Another year over

Time to look forward.
But first a look back.

*This year has had some highs but the lows seem to stand out so much more.
Losing Nanny Wyn, at the grand age of 96, it's still sad to think she won't be there any more.
*Auntie Jane in and out of hospital with her Scleroderma. Nan and Granddad talking like doctors should be finding a cure when it's more a case of managing it. Everytime she goes in I worry she won't come out. And not just because they seem to always have at least one ward shut for quarrentine. I never know if people are telling me the truth about how bad she is. I know Jane tries to cover it up herself, but people do seem to have this habit of treating me like a little girl. I know it's just to protect my feelings, and maybe it really isn't as bad as I think it could be, but I'm scared to push the issue incase it is. I wish they could find a way to help her manage her heart rate and her breathing, it would save so many problems.
*As if all this wasn't enough for my Nan, her brother was diagnosed with Asbestosis (cancer of the lung)a few months back. Ever the pessimist I'm not sure if he'll last through 09, but we live in hope. He went downhill sooo quickly, I just hope the radiotherapy and chemo can push him back up that hill just as fast.

On top of that, Nan had a hip replacement (it's really not been a good year for her, or granddad) Dads neck went for a few months (thank the gods it wasn't as bad as it has been in the past) and I seem to have had a major relapse M.E. wise. Eurgh. I am sooooo glad to be putting this year behind me...why is it that the thought of tomorrow, technically just another day, is filling me with such hope and positivity? Strange.

So, the good stuff that will (hopefully!) be happening -
* 2 babies! They will be happening, no hopeful about it, the hopeful part there is maybe there will be more??? Ha! One due pretty soon, in fact, if she's early like her big sis, any day! The other will be a new cousin for me and she's due around April time - can't wait! Though I wonder if I'll ever get the chance to welcome another baby boy into the world before I'm 30?! Since I was 19 there have been 12 babies, only 2 have been boys and they were aaaages ago! Very odd...
*A wedding! My cousin Simon is marrying his girlfriend Becky (which is odd as my cousin is also called Becky so when I went up to see my Nan the other week she kept nearly calling me Becky too!) I'm assuming we're invited. Hope so, location looks delish and any excuse for a new outfit - though mum can shop on her own! I'm not going through that again!

Nothing else major happening. Holiday in...some month or other...I should probably find that out...
Oh, next week we'll have had Pip a whole year! I think I blogged it - I'll have to do a matching anniversary post.

You know it's strange. Even with all this junk that's been happening I feel a strange sort of hope and positivity about tomorrow and all its following days. Why is this? A renewed energy. (well, not literal, more mental - no comments!) I'm actually looking forward instead of living in fear of what's to come. Which is odd as I've been dreading this year for a while now. My 25th year on this mortal coil. Not only that but my 10th year with M.E. Oh how I prayed (and I'm not a religous girl) that I wouldn't still be stuck with this after a whole bloody decade but here I am. 9 1/2 and going for the round One Oh.
Damn.
Still, like I said, feeling bizarrly positive. Can't let things get me down. Keeping moving forwards. So on so forth.
So for you, my non existent blog reader, I would like to wish you a New Year full of Hope, Positivity, Happiness, Joy and Laughter.
Happy New Year
xxx

Crafty Magpies did a Secret Santa...OoOoh...

Okay, I apologise now if these have come out all upside down and inside out - it's all codes this end and I can't quite see what order they uploaded in...could be good!

Can I just say, a week late, but Merry Christmas fellow Magpies! I think I can say, in all honesty and without being at all biased, that we have the best team around - everyone's so nice and friendly and always there if you need a cyber shoulder to lean on or ear to moan into. I love being a part of this team and hope I can join in a bit more this year (i.e. not be so bloomin ill all the time!)
Love you guys!!!!! xxxxxxxxx
Who says I've been on the bubbly for New Years?! Now onto my NYE post...

So jump up on my sleigh

and we're all on our way to another bloomin Christmas!

Woo!
December is here and already I'm excited. I hope I don't peak too early and end up hating all things festive by the big day...
Managed to hold off on the movies until today though. Pretty good I thought seeing as I've bought both Hogfather and Father Christmas/The Snowman and had them sitting in my room, just waiting, for the past couple of weeks. Still, just finshed watching Father Christmas, just a few more to go...what's you fave Christmas film? It dosn't need to have the actualy holiday in to make it a tradition (though thinking about it, mine all do...)

* Yogi's First Christmas (watched so much as a child I know the words and I'm surprised I didn't wear the tape out! If only I could get hold of it on DVD!)
* Raymond Briggs Father Christmas (well, yeah, did you read my title?!)
* The Holiday (I don't know what it is about this film but I love it!)
* The Nightmare Before Christmas (on the Eve of course)
* Serendipity (not technically a Christmas film I know, but it does start and end in the season!)
* Newbie for this year - Hogfather
* and of course, not forgetting the staple - Muppet Christmas Carol!

Good times :o) and I'm sure I've forgotten something...

My goodness it's cold today! I think I'm going to toddle off and make a hot water bottle or something.
Happy December 1st to you xxx

Meet Santa Claws

Here he is! At least I think so...I haven't uploaded a picture in a while and all I'm getting is letters..hmm, still, it said done so...

Isn't he just the most cutest thing ever?!

I am soooooo making cards this year! :o)
Not the ones you send of for though - £1.50 each atm and that's on offer! No no, I'll just get a bunch of pics at 10p each and 'scrap' a card, so to speak. Not like I don't have any christmas supplies or anything.

Speaking of good ol' Chrimbo - take a lookie loo here Ali Edwards is doing her December Daily again! Mmm, what is it about her blog at this time of year that makes me feel so festive? I adore her ideas, wish I'd done one last year. I think I'll def. do one this year - I can't get my photos printed off everyday but I can do it so the notes are down and the photo's been taken then put it all together in Jan yeah? Yes, of course I can - there are no wrongs in crafting! I'm rambling again aren't I...

Ok, off to check out some more inspiration here and there.
Hope you're well, who ever you may be :o)
Samm xx

Tis the season

apparently...everywhere I go it's Christmas! It's annoying as I'm getting an overwhelming urge to put up decorations - it's not even November people!

Tried getting a pic of Pip in the 'Santa Claws' hat I got him - strangely it worked! You wouldn't think so. Everyone warned me, said I was mad - he'll have you hand off! they cried. Well, he didn't. He did try to eat the pom pom on the top, I'll give you that, but once I got it out of his mouth and popped the elastic over his head he just sighed and went back to sleep. I'm now starting to wonder if I can get away with putting it on him on the big day or whether it's a 'I'm tired so I'll put up with it for now' kind of a dealy. hmm...I guess we'll find out come boxing day and I'm covered in plasters...

**kinda depressing bit coming up**
You know that saying about how it never rains but it pours? Well, it seems to be coming down in bucket loads right now.
We buried my Great Nanny Wyn in Sept. It was sad, but she was 96 so it wasn't horrific. Seems weird to think she won't be there any more though.
Just found out my Aunt's gone back into hospital. She has Scleroderma. I'd never even heard of it before she had it, and not a lot of other people had too. I hate hearing more about it. I won't type it here as it depresses me (it isn't curable) but everytime she goes into hospital I worry 'was it the last time'? They say people who have it don't live into old age - though as it isn't common I hope she'll be defying the odds.
Also found out yesterday that my Great Uncle may have lung cancer. It's not for definite (he's having tests today, find out tomorrow) but they wouldn't just throw that word around without reason would they?
Urgh.
I really don't know what to do. Mum's so stressed by it all. (her mum's just come out of hosp. after having a hip op too)
I want to help her but what can I do? Dosn't help that I appear to have picked up a bug from somewhere. Now she's worried about that on top of everything else.

**depression over**well...sort of...**

I'll try and get a photo of Pip on here - he's still so cute, even at a whole year old! People kept trying to say he'll ugly up as he gets older but he's just as scrummy as the day we bought him home (year in Jan, where has the time gone!?)
I'll also try and get some crafty pics on here. I'd really like to get back into this blogging thing. It's quite theraputic.

Huh

So, I'm doing a budget and for July I went £170 over it...don't ask me what on - I havn't got a clue. I've just worked out Augusts and I was £70 over. That's good right? I mean, I went over, so that's bad...BUT, I cut it down by £100 so that's good yeah?

Urgh.

I'm so bloody tired at the moment I just can't seem to get over it. Normally have a couple of days off and I'm fine (well, as fine as I can be) but I can't stop this. I go out on, say, Friday. I rest for 5 days and take a quick trip to, say, The Range. But my body's reacting like I only went out the day before. In fact, more like I went out that morning. Why does it feel like I'm having a relapse? Am I? I can't stand this. I'm supposed to be starting an A level next week. Me. A qualification in something. An actual proper course with an exam and everything. Thing is, I don't think I'm going to do it. I can't see how I'm going to be able to get up at 8am every wednesday AND cope with homework AND have trips to galleries and such like. I can't stop crying. I can't stand this. I was so excited when I thought I was going to be able to do this a few months back. My tutor from my last class was all 'you can totally do this', the A level tutor looked at my folder from last year and agreed. I didn't want to get excited. I was so scared something like this would happen, I didn't want to look forward to it. I hate loking forward to anything because of these things happening. And I did. And now it sucks. I know it shouldn't be all 'woe is me' but there you go. Worse things happen. Just have to watch the news to know it, but I can't help it. I have my own little bubble of self indulgence and I'm wallowing and I can't see how I'm going to get out.
When I was about 6 I went to the dentist. I was scared stiff. I had to sit on mum's lap just so he could look in my mouth. After he did he looked at me in shock and asked my mum if I was crying. Apparently he'd never known a child that can cry without making any noise. Mum said I was the first child she'd ever known to as well. It's a technique I've perfected, though I wish I hadn't.
I don't know why I typed that.
I've just had a clear out of my room. New furniture, new paint on the walls. Got rid of a bunch of stuff - still have a tonne more to do. How do you do it? How do you decide what to chuck and what's worth keeping? I keep getting attached to things. Stupid things. Mum has to keep telling me it's okay to get rid, it dosn't matter if she bought it for me, if you don't like it then why keep it? I'm a hoarder, this is my problem. Probably shouldn't have started a hobby that involves the oppertunity to buy so much - I'm overflowing with, well, everything. I need to craft. Better to use it then just have it sitting there.
Sorry this was such a depressing post. I need to cheer up. I'll try better next time - I've just started Shimelle's new class - Learn Something New Everyday. It looks good so far - I'll post my pages on here. I need to make this a bit more crafty and a bit less rambling depression.
I hope you're a bit less befuddled than me :o)
xx

Hmm...

So 3-5 days for this cable I suddenly need, huh? Of course It hasn't arrived today so I can't do anything about anything until Monday even if it comes tomorrow. Big Fat Grr.

This also means I've been paying silly amounts of money for the past week for wireless internet that isn't in use. They better refund or I'll scream. Or cry. Either way. Grr.

Are any Crafty Magpies reading this? I'm going to try and mail Karen again as I havn't had a reply and it may have been lost...I'll go through the shop this time, seems more like it will get through...wish me luck!

xx

Remember that post I did?

All about $!!£*%"! Virgin? Weeellll....seems I would like to re-visit it. Well, I wouldn't like to at all but it appears I must. You see my super wonderful wireless internet has given up. My computer no longer recognises it. Or it no longer recognises my computer. Either way - POOP!

The most annoying thing is that when I switched it over our main e-mail addy stopped working on our PC and only worked on the laptop. Fine, fair enough, except now laptop won't get internet and I'm screwed getting any important e-mails AND I can't get into UKS as a result. More poop. See, I had to reset my password when I got my lappie as for some reason I deleted the e-mail that told me what it was. And I didn't write it down. And I can't reset it because they'd send it to an address I can't get into. Grr...

Apparently I have to reconfigure the router by hard wiring it (or something to this effect.) Only problem is I can't take instructions very well. I don't mean this in a rebellious 'No one tells me what to do biatch' kind of a way, just I literally can't take them in. Yet another unknown symptom of the glory that is M.E. Have my mum or dad in the room telling me what to do, can't follow it, and when we get this cable I'm supposed to be able to understand some Indian bloke over the phone!? Absolutely NO offence to Indians, but I have a hard time following any accent, esp. over the phone. Poor little scottish woman trying to register my debit card...I think I made her repeat everything at least twice. Actually, I make my nan repeat everything too and she left scotland 60+ years ago...grr...I need a fool proof website that tells you anything and everything to do with the internet without any gobbledygook techy talk. Think this exsists? No, me neither...sigh

So, all in all this week is annoying me. If any of my fellow Crafty Magpies read this - HI! I wanna come chat but can't...I tried sending Karen an e-mail but it was from my yahoo addy so don't know if she got it (or it spammed) or even if anythings happened and she can't get to her e-mails!? Oh I hope everyone's ok and I'll be able to come back soon!
Samm xxx

Mosaic of me!

So this was fun! I got the idea off Emily Falconbridge who in turn got the idea off this blog who in turn got it off...yeah, you can click from hers, I may be here a while!

It's actually a cool idea. Just type the answer to the question into Flickr and take the image you like the most off the first page of results. For scrappers you could come up with different questions, one's where the answers are likely to change quite often, and do one a month for a year just to see how you change...or keep the same the same questions and answers and just see how the photos change every month...hmm...anyhoo, here's mine.

The questions:

1. What is your first name? Samm

2. What is your favorite food? Italian

3. What high school did you attend? Oakmead

4. What is your favorite color? Purple

5. Who is your celebrity crush? David Tennant (well...the Doctor really...though that scot accent is delish!)

6. Favorite drink? Smoothies

7. Dream vacation? 7 Wonders of the World - need the Tardis, Doctor!

8. Favorite dessert? Pavlova

9. What do you want to be when you grow up? Fulfilled

10.What do you love most in life? Family and Friends

11. One word to describe you. Hopeful

12. Your Flickr name. Orians belt

Links to all the yummies above :o)

1. For SAMM By: Jenny Holzer , 2. Empty spaces, 3. Come in, 4. End Of The Day, 5. Doctor who filming, 6. Making a smoothie, 7. Giza, 8. Pavlova, 9. Fulfilled, 10. We are choosing hope over fear., 11. dancing in the sky, 12. St Thomas Church Again

I really need to get a wriggle on with my crafting. It's getting a bit daft. Seriously. Why can't I just get going with this? It's really winding me up because I've got all this inspiration going through my head but I just can't seem to want to put it onto paper. Grr. I suppose there are worse things. Still, grr.

A dream day...

So, I havn't been doing a very good job at keeping up with the classes in Shimelle's My Freedom class. It's not for lack of trying, more of lack of photographs...still, I should be getting some soon so I can do my Travel and Time layouts. Speaking of which my Cocoa Daisy kit arrived this morning which is travelled themed and has some time elements to it aswell so maybe the delay was meant to be!
Anyhoo, todays blog prompt is to list inspiring places to visit online and mine is off to the right somewhere if you really wanna take a gander :D

Today we're talking about dream days and it got me thinking. It's funny, I've thought out one day with friends and one day with Mum and Dad and with my friends I've really gone to town, totally off the wall never in a million years would we pull all of it off (though parts of it maybe, but more over a weekend than a day!) but with ma n pa it's a bit more mundane and realistic...how strange! I would still love to do it though.

Here's the one with friends -

Where would you go? London
First we’d magically wake up there - who wants to waste a dream day travelling?! We’d start the day with a yummy breakfast - anything you’d like. Then we’d go shopping. Clothes, shoes, jewellery…money no object of course! Then afternoon tea at Kensington palace and off to see a musical - matinee of course - need the evening free…after the musical go back to our hotel to change into something sparkly and off to have a lovely dinner then onto - Backstreet Boys! (My dream day of course, and in my dream day we’re all fans! ;) ) Although, it’ll have to involve a time machine for that last one because I want all 5! Then back to the hotel for champagne, nibbles and gossip into the early hours.

And here's the day with ma n pa -

Where would you go? Honestly I think I’d stay at home! Well, in Bournemouth/Poole at least…
I think we’d start off the day early. Grab breakfast out then do some shopping. Quite a bit of shopping - it’s my day yeah? So they can't wonder off and have me spending half an hour looking for them…then…we’ll go down the river. Walk along, see some lovely birds to photograph. Kingfishers, herons, swans…we’ll have a picnic lunch. We’ll buy the food earlier from M&S or somewhere. Then we’ll come home. Sit in the garden and have some cool drinks - as the weather is perfect and sunny and we’ll need relaxing and cooling off. In the evening we’ll go out to dinner. Mum can wear an outfit she bought earlier. We’ll go somewhere nice and dad will have something other than gammon and egg and he will love it.

That last bit about dad and the gammon is reference to the fact that it is all he will order if we go out! When we were on holiday last year we went to this place that did gorgeous steaks. In fact they were so nice we went twice! But all dad got was the gammon. It's because he knows he can trust it, he told me he'd love to try new things but the fear of wasting money and not liking it just puts him of every time. Gammon or fish and chips. Every time. Sigh.

Err, yeah, anyhoo, those are my dream days. Whether I'll get the chance to try and put either into practise remains a mystery, esp. at the moment. I don't know what's going on with me right now but I feel awful. It's my legs. They just arn't working properly and I don't know what to do. I collapsed a few weeks ago and have been close a few times to doing it again. I'm so scared I'm having a relapse and this won't pass. Not when I'm finally starting to do something pro-active in my life - I've just signed for A Level art that starts in Sept. What if this dosn't go away? What if I've gone back a step and now I'll have to start again hoping that in a year or two maybe I'll be back to the strength I was 6 weeks ago? Oh I hate this! It's the not knowing that does it. If someone could just say 'well, you'll be out of the game for a month or 2 (or 3...) but you'll bet back to where you were after that' then fine but not knowing if it will be that quick or not is driving me mad! Should I stay in and rest up? It's not working so far...should I carry on like normal - well, that's not actually possible with my legs like this. What can I do?! Argh!
It'll be 9 years in Sept. Nearly a decade. 9 years of my life just wasted away. Okay, I think I'm starting to depress myself even more now...I'll stop - sorry!

Oh, and on top of that I keep forgetting it's my birthday in less than a fortnight. My mates are wondering what I'm going to do and I have no idea! Although I keep seeing adverts for the Dark Knight opening on 24th, maybe we could see that?...hmm...

Hope you're having a simpler time where you are!
Samm x

expletive expletive virgin media

So I bought a laptop.
Mum called Virgin for a wireless router.
We got it this morning.
It was a bit of an effort but I got it all going.
"Please call 150 to register your modem before you can start surfing the net. This will take just a few minutes"
Ok...
Mum has to go out in 15min but it should be pretty quick.
"oh you don't want this number, call 151 and select option 3"
Well that dosn't work at all.
Try 150 again.
"I'll put you through to our broadband people"
Super!
...long detailed step by step of what to do...
Seems we were wrong for doing it in the exact order the instructions told us to.
First you need to take the cable out of the router and stick it in the laptop.
Reboot then go to the web page where it will go through and register your modem, then replug the router, reboot everything then insert the wireless registration disc to run you through set up.
(Yeah...I have done that, how'd you think I got the blimmin number in the first place?)
"Just call us the minute you have a problem."
Ok.
Hang up.
Unplug router.
Stick cable in modem.
Reboot.
Open internet.
We do not recognise this computer, who is your provider?
Virgin
"Please call 150 to register your modem before you can start surfing the net. This will take just a few minutes"




AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH



I'm currently debating whether or not to hunt down the bloke who we 'ordered' the router from and told us it was really easy to install.


Actually, no, I don't think I will.
He was right - the wires and things were easy.
It was the moment they told us to phone them where it all went hideously wrong.

Half the problem is they won't recognise me as a human being. I can't talk to anyone. We had to fight tooth and nail just to get them to talk to mum. Apparently dad is the only one with a brain in this house but that's another rant entirely.
Thing is, I'm the one who sets it all up because mum says she dosn't know what to do, then when it all goes wrong (which it does. everytime.) she phones up and asks how to fix it. She comes and tells me and I'm all 'well I did that!' and she has to phone them back again. Cue more muzak and accents she can't understand.

Please tell me they havn't won any awards for their customer service...Well, maybe they have but if so I really don't want to have to deal with any companies that havn't because goodness knows what will happen then.

Anyhoo, mums now gone out and I think I'm going to put in a request for dealing with all this tomorrow. Start with a clear brain
And a plan of attack.
Literally.

sigh

x

are you with us?

are you with us?
Originally uploaded by shimelle

So are you?
I'm quite looking forward to this. One day a month (25th) just take random pics of your day then add them to a ready prepared album...well, at least it *should* be ready prepared by now, but as I don't print pics out at home I figure I have the length of time they would take to be delivered to get sorted. Right?
Now to sort out what to take photos of...
One suggestion was your bedside clock but I don't have one. Can't stand them. Well, clocks in general are super, but it's the noise they make! If they're electric they hum and if they're not they tick tock...I'm the kind of girl that needs complete silence when she sleeps (unless it's in the day, then I *need* the tv on...go figure) I even tried to convince my parents once to buy a quieter fridge. They weren't having it oddly enough...

Don't be a Pri-hey-madonna

Ok, tell me I'm not the only one addicted to this song...bloody Justin/Timberland. (we're ignoring the Madge part, tho as long as I'm not watching her prancing around half naked she's not too off putting...)

Anyhoo - Serena is now a whole year old! I still can't believe it. Above is a shot of the canvas I made her, I liked it. Too much actually. I was hoping her ma n pa wouldn't and I could re-claim it...ah well...

Have you checked out UKS lately? The Oscars Cyber Crop is starting tomorrow, not too late to register! You don't even have to sign up to take part in the classes. I'm taking part in the Mystery Kit challenge this time. I nearly did once before but dithered too long and all the kits had gone. This year however I was on the ball and got one! Still havn't uploaded it though, which I really should do as the deadline's tomorrow...eek...I struggled with our teams colours a bit though. I'm a Comedy King and as a result our kit was Black and White, no colour at all. Maybe if it had a splash of, I don't know, anything really it wouldn't have been quite so intimidating...even silver would have been good, but there you go. I quite like what I've done - though I'm not expecting to win, not even close, I never win anything! But I still live by the 'if you don't even enter how will you ever know!?' mantra. Its a good mantra. I think.

Rental people have finally started sending me Bones season 2 - woo! Of course I'm upto episode 8 which is where Sky1/Virgin cut me off last year...grr...so I'm very excited about the next disc.

What are the odds they decide to stop sending me Bones and pick a random film instead?...maybe I should delete everything else...hmm...

Attempt 2...

Ok, I've tried this already, good chance I wasn't paying enough attention and deleted everything myself...don't happen again!!!
I scrapped! (you may have noticed...)
1st - random Pip layout, just cos he's the yummiest scrummiest really...;)
2nd - Answer to one of the Dares, but can't remember which one...it was supposed to be a funny layout about how I can't seem to chuck anything out but ended up with some deep journalling about letting go of the past, maybe these are the things that are holding me back?...
3rd - Answer to UKS weekly challenge (yet another yummy scrummy Pip one...)
4th - Answer to fellow Magpie challenge (we have one once a month among our team on UKS...I'm in July...eek! Every one has been so clever and well thought out so far, I think I better start researching already!)

Speaking of our team - Go Crafty Magpies woo! yeah! - ahem...I've made myself a mini mission this month to collect a shed load of points...well...maybe not a shed load...100 would be pretty good for me actually...!!! I did quite well in Dec. but that was because I made 4 minis for Christmas presents. So yeah, 3 layouts and a challenge so far. And I have a mini in mind (about the Pipster of course...!) then of course there's the CC at the end of the month...I hope you can claim points for that too! Should be a fun month!
Ooh...and Serenas 1st birthday in 2 weeks - a whole year?!?! how the time whizzes....anyway, I might be able to take enough pics to make a mini for that too...only if it's worth it though. I'm not just going to do random nosense to claim stuff. I make it sound like I'm desperate for points, I'm not! Honest! I just feel bad for my team when I don't add much to the total at the end of the month so this month I'm so there! lol
Hope your having a nice time wherever you may be...
Samm x

Tip #1

Last night, while I was fishing, I saw a shooting star. Of course I made a wish on it and this morning when I woke up The Star had sent me a Moon.

...


And here's my tip -
If you *ever* say anything similar to anyone do not forget to start the sentence with 'So, I was playing the DS...'

It took a while for m+d to pluck up the courage to ask if I was feeling alright...

Bless.

Lookie how big Pip's getting. (when he's calm) He's the yummiest scrummiest cat I've even seen :)

You can't stop the beat

Such a naughty blogger not posting for so long.
I'm not sure why.

You may have noticed I've given up on taking a photo a day. I managed it for January. February was alright at first but the last couple of weeks I had flu and found myself thinking 'when I feel better what can I take pictures of to represent the days I'm missing?' and, well, that's not really the point of the exercise is it? So I'm not doing it anymore. I was just getting so annoyed when it got to the end of the day and I realised I forgot - I'm sure it wasn't started with the plan of making people stress and get ill! At least I hope not...

Now back onto slightly more/less interesting things...

I'm not one for celeb gossip but i do like me a bit of movie trivia. I was looking up Johnny Depps height yesterday (because there are some things you really need to know) and I found out he was originally supposed to be in Mr and Mrs Smith but had to pull out. I'm guessing I'm the last to know, but I wonder what kind of world we would live in today without Brad and Angelina filling our magazines? Would they still be together anyway?...hmm...

Yes this was the height of things I had to worry about yesterday.

Yes I hate myself sometimes too.

Have you seen Hairspray? #...I'm gonna shake and shimmy it with all of my might...#

Yes I got it on rental yesterday.

Yes I'm going to buy it. And the soundtrack.

Yes I've now put the original on my rental want list.

I've listed some bits on e-bay. Here's hoping I've not realised that pair of boots I bought 4 years ago and only worn once are actually secretly designer and will sell for hundreds, if not thousands.

No, I'm not getting my hopes up too much.

Hope you had a lovely weekend.
Samm x

Ok, so last night

I fancied some marmite on bread (we had some really yummy bread) I go into the kitchen and it's gone.

Me: We havn't got any sliced bread left
Dad: Is there any in the freezer?
M: Not tiger bread
D: There's tiger bread in the freezer?
M: No, mum bought sliced tiger bread
D: Who sliced...?...start that again
M: We had a sliced tiger loaf and there isn't any left, I thought there was
D: We did? *
M: Mmm
D: Do you want me to cut you some bread?...
M: No ta.


*this is the part that made me smile.

He would have been the one that ate it...

I wonder if today shall involve some crafting...oh I hope so...

Change of pace

Ok, so I've decided to start a Flickr account for my pictures because it's probably just easier that way lol
I'll save this blog for my crafty ramblings and attempts :)
Above pages are 2 of my recent faves. Top one to commerorate our hol to Pagham last Sept and bottom is my first Pip layout :) He really is you know. I've looked up a lot of tabby simese cats and have yet to find one with even remotely similar colours - he's so cute!
So IF I get of my arse and actually upload to Flickr I shall add a linky-poo here somewhere...promise :)
Take care
Samm x

My how you've grown

It'll be 2 weeks on Sat since we bought him home and I can't believe how much he's grown up. He's pretty much 'cat like' (iykwim). Actually he's poorly with Cat Flu atm, bless. Hasn't slowed him down though, playing and food wise, so although we're keeping an eye out we aren't too worried - phew!

I'm so tired today. I haven't felt this bad in ages but I don't want to tell mum or anyone because she's not well and is worried about Pip and her sister and her mum and her dad and...sigh...thing is, I act like I'm fine so I don't worry her and it exhausts me even more.
It's times like this I want to swear.
A lot.
But I'm not one to offend.
So I won't.
Well, I did actually.
Sorry.
Luckily there's a delete button on this thing.

Bleurgh.

I think I'm going to start an art journal. I keep seeing them, they look theraputic. It's an idea...

Funny weather day

Started off nice. Then it tipped down. Then a lovely rainbow.

Of course it would have been a better shot if I could have just knocked down the other houses but I'm not sure the owners would have appreciated it.

I managed to last the whole art lesson too. Yay me.

Something fishy going on round here

So it would appear Pip has discovered the delights of watching the fish tank.

He hasn't figured out how to get on top or indeed that that's how you get to the things inside.

Yet.

Have I mentioned how smart he is?...

Sigh.

shopping sweetie?

So today was either a good shopping day or a bad one. It all depends on your perspective really. See, I spent money. !!
First up was The Range - always an occasion for an eek! from the purses direction. This time it was justified. I bought a tote. Eek. It was reduced by £10 though. Okay, it was £40 but still.
I'm hoping it will fit into my grand 'sort my room out now' scheme. Well, it's not that grand. Mostly it involves sorting some craft stuff out, moving a cupboard from my room to the loft and moving in a tall bookcase. But it all works in my head and if it turns out like that then it will be pretty grand after all.

Then - Matalan. Mum wanted to check out the sale. She bought a £2 scarf and a pack of tea towels. I bought 2 scarves (as pictured above...yum...) and a new bag cos my popper's going on the other. (how does she manage it? *she* wants to go into a shop and I'm the one that spends more money...hmm...) Though all I spent was £9 for the 3 so that wasn't so bad.

Depending on your perspective...

Time to be brave

"When in doubt, take a bath."

Mae West

Well, I didn't have the energy for that BUT my hair needed a wash and, well, thought I'd take the plunge with a pic (or 2) of moi. My hair is rather wet in second btw...it's not usually that stragly. Aren't you so happy to see me?! But, whatever you do, DON'T click through and make them bigger. Trust me. It ain't pretty.

On a different note - how thrilled was I to discover that Kristina Contes is still blogging, just elsewhere? And all these new links to yummy creative goodness...mmm....I'm sitting here so tired yet so inspired I could scream. (link to her page is on the side somewhere...)

Oo, and TV goodness week too - yesterday, Primeval. today, Kingdom. Wed, Torchwood...*sigh* finally a bunch of TV shows I want to watch and not only are they shown at diff times - THEY ARE ON DIFFERENT DAYS PEOPLE!!! I still remember the days Buffy and Charmed competed. And Charmed and Roswell....and something else and something else I'm sure...of course we have the Emmerdale vs. Eastenders clash to now look forward to but I'm tempted to stick with Easties as they've had that slot for a while and you know ITV are just doing this to be pains in the arses. Sods. Why can't they split it like they do wih Corrie? Noooo, lets have an hour and try and poop all over the beeb. hmph.

So how obsessed with TV do I sound now?

Tra-la-laa

I can't think of anything else to write so I'm off to prepare for Stephen Fry and chums...aka Kingdom. It's good stuff. I recommend. duh.

Samm x

Good post day

I like them. I had one of them yesterday (with the boots) so I thought I'd combine them with my Black Apple print that arrived today - don't they make a cute couple? And isn't the stamp on the package adorable? See, that's why you have your own stamps made...
You may even catch a glimpse of my Purple Onion stamps behind. Yes, that's right, I've been creating again. Havn't quite finished yet though so no uploads - not that I've even uploaded what I did the other day yet...I'm so slack
I was going through my CDs earlier, trying to sort out some space for my newbies, and I realised I bought 16 CDs last year. Now, what are you thinking here? Are you shocked as I bought so little or are you shocked I bought so many? Well, personally I'm in both categories. I thought I bought more than that, HOWEVER I am surprised at how many I bought 'just released'. I don't normally do that (waiting until they're a fiver usually). But I liked it. And I think I shall carry on doing that. Wonder how many I will buy this year?

For anyone who might be the slightest bit interested, here's what I bought (in no particular order) -
(and please bear in mind my random taste in music...)

1. Backstreet Boys - Unbreakable (oh my how I still love them so...)
2. Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad - My surprise of the year, I really like this, *really* didn't think I would
3. Evenescence - Open Door - Good stuff
4. The Fratellis - Costello Music - Pretty much on repeat for the first few months of ownership. My how I love this one.
5. Justin Timberlake - Future Sex/Love sounds - some reeeally good stuff on here. (plus some that make his ego sound ridiculous, thank goodness for the skip...)
6. Pink - I'm not dead - Love this!
7. Nightwish - Dark Passion Play - Wow. All I have to say.
8. Muppet Christmas Carol soundtrack (did I mention my random taste in music?)
9. Starlight Express soundtrack (needed this after seeing the show last year, which I totally recommend btw.)
10. Timberland - Shock Value - Skip to the Hives and all that follow. (though a few before rock too)
11. Will Smith - Lost and Found - #Now switch...#
12. Christina Aguilera - Back to Basics - Disc 2 - intro, welcome, candyman = triple treat on repeat
13. Gwen Stefani - Sweet Escape - how I love 4 in the morning...
14. My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade - #All together now! Teenagers scare the living sh*t outta me...#
15. Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory - I've been meaning to buy this for so long it's not even funny. Fabulous.
16. Scissor Sisters - Ta Dah! - Paul McCartney! I don't feel like Dancin'! Land of a Thousand Words! Ooh, every song's a gem...

So there you go. You all wanted to know all that didn't you?! My top 5? umm...in no partic. order - Backstreet, Scissor Sisters, Fratellis, Nightwish and Timberland. But they all rock really...

In fact I think the only thing that would have made this lot better would be a new Bif Naked, but I guess you can't have everything...!
So far on the list for 2008 is Britney, Kylie, Mika, Avril, Fergie and Nelly Furtado. Ooh, and possibly Nickleback. Love Chad Kroegers voice...their new songs is so good - have you seen the vid? I'm sure Eliza Dushku is in there but I keep blinking and missing...must look it up...

Anyhoo, hope y'all are having a fabbo weekend :)
Samm x

I can see a rainbow

In fact make that 2 rainbows - if you look hard enough :)
Today was a good day.
Got some new boots in the post. Should have taken a pic of them I suppose but the rainbow was too pretty to pass up :)

curry night

Ok, this may not look like the most appetising meal in the world - my photography seems even more shocking of late - but trust me when I say mmmmmmmmmm
The first meal I've cooked since New Year, yay! And only one claws in the back attack - he's getting better! lol

Cat like tendencies

Day 9

Prompt 9

Take time every day to do something ridiculous.

Philipa Walker

Well, dad will insist on giving him his finger to lick after he butters the toast...

Above that is the birds nest in the tree next door. I've been wanting to photograph it for aaages but of course I only ever remember when it's raining. Which is quite often atm in my defence!

I quite like the order of the pictures on here actually! Worryingly I think it may be a sign of things to come...He keeps staring out the windows with certain wistfulness and he does seem to have an affection for anything that's small and moves...
Don't worry, we got the collar with a bell on today! Not that he'll be going out for a little while but anyhoo...always best to be prepared!

He dosn't seem to miss Jack much though which is good. Ooh...did I write about this yesterday?...hang on...no!

Ok - we had to take Jack back to the cat re-homing place. He just wasn't settling in and him and Pip didn't seem to *really* love each other so we phoned up the lady and she said that maybe it would be best to bring him back. He was eating and stuff but he wasn't very 'kitteny' IYKWIM? He just sat there or slept really and the woman said it didn't sound like him at all so M+D took him back. It was sad at first but apparently the moment they let him out of the basket he leapt up on the chair and was all bright eyed so clearly he was just homesick. (he'd been there since Nov. and it looks like maybe he's settled there) I think what he needs is a home with just him and someone who can devote a lot of time to settling him. Sadly we just weren't what he needed. Plus with Mr. Has-to-be-the-center-of-attention as his basket mate he wasn't having much luck! He just wasn't happy with us...sigh...well, keep telling myself - he's happier now!

Hmm...well, that ended up a longer post than expected!
Hope you had a lovely day :)

Samm x

“The best color in the whole world, is the one that looks good, on you!”

Coco Chanel

I like all these colours and couldn't decide which pic to post so there you go :)
Hope you had a lovely day :)
Samm x

one week over...

Look back and smile on perils past.

Sir Walter Scott

Week one is over, how do you feel ? Capture with a photo

That quote made me smile when I looked at my hand...lol, definitley 'perils' going on this week. Particularly with a kitten that seems to think he's a mountain lion.

They have names now btw. Pip and Jack - cos' he's black...get it?...badaboom-tish

Bless him, Jack's not very well. Snotty nose and stuff, but he's eating well and has put on weight so hopefully just some sniffles and upset at the move. He'd been there since November so I expect it's quite a shift to his little kitteny world. He's rather fond of snuggling up under the radiator. Pip wants strokes and to play all the time, he's also discovered the delights of jumping on the kitchen counters *sigh* ah well, the delights of kittens I guess!

Oo, I also made some scrapbook pages! 1st of the year, and it's Jan 7th! I beat last year me! hurrah! lol

I'll upload them tomorrow, I'm hungry and cold and need to rescue mum from the pests...ahem...I mean adorable little fluffies...toodles!

Samm x

Honestly...

I was planning on taking a self portrait today BUT I feel awful so I figured these 2 might make nicer viewing :)
We let them out of the kitchen today - sooo exhuasting! Little black one was alright but probably only because he's poorly :( But my goodness the little white one, who looks like butter wouldn't melt, is a right devil! lol turns out he has a good nose for cheese...and it would seem he can actually jump rather well...I would have taken a pic of my hands instead for today but they are currently rather sore from scratches so you have cuty fluffies today. I swear I shall try not to cop out tomorrow and try a shoot something different! :D
Hope you all had a lovely day :)
Samm x

Pussy cat, pussy cat...

Guess what we picked up today?...lol
Aren't they cute? No prizes for guessing who Mr photogenic is though...!
They're funny little things. One has an upset tummy atm, I hope it's just the upset of the move and not something worse otherwise t'other might catch it too :(
As for names, well, we were (me and mum that is) thinking Calico (Jack) and Cosmic (Creepers) but for some reason dad can't seem to get that Calico is the cream one so there may be an alteration coming along!
I shall be back later with my Day 5... :)

A not so normal day...

Day 4

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are"

Mary Jean Irion

Thing is today wasn't quite so normal. I was setting out to be, then we got a phone call from the woman who was coming round to check our sutibility to adopt 2 kittens.
She said we could! Yay!
Turns out she had some at home, we may have some tomorrow! It's all happening rather fast but it's quite exciting - just wonder what they'll be like? I've never known kittens, we had 2 cats when I was growing up but they were about 10 years older than me - both were very soppy, particularly Boo. I hope this pair are too, lol, I don't know if I could cope at home alone with 2 kittens swinging off the curtains...!
Also she assumed I was about 15...what a wonderful woman hehe!
So, anyway, normal routine was upset as when dad got home we went out to get some catty essentials (litter box, food, scratch post etc...) But with my life being as it is I think I'd rather photograph a break in the 'normal' routine anyways - there will be many a 'normal' routine over the months to come I'm sure! lol

So....if we're going to check out Kittens tomorrow there will probably be yet another day without scrapping...I swear one day I will get the pages from last years album done!!!

Anyhoo, hope you all had a lovely 'normal' (or an even better 'not so normal'!) day :)

Samm x

Funnily enough...

this photo was taken before I'd read todays 365 prompt...

Prompt 3

"Life is too short and too amazing to spend time worring about imperfection "

Ali Edwards

I feel it kinda works with my 'word' too. I didn't have time to run off and find my better lens and it was both too cold, and a fear of frightening him away that stopped me from going outside, BUT I didn't want to miss the first Robin of the year (for me anyways...) so here you go :)

I'm starting to get an idea in my head of how I'm going to 'create' with these monthly photos but as we're only 3 days in I don't really want to commit myself *just* yet - it looks quite cool in my head though! lol, guess I'd just better wait and see at the end of Jan if it will work out!

Loving all the pics I've been checking out here and there, I keep forgetting to comment though...bad, bad blogger. I will have to sit down tomorrow and take the time to say Hi to some fellow 365-ers :)

Hope you had a lovely Thursday :)
Samm x

This ol' house...

See, there's this really cool/creepy (particularly after that epsiode of Doctor Who - don't blink!!!!!!!) abandoned old house on the road to Haskins/Hobbycraft and I've always wanted to photograph it but it's one of those roads you just can't stop on - you know? So today I figured, try and take a picture anyway! They seem to be devolping all along there so I reckon it'll be gone well before the year is out. Never mind if it's not the best picture in the world, at least I'll have a photo of this house that's fascinated me since childhood.
And this sums up my 'word' for the year. I say word like 'word' as I don't actually have just the one. This year I want to "LIVE FOR THE MOMENT" I'm fed up of putting things off and then having them pile up and up....then something new comes along but I can't do that I *have* to do this first, then it feels more like a chore than something that could be quite enjoyable. So, no more putting things off what I can do today!
Tell me - is there a word for this?! Or shall I stick to the 4?
Thank you for the comms yesterday btw - it always makes me smile when someone leave a comment :) I will be off leaving my own now!
Hope everyone had a nice Wednesday :)
Samm x

Welcome to 2008

Ok, so day 1 of the 365 day challenge and so far so good!
I managed to take this photo by sheer accident last night. I was watching the fireworks out of the window when I thought - why arn't I taking photos of these?! So I grabbed my camera (the batteries went flying across the room) so I'm scrabbling around for them, I finally get back to the window and, of course, they've stopped...just when I'm about to call it a night I hear a 'pffft' "a rocket?!" I think...yes! hurrah! So there you go - you *really* wanted to know all of that didn't you?!

Anyway - onto my missions for '08

1) Eat healthier. It's not really that hard to do. Less snacking on crisps and biscuits would help.

2) Complete the layouts you still have waiting from your '07' album - some dating back to last Feb!!!!

3) Create your 'Grateful' journal and stick to it...

4) Which leads onto this one - be more positive. I'm so fed up of wallowing in depression now. Over 8 years of it - enough is enough!

5) Don't get so stressed. So that layout isn't exactly as imagined - who will know?! So the painting didn't work - paint another! I'll admit this 'rule' will probably be the hardest overall - we're talking dismantling 23 years of a big part of my personality, but I think it's something that *needs* to be done for the sake of my health if anything. (I'm talking *reeeeeally* stressed here, not just a mini strop kind of thing...)

6) Think through your purchases. Do you honestly need that mini album? Yes it's reduced but....another set of stamps?! Can't you use what you have already?....More paper?! Really?!?!...I mean, how will I ever afford anything I actually would like if I keep getting distracted by yummy crafty bits?...

7) Another 'get off your arse and do it' one - the minis! You know what ones I'm talking about. Seeds. Holiday. Nature. Birds. Christmas Journal....oh the list goes on. Just think how happier you'll be when they're done. Less photos stacked up, less stash getting in the way...win win baby!

8) Get out more. Even if it's a walk round the block. Sooo much time spent cooped up, it's quite depressing. I'd like more walks along the river. Need to learn to drive one day so I can actually get there...!

9) Try and help mum out more (as long as it won't wipe me out completely). Dusting...hoovering...washing up...cooking...not all in the same day of course - I'm not looking for a relapse here - just enough to take some of the pressure off her.

10) Complete this 365 challenge. I am honesly te worst person in the world for sticking to things. If I'm geniuinely going to be letting someone down I'm ok, but if it's just a 'oh just do it when you can' sort of thing then I'm awful! I end up in the mindset of 'well, I can't quite manage it today, so I'll do both tomorrow' or, 'I'm not having too good a week, I'll catch up next week'...next thing you know I'm 3 months behind and it's 'well, I'm 3 months behind now - I'll never catch up. Maybe try again next year...' Take that 52 card thingy with Emily Falconbridge last year - I must have done...I don't know...6? 7 maybe? and I was so determined too.

I will be strong!
I will not procrastinante!
I will not be distracted by something sparkly!

...

Oh wish me luck...