Oh well

Christmas celebration may be over but preparation for the New Year is now taking place. This year I cooked the Christmas dinner and I decided to put the table and chairs into the conservatory to free up space in the living room, I think it worked quite well.

Charis was a little overwhelmed by it all and fell asleep having her dinner, Brad put her into bed where she slept for an hour or so, and woke up just in time for the present unwrapping

Kaity helping Daddy unwrapping his traditional Christmas present..Fred Bassett book and calendar which he has been collecting since he was about 5 years of age.

 Kaity surrounded by wrapping paper and this is what she found in one of her presents....

 A Fairy castle which I made using instructions purchased from Following the Paper trail. As you can see the drawbridge drops down and inside is a mini album which hold lots of pictures & journalling. The book isn't finished as I thought Kaity and I can do it together.

Christmas Greetings

I've been a bad blogger of late. No real reason but I have lost my mojo...it has gone walkabout somewhere..I'm hoping that in 2012 it will come back and I can showcase my layouts and pieces of myself.

Anyway I digress I would like to wish all my followers a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I don't have any layouts to show but I do have some photos I have taken recently I hope you like them.

An eventful 2 weeks

First of all last week Brandycat appeared unwell. At first I thought it was due to the warm weather, but I had this feeling he needed to go to the Vet.  I packed him into his basket (without a fuss from him unusual) so I knew he wasn't right. 

The first thing the Vet did was to weigh him, (he had lost weight but I'd been putting it down to old age) Mr Vet decided to put Brandycat under tests to check everything out, I thought it may be something terminal but he didn't think it was. I left Brandy there and collected him 5 hours later...Total cost £166... all the test taken had proved ok (although he did have an infection and he was given antibiotics to treat that) apart from the thyroid results that they were waiting for which wouldn't be available until the following day. So the following day I telephoned.. and yes his thyroid is the problem, he needed tablets which will be another £20.. and another blood test in 3 weeks at a cost of £58. Brandy does seem better but the cost of the bills are really expensive I can't have him insured as he is too old...also he was a rescue which I inherited from Mum and although we did have an insurance when Mum first took him on I wasn't able to claim because it was in her name so I didn't renew it more fool me. 


Then this week it was my turn...I'd lost a couple of fillings a while a go and put off going to the dentist although occasionally they have given me pain I managed to deal with it...apart from this week when one of the had developed an abscess... I tried the usual pain killers and mouth wash but it wasn't having any of it. In the end I rang the Doctor and asked for some antibiotics but they told me to go to my Dentist, now I haven't been to one for 6 years and wasn't sure if I was still registered but yes I was still on their books. They fitted me in and said oo that's nasty I'll give you some antibiotics for that and xray to see what is going on. She then sent me to the hospital to have a bigger xray taken and when I returned with the xray disc she told me I have alot of decay on the roots of a few of my teeth and will refer me back to the hospital as the one giving me trouble is very near a nerve and if it's removed could cause numbness of that side of my face..nice. Now all I've got to do is wait for an appointment. Anyway to take my mind off of all this I managed to scrap a sketch for Inspired Blueprints hope you like it

So much to do so little time...

At least that's my excuse anyway. I have now been back at work 3 months and loving it, especially as I'm now on holiday until 1st September. So I plan to catch up with my scrapbooking which has taken a bit of a back seat whilst I get myself back into the work/life balance. It's surprising how much time I actually wasted during the time I was unemployed, but give me employment any time, I enjoy the challenges (plenty of them) the company, and the sense of belonging to a bigger picture. I know that many people (myself included) have berated going to work and can't wait to be home, but believe me after 3 years (especially when my money ran out)  I'd rather be employed. Yes I have taken a big reduction in salary, but you know what it has made more aware of how much money I was wasting, I wouldn't say that I'm being particularly frugal, but I'm more cautious of what and how much I spend, a case of do I really need it or can I live without it.

Last week I mad a concerted effort to catch up with my scrapbooking especially as Inspired Blueprints had taken a break (I think my mojo joined them) anyway as I was baby sitting I managed to create 3 layouts two of which were taken from some of Inspired Blueprints past sketches all of which can be taken from their website and blog.

Sketch 3:

Sketch 8:

and finally last weeks sketch No: 76

I have said this many times now, but I really enjoy participating in these sketches challenges and I  know that there are many sites that you can join in with, its worthwhile having a go.

This week though I don't think that I will have much time for crafting, as I'm helping to look after Kaity & Charis during the day, as Esther is in Manchester undertaking GCSE marking for AQA, and Brad is working. It is working out quite well as Kaity is at the Church Summer club for 2 hours & Charis is at nursery (apart from yesterday when I had her all day). I went round there at 7 this morning and have just got home.Kaity & I had fun at Capstone Country Park and spent a little time this afternoon crafting after Summer club which was nice. So when Brad came in I helped bath the girls and then handed them over to Daddy for the night shift, so I'm now going to put my feet up and enjoy a few hours of  TV before I go to bed and do the daytime shift tomorrow. I have lots of photos to upload and layouts planned so watch this space.

Another week

nearly over. It's amazing how quickly the weeks have flown by. I'm now at the end of my 4th week work, only one more week then it's half term.  I'm now slowly fitting in getting to know the staff and students and the daily routines. It's still early days but I'm getting there.

Even though I'm working full time I'm making sure that I have time for scrapping, luckily this week I've been baby sitting twice,  I've managed to complete 3 challenges for Inspired Blueprints now that they have sketch challenges every week it's important for me to make sure I keep up to date with them.
Anyway here is sketch 72, I know I've used the title Sisters before on a layout but this one will be going into Charis's album.

Sketch 73 next  just realised that for Charis's layouts I've used green, must have a lot of it in my stash.

                                     

Finally Sketch 74

Hope you like them 

Busy times ahead

I've now started my first full time job in 3 years and I'm feeling tired. I didn't realise how tiring getting back into a work routine would be, even though I have had a gentle start... last week 3 days due to the Bank holiday Monday & the Royal Wedding and this week only 4 days due to the May Day bank holiday.

Easter week was a busy one for me. I made a decision to reaffirm my Baptism vows by Full immersion on Easter Sunday at Pip & Jims it was a very emotional service and I knew in my heart that it was the right time for me. I have been struggling with my faith for a number of years but after attending the Alpha Course I really felt myself being put back onto the right path. I also felt that with starting a new job I was at the beginning of a new journey. After the service we had a lovely BBQ at Esther's parents house it was lovely to be altogether as one big family.

I watched the Royal wedding at Church on the big screen along with number of others followed by another BBQ. Brad, Esther & the children went away afterwards camping with the Family Fellowship Group, so I haven't seen them since then, and I do miss seeing the girls hopefully I may see them after school today or tomorrow.

Anyway I've now got to start getting into a new routine with work, Church, seeing Kaity & Charis and of course scrapbooking. Inspired Blueprints are now setting a challenge a week which I will try to keep up with. These are my entries for sketches 70 & 71

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 the bling theory blog hop and freebies, fantastic!