thankful for finding scrapbooking, it has really opened my eyes to my memories! I hope that made sense, but I have always loved photos I have hundreds and now I have acquired more from my mum (another thing im thankful for) and now she is handing over a pile of 35mm slides, but where im going with that is, I have always loved photos, but its not until you start doing something like scrapping that make you look at the photos in more light, you put yourself back in that moment, and your feelings, thoughts flood back and you can put it on paper, im thankful that I came across this art. And the friends I have made whilst in this wonderful addictive world.

Anyway, I have waffled myself silly now, it was meant to be a quick post to say, thanks to a friend, I have sat down and counted my blessings and not once deducted a blessing cos of something bad!! I have realised what I have and what more I can achieve.

Right im off to play with my new stamps. Thanks for reading right to the end of this waffle I wish I could give you a prize!!

ooo there is one consulation prize!! My knees have healed (its a prize of just knowing xx)

The Diva in Me

Thanks to SJ this week on UKS, I found out that I have a little bit of a diva in me LOL

Good prompt LOL, I wont tell you who else it came up with (must wear more makeup)

Canvas for Mum

Ok sorry I have not posted for a while, its been funny times at work, for some reason they are clamping down big time on IT, so I have tried to avoid checking in or posting this week, and have even limited my time on UKS!!! my days are getting miserable LOL

Anyhow, I wanted to share my latest creation with you, its my mums birthday this weekend, and I thought as she doesnt have many things hanging in her house, I thought the idea thing would be a Canvas, a cross between a photo and a painting so to speak.

So I found a lovely little cheap shop in Fleet called Snip, and his canvas' start from £1.00 good times hey!! so off I went into my little room and let my creative juices flow, and here are the results and I must say im well chuffed :-

These are my 2 nephews and the photos are from their Disney Holiday back in November, these are also the photos im using for my brothers anniversary album, seeing the results is just making me want to do the album more and more.

Thanks for looking

Cxx

Technology is all Around!!

Ok so a little while back the lovely JaneH from UKS was creating daily blog prompts for us, to manly keep us upto date in the world of blogging, and should we wish to use them as prompts for LOs then even better. Jane has stopped them now as you can imagine was time consuming for her and im sure each day was getting harder to find a good thing to have everyone to blog. So when she stopped she sent me a list of prompts that she had posted on UKS over the course of the year, and I did orgianlly say that I would try to do one of them a week, and as you can see I havent LOL.

So whilst sitting here on luch at work, tapping away and my PC I scrolled through the prompts on Janes list and found this prompt which I thought quite apt really:-

What technology do you use? How has it changed your life? If it were gone tomorrow, how would it affect you? Do you like it, Embrace it, or treat it as a necessary evil?

So this got me a thinking!! apart from the normal TV, DVD players, IPODs and a like, I think for me the one piece of technology that I embrace it my PC!! Plain and simple, it to me is the one most important thing in my life (non human form that is). Im a PA by trade so I use my PC day in day out, 5 days a week 52 weeks of the year (excluding coffee breaks, holidays, catch up with colleagues LOL) and that one piece of equipment has in turn made my life so much easier, it is truely a remarkable thing.

See when I left school not wanting to sound old my school never had computers, and neither did my college, I left school and took a diploma in Secretarial studies, and we learnt how to type on typewriters, oh how I still feel the pain, of my fingers missing the keys and slipping inbetween the keys and removing a thin slice of skin!!!

The thing that annoyed me was the carbon copy paper, never liked it, never got on with it, never want to go back to it, even clearing out our work cupboards the other day and coming across a few random sheets gave me the shudders. And the tippex!! a ray of colour choices but for some reason only ever typed on white paper, never did figure that one out!!

So for me my PC is the most important and amazing bit of technology in my life, the things we can do, store photos, print extras and not have to wait for weeks for Prontoprint to send them to you, talk to friends and family online, type millions of words and click one button to spell check and not a whiff of tippex!!

If it was taken away from me, well I think I would leave my job, sell my house and move to a desert island at least then I could understand why it was taken away from me, oh and cry, its my life line to everything!!

And who would be so mean as to take something so important away LOL

So Mr Compaq, Mr Amstrad, Mr AppleMac, Mr Microsoft, I salute you and thank you for saving the endless strips of skin off my fingers!

Its a Family Affair

Family Matters - what is your background, are you part of a big or small family, are you close? how often do you see your family, and is there anything you would like to improve or change about your family life?"

So this is SJ's prompt today, strange really as this weekend I have thought and spoken alot about my family, my immediate family isnt that big, mum, dad, older brother and myself, there are 9 years between me and Lee, and growing up that was a huge age gap and never really had that brother sister type scenario, but as we have grown up we have got closer, funny as he lives in Spain, but yet we are closer now then years gone by, strange I know, but when we meet up we are always having a laugh, out drinking, Lee is a dry funny bloke, I have yet to find someone that acutally doesnt like him, he has that like-ability about him, its one of those moment when your watching him and people just laughing and smiling its one of those proud moments 'Im glad he is my brother' type moments!!

Mum and Dad, it was hard growing up, I think you either have one of those childhoods where you get everything and are privaliged but not in a spoilt way, or your family have to work double hard, now im not after sympathy at all, as I wouldnt change my upbringing at all, but I always remember both my parents working flat out, mum having more then one job but always there to pick me up from school, and dad working on the post working all kinds of shifts. The worst I remembered was at Christmas, my dad would go onto Christmas pressure it was a shift the post office named, and I honestly wouldnt see him from the 1st December to the 24th December he was working flat out, but then would have the best fortnight ever over Christmas, and it was that time that NOTHING was open for at least a week!!

Dad passed away last May he was only 65 and with this happening has brought us much closer, I was daddy's girl and I think most little girls are, so it was a huge loss for me, and my family. We have always been close and yes had our struggles growing up but what family doesnt, I love and adore my family, im very lucky.



This is my brother, his wife and 2 boys on their Disney holiday in 2006







This is my mum and dad back in 2004 celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary

Skinned Hearts and Skinned Knees

Ok so have a peep at these:-

Now as much as I would love to say this skinned knee belonged to a 12 year old from running around the skool playground playing whats the time mr wolf or having a go at British Bulldog, it pains me to say that this knee belongs to a 31 yrs old!! Yes me!!!!

It also pains me to say that I was stone cold sober, wearing trackies and trainers!! we went to Rogers mums for dinner tonight and she treated us to a tasty chinese, she asked us to nip around first and collect the money so we could pick it up, and whilst Roger turned the car around I ran down the path knocked on the door, and collected the money.

I proceded to turn around and run back, forgetting these 2 tiny steps, and I mean tiny, normally you can walk normally they are that small, but for some reason I tripped up the first one which sent me flying into the shrubbery/rockery, I really couldnt stop myself, I was going and nothing including my hands were going to stop me and flew straight onto my knees, both of the them are skinned, also narrowingly missing a rock in her shrubs my face fell flat on her snowdrop flowers and a few are flattend now LOL, but looking at it on the way home there were 2 large rocks there, im sure that would have bloody hurt if I hit them at the speed I fell!!

I really have not skinned my knees like this since I was at primary school........Ok falling out of my patio doors was close a few years back but my hands stopped any major damage and plus that doesnt count I was drunk LOL.

But tonight my knees are grazed and skinned and really bloody hurt, how did I used to do this week in and week out upto the age of 10!!

Roger was upset that he didnt see it cos he didnt know until I got into the car, ouching and oohing!! I felt sick to my stomach and really wanted to cry LOL I have come to the conclusion that im a danger to myself at the moment, feel the need to wrap up in bubble wrap LOL

Anyway, just thought I would share, off to find the savalon and cotton balls, just like the school nurse...............see your all remembering your school nurse now arent you xx

Fluffy February!!

Well Well Well, we finally got snow today, and for once in a bliming long time it was a fall that was worth getting excited about, I must admit I have not seen snow this fluffy and this thick for many years, and even at 31 I felt myself getting that little excited feeling, I was just gutted that I had to go to work!!

It was funny, I left for work watching kids nicking the snow from cars and building snowmen, I think I counted 5 on the way to work, and even saw one little girl producing a snow angel!! priceless I can tell you, it took me back to when me and my brother were kids and seeing if we could through snow balls over the house LOL, I remember once, I was at the back of the house, and I thought my brother and dad were at the front little did I know my brother had snuck to the back with a fresh snowball, so once I through mine, dad was meant to through his, hasten to add very few made it over, apart from this one, I was amazed, I was so amased that firstly it made it over the house, and secondly hit me in the head, my brother let me into the secret a few years back little git!! LOL good shot though square on me head.

Anyway, I dont normally do 2 posts in one day but after posting my last one I realised I had photos from this mornings snow, I took some on the way to work, and thought I would share!!



This is my neighbours front garden, its what I see when I turn out of my house, love snow it makes me smile!!

This one is directly outside my front door

we have a little picnic ground for our little

square of houses, its owned by one of the

neighbours and in the summer she brings out

the picnic table, but today I was loving the

Sheer Whitness!!

The one thing I love about driving in and out of our estate is that it is tree lined, and in the summer its beautiful, but as you can see in the snow its just as lovely, I did have to stop this morning and just stare at mother nature to me at her best!!

My Mojo.............Is coming back!!

Ok so since Christmas I have been suffering from a bit of a block, my motivation has done a runner and my mojo has yoyo'd off to somewhere I cant reach, but there is hope and a light at the end of this tunnel.

Last night I decided that I was going to sort through the photos I got back from Snapfish, Photobox, MyPixmania and Klick and in there I found some photos from New Year, and had the urge to scrap them, so for some reason motivation was running through my veins and Mr Mojo kicked me up the bum and off I went, now I know I only done 2 LO's but they are 2 im pleased with and considering since I converted my spare room I havent picked up so much as a roll of d/s tape, so creating 2 LOs was quite and achievement.....so hey maybe Funky Feb is going to be good for me!!

Also I suppose im really also excited that I have managed to get my grubby mitts on a GoGo kit, and im at bursting point I just cant wait to have it on my doorstep, and im sure motivation will be streaking through my house at a rate of knotts LOL.

Oh yes I forgot, I subscribed to Scrapbook Inspirations too, and I received my free gift which was a 8x8 album by S.E.I its an ablum in a box with all the papers and embellies, so had a field time going through that tonight too.

Now all's I need to do now is get some more stuff for my 2 large projects then I will be on here moaning I dont have enough time!! hey I never said I was easy to please LOL.

Oh by the way I want to say a BIG HUGE thank you to a true friend Sarah (aka BeesBabe) bless her she has paid for my kit this month as my money wasnt going to clear in enough time!! thank you hunni, I really appreciate your kindness on that one. :-))

Anyway here are my 2 creations:-

Picture seems so far away, must look into making it bigger for this purpose, by anyway its Roger looking very drunk on New Year 06 we had a fab time at an Italian Resturant in Fleet, there was about 12 of us and it was truly a blast!!

This one is of Charlotte a good friend bless her, miss quiet before a tipple and then after a few the biggest party animal you see, always up for 'Opps up Side yer head' LOL

Changes!

Ok so SJ's prompt today is:-

"What changes do you plan to make in your life in the coming months. Do you like or loath change?"

So changes in my life over the next few months, there are a few things that I have on my mind, firstly is to find my dam mojo!! I just cant find my motivation anywhere, I have hunted high and low, under the bed under the floor boards, kinda looked in the loft (scared of heights LOL) but seriously since christmas its just gone, vamouse!! so thats the first thing im trying to accomplish.

But as for change, work!! that is my real motivation killer, I have never felt so un-motivated, un-settled, and insecure in my working life, there feels like a real blanket of secrecy at the moment, so this week im going to book a couple of days off over the next few weeks and go visit the agencies and see what they say. Its a pain as we really wanted to start a family this year, but most companies require a years service before they give you any type of maternity, so again its something that Roger and I have to weigh up before I get too far ahead!

Secondly, weight, our mate!! yes like many I have a few pounds (stones more like) that need to be vanquished, we are currently doing the Paul McKenna think yourself thin, and im incorporating my own twist 'Scrap yourself thin' you see when I scrap I forget to drink, eat, go to the loo, so I thought it would be a good idea to incorporate that little twist LOL. But seriously, my clothes are a little looser on me recently, so not banning what you eat has a logical side to it.

Thirdly, Exercise............................ Cant really talk anymore on that subject LOL

But most of all, I want to scrap more, I spent some time not so long ago finding some wonderful photos of me, Roger, my family our friends and they really do deserve to be turned into something just perfect, I have recently brought a load of canvases too, some 4x4, 6x6 8x8 and a few long ones (dont know the sizes) and I have some perfect ideas so really I need to go back to point one, and demand my mojo to return so I can crack on.

I want to buy more buttons, primas/blooms, Chipboard letters, try different type papers, and learn more about the amazing void of knowledge and suppliers out there, I mean I have only been scrapping for just under a year, and I know I have only just scratched the surface, the more I read and the more LOs I see the more I realise there is so much more out there for me to find and experiment with, its almost scarey to think whats out there LOL.

The things I love and like and will never change, Family, Friends, Scrapping, UKS
The things I hate and loath and will endeavour to change, Weight, Money

Will keep you posted on my ongoing findings

CX