I think

We were lucky with the weather today. As we were driving down in started snowing, when we got to the park it stopped - I took photos.
I got back to the car it started sleeting.
We got home, it had stopped.
We got in the house it started hailing.
Then sleeting.
Then snowing.
Then sunshine.
Then snow.
Then hail.
Now sleet.

Weather like this and we didn't get wet! Cold, yes. Frozen, absolutely. Wet, nope! Woo!
Oh, and btw, we didn't go out to go to the park, we had to do something else and the park was next door. We aren't mad going out in this weather just for a couple of pictures. Wish I still lived backing onto the park though - imagine the photos yesterday morning before everyone walked in it and started building snowmen and what not. See that snowman in the picture? It was *huge*. I should have sent mum out to stand next to it for comparison. What is it about pictures that don't seem to show scale well.
I'm tempted to save up for a wide angle lens (I *Think* that's what I want). The view was just beautiful at the park but I couldn't get enough in IYKWIM.
It would be nice to get one before we go on holiday.
I keep taking scenery shots on my little fuji point and shoot as it gets more of the scene in. It annoys me chopping and changing all the time. I think some research is needed.

Huh, now we've got big, heavy snow fall.
Very strange.

SNOW!!

Amazingly, Pip loved it! We were all preparing overselves for a grumpy cat (he hates rain, of course) but snow seems to be a winner. He was bouncing up and down the road and twirling round - so funny! He always attacks the spikey plant in the garden but today was more fun with the snow on - he did a running pounce and ended up flinging the snow up and all over himself - cute cute cute!
Shame we don't get it very often, he could have fun every year!
I was think yesterday (when they were promising snow all over the country), while we often have snow fall in the winter, it dosn't settle very often. In fact I can only remember 4 times it has. Maybe 5.
I shouldn't complain really, we're lucky we don't get the thick/black ice that often comes with it.

Hope everyone is all safe and warm :o)
xxx

I don't know

whether I've just gotten all nostalgic for the youth that was cruely ripped from underneath me (melodramatic? moi?!) or whether I'm just a sucker for a good ol' easily digested teen read, but lately I've taken to buying up books from my teens.
These arrived this morning.
Don't you love it when you have a bunch of parcels your waiting for and they don't all arrive on the same day? Maybe it's just me. T-Shirt yesterday, books today...wonder what will come monday? My shampoo? Then there's the gorgeous ring I bought from Etsy which will take longer as it's in the States (oh how I hope I measured my finger properly!!!)

Then there's the cuttlebug...

Huh? What?! Oh yeah, I may have ordered a cuttlebug today.

eek!

This may end up being something I regret (I hope it isn't) but I just adore the effect of the embossing folders, some of the alphabets look like they could get repeated use AND (importantly) it dosn't look like it would take a great deal of effort.
I'll report back later on that last theory.

You may not appreciate this

but I love my new T-Shirt (it may help if you've read/seen Twilight)

I'm not obsessed. I just liked the shirt.

I also got the next CJ from Crafty Magpies - it looks fab! This one is all about cake recipes. The only one I know is for a Victoria Sponge. You should see the others in there - so gorgeous! I need to hunt down some on la web...

Also, with each CJ I'm getting I'm wishing I owned a die cutting machine...this isn't good for my money saving plan!

This week has not been good.
Family wise - my aunt is back in hospital and my great uncle is getting worse.

This morning I burst a blood vessel in my eye. I'm not sure how.

I'll try this again when my brain wakes up...

Good post day

No new CDs today but 2 books I ordered a few weeks back (I was wondering where they'd gotten to...) a Pilates DVD ( I shall get a bikini body...one day...) and some gorgeous journalling papers from one of my wonderful Magpie teamies, Shirley <3

I saw them on one of her layouts and just had to know where it came from - they're by Prima apparently. How did I miss them? These things don't usually slip past me...
Anyway, I asked and she sent me some - totally unexpected but totally appreciated and I'm totally happy!
They kinda remind me of those cute little notepads they used to sell when I was younger and had no need for them. Now, of course, I can't find any anywhere...it's like they know...

In other news this cold feels like it's starting to vanish (woo). Well, I can breathe through my nose again anyway. Always a good thing.
I've got 3 films from lovefilm to watch too. They gave me an extra credit for being such a valued customer. How does that happen? I pay every month so they like me? How are you not a valued customer? It's not like you can steal from them...

If in doubt

photograph the cat.
Here he is trying to sneek his way up the inside of my curtains not realising that just because he can't see us we actually know he's there...daft as a brush that cat...and now my curtains have tiny little pin holes in them. sigh. Check out that grin in the second pic - crafty crafty crafty...

So much for last monday being my refreshing new starting point (or whatever the heck I said). It apparently only works when you don't catch a cold and fade out of existence for a while. I kept up with the photos (as shown above, taken on 13th) BUT, seeing as I had no energy (still) they (still) suck. So there you are. Once again I will not bore you.

This past week has gone by in a nice blur, in the midst of it all these CDs keep turning up...apparently when I'm dopey with cold I order music. I could have sworn I dreamt it but seeing as I now have them in my possesion I guess not.
So you know -
Lady GaGa's album is fantastic. If you like Just Dance check out the sneeks that are around (on YouTube for ex.) fall in love then buy it for yourself.

The Twilight Soundtrack is gorgeous. I havn't seen the film (due to one reason or another) and as a result am not sure about a couple of them - something tells me they'll hold more meaning when I can relate them to the plot - but the rest are just beautiful. I've had Decode - Paramore, Leave Out All The Rest - Linkin Park, Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron & Wine, Never Think - Rob Pattinson and Bella's Lullaby pretty much on re-play since I got it this afternoon.
I didn't actually think much of Robs effort when I first heard it (sample before buying album) but having had a glance at the lyrics and hearing it in full it actually is quite beautiful.

I also downloaded a couple of songs from Enchanted - So Close - Jon McLaughlin and That's How you Know - Amy Adams. Disney at its best, I defy anyone not to fall in love with/to Jon's song.

So there you are.
If I ever manage to look a little less like the creature from the deep I may tackle some self portraits. Kristina Contes recently updated her SP file and has totally got me inspired.
As always.
I want her scarfs.
And her sunnies.
We already have the same glasses
...
Not on purpose...

This is all.
For now...
xxx

Hello raindrops

Watcha knowin'?

So now it's not cold enough for it to become snow, the heavens decide we need a bit of rain. I guess they could have decided we needed a bit of sleet so it isn't all that bad.

If I don't do something remotely crafty today - even if it's only plotting what to do this week, there's a good chance I may implode. I need to make something.
I NEED TO.

Just have to work out what...

Oh, and in case you were wondering, I have been keeping up with the photos, but my energy hasn't been keeping up with me. They aren't very good so I won't bore you with them.
Monday's are always good for refreshing your starting point.

...or something to that effect...

Baby love

Introducing Miss Penelope Rose Hill :o)

Baby no name was named last night, just in time for me to put a name to her little mini book - handy.
Sooooo beautiful! I've seen 3 sets of little sisters now and the first 2 were polar opposites of their elder siblings but Penny is soo much like Serena, just darker hair and darker blue eyes (apparently, she didn't open them long enough for me to get a good look!)
Serena is so cute, she kept trying to kiss her and nearly flipped her out of her car seat...innocent intentions but potentially scary outcome - if only for waking her up. Her ma n pa assured me she's found her voice already, thankfully she didn't demonstrate it for me. Thank you sweetie! Didn't get any cuddles this time as she was sleeping, so I guess I'll just have to see her again a.s.a.p!

Take a look through my eyes

Well, my glasses anyway. I was a good girl and took my camera out with us today. While I was waiting for mum I was looking at the sky thinking 'it's such a deeper colour with my sunglasses on, I wish I could get a lens cover this colour'
Then it hit me - try taking a photo with my glasses infront of the lens - genius! Okay, so no doubt I'm not the only one to think of this, but it's pretty smart for me.
And this is how it turned out. Kinda cool for a spur of the moment first attempt. And it also led me to discover I appear to have a scratch on my glasses lens...hmm...

In other news - I'm done in!
After wondering around the shop for a little while slowly losing my eyesight and leg power, I bought a photo album and sat in the car. We went to another place to get baby no name a present and I had to go in the wheelchair (boo) and somehow managd to pick myself up a new pendant for my necklace, some bangles and a headband. Oh, and a gorgeous new frame. Just need to find a piccy to go in it...

xxx

I'm not exactly sure

What happened to our water barrel but it kinda appeared to have exploded, with streams of ice all down the sides and a bunch of icicles hanging at the bottom - they havn't melted away all day and now it's too cold to. Ahh, it's soooo cold! Funny thing is we don't seem to be suffering like the rest of the country with snow. Ice and frost sure, but no snow. Even though it's cold enough to settle it just seems we don't get any. It's very odd.

Still not feeling great so didn't really do anything today. Have plans for tomorrow and Friday though - tomorrow shopping for a photo album and a prezzie for baby no name and Friday - I meet her! Woo! I'm so excited, she's so pretty and I just love it when they're tiny and snuggly and don't just wriggle off your lap...ahh, why do they have to grow so fast?!
Take care and keep warm!
xxx

Well brrrr

So the cold snap has firmly taken it's icy hold on the UK - well super.
Actually, I don't really mind the cold. Not a big fan of the ice though, personally I can avoid it, but there some right nutters about.
What is it about this country, slight touch to the more extreme temps and the whole place comes to a standstill! sigh.

The picture is sort of supposed to be ironic - clear blue skies and sunshine and apparently we didn#t go over zero degrees today. Well, our thermometer read 2.3 but it currently says -3.6 and the airport website is all "well, actually we register -6 so nerrr" So I'm more inclined to agree with the zero and the -6. You would have thought the airport has slightly more advanced technology than we do. Plus it's not like it's forever away. In fact it's, like, right ---> there - see it?

In other news, baby no name is still, to the best of my knowledge, baby no name. Though I had a dream last night that they had named her Hannah.
This dream was also set in the summer, we'd moved to the country, I could drive and I was dating Robert Pattinson.
I wouldn't put too much stock on her being named Hannah.

Can't wait till they decide.
Can't wait till I can visit!
Ahh other peoples babies - the best kind of cuteness. Cuddles then hand them back - woop!
xx

One year on

Check it out! After I took the pics of Pip to document our first anniversary I was thinking 'I'm sure I've taken pictures of him on the window sill before' and I did!
I used them in a post in Jan last year - bearing in mind this cat is not a big cat, look how much he's grown! I wouldn't believe it if I didn't have this evidence as he's still quite small. I wish we'd known him as a kitteny kitten and not a 3-4 month old one - I bet he was a gorgeous little ball of fluff!

ANyhoo, in other news, 1st baby of the year was born this morning! (well, first baby I know - in the general sense, as it's the 5th, I'm sure quite a few have been born...)
Not sure of her name, or even what she looks like yet, but I have been informed by hubby that both mum and bubs are doing well - yay! Can't wait for cuddles!
xx

Really getting into

this editing lark. I did take a picture today. I didn't think it came out well, so I was hesitant to use it, but why exactly? Ahh, it was taken at 2 this aft. and it came out very wrong - it looked so dark and stormy but it was just a lot of cloud with the sun trying to break through. So I edited the heck outta it and this is the result - I like it! As I said the original wasn't up to much,m but it won't let me add it, how sad.

In other news, I feel like death so I think I'm going to have an early night.
Sweet dreams all!
xxx

This is *not* my photo for today

So I signed up for a photo editing class with this lady here and wowee! I'm in love! In case you can't tell, they go -
1 - edited wish acid wash technique
2 - original
3 - edited with acid wash and vignette
4 - original
I know they could be done a bit better (that vignette on the library one is awful!) but I took, like, 20 seconds to do it as I was so excited to just see if it worked!
Ahh I'm a happy camper today!
Hmm...maybe one of those *could* be my photo for the day...hmm...

Clearly

I did not take this picture. Though it does, however, pretty much some up the day. I kinda guessed Doc 11 would be my pic of the day when they said they'd be announcing it yesterday BUT I didn't imagine him. They closed the betting on...oh...what was his name again - argh my memory - Patterson James? Joseph? Hmm...yeah, so anyway, sooo many people thought it would be him they'd given up waiting and just assumed. Wrong! Don't have the faintest idea who this guy is but I would have been a bit curious (well, I could say that now with hindsight!) his name didn't really get bought up until a few days ago and he's pretty much an unknown, seems strange to add him to a mix that included blinkin Catherine Zeta Jones!!
SO, what do you think? Will he make a good Doctor? Only time will tell I guess, but I do hope people give him a chance.
Do you remember the uproar when Billie Piper was announced as the new companion?
How about David Tennant taking over from Christopher Eccleston - I seem to remember the words 'weasel like' being used - would you have predicted all this upset when HE left 4/5 years later?!
Give the guy a chance! Yeah he's young, but Stephen Moffat seems to think he'll do the job well and it sounds like he got it just by walking in and reading a couple of lines - sounds like he must have a certain special something to win them over so quickly. Can't wait to see his first episode, I hope he won't mind my tears for DT though...sorry!

xx

Day 2...

So we were driving back from Hobbycraft and there was a steamroller by the side of the road. Of course my camera (which I vow to take with me everywhere) took for*ever* to load and I neeeearly missed it. But I just managed to catch the front roller and one of the blokeys - I hope he dosn't mind!

Hobbycraft was a nice expensive trip again. Though I thought it would be - I was planning on buying an album for the photo a day project, if they had a 8 1/2 x 11 D-ring (which they did). An MM scalloped chipboard album, it looks really nice. It holds trading card holder pages nicely (yeah yeah, I had some spare from my Buffy cards, no-ones allowed to judge!) Just need to see if it will hold the pages I bought from 7 day shop - they look really good! They hold either four 5x7s back to back or eight 4x6s back to back. Hope they do fit, I think it'll look really good when completed (even if I do say so myself hehe)
I'll try to post a pic on here when I've got the first page done, if it turns out nice. If not, no-one shall see!

xx

Happy New Year!

Hope all is well :)

For some reason I've decided to try and take a photo a day for the year again. No prompts, no plans, just a photo a day. I think I got a bit overwhelmed last year. Annoyed with myself if I didn't manage a day, annoyed that I was never going out so my pics weren't all that interesting. This year, no expectations. Just a picture a day. Shouldn't be too bad - we'll see how it's going at the end of the month!

Above picture was just going to be a case of 'Argh it's 9 o'clock and I still havn't taken anything!' BUT it actually ended up with a story - about 2 minutes later Pip climbed up my tree, knocked it over (it's only a light 3ft one, he's yet to knock over the 7ft-er!) grabbed my reindeer by the antlers and dragged him down the hallway...sigh! At least I managed a pic of him in all his glory at the top of my tree :o)

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