We are sailing...

Today I took Mum and Dad to Southampton to board the Cunard QE2 Ship for a cruise around the Canary Islands. It was very exciting, very windy and very cold. We arrived around 1.30 after an uneventful journey down there. We drove into a huge departure hall and they were collected by two 'Mobility Assistants' who got them wheelchairs and took them into the departure lounge. We said BonVoyage and took a walk around to see if there were any good photography points, unfortunately the majority of the ship was hidden by the departure area so I only managed snippets of it. Beth and Hannah had a run around and between them managed to frighten a million pigeons that were snaffling up some spilt grain under a nearby silo.
On the way home we stopped off to see Shirl, had a nice cuppa and a chat and a cuddle, couldn't stay for too long as I was worried about the roads. As it turned out there was an accident on the M3 which closed it and delayed us for an hour or so. I will be pleased to get back to work for a rest !!

The third time.

Because we had a stream of visitors all day, Beth got to blow out the candles on her cake three times, plus we had to have two cakes to feed everyone !!!

Happy Birthday Beth.

Today is Beth's 11th Birthday!! Can it really be eleven years since this little girl caused me so much trouble having her?? Has she stopped causing me trouble since?? NO.

She was born after a hard 12 hours of labour at 5.50am on the 24th of November.

Today she is excited, she has received £55 in hard cash plus some presents, she isn't having her party until December.

Today she is starring as an Elf, Santa's little helper at the school fair. I am serving on a stall. Should be fun!!

Oliver - The Stage Show!

Since September this year Carl has been involved in the school production of Oliver. It has been a long hard slog for him and for us. It has involved us travelling to St.Albans to collect him during the rush hour virtually every night, which has been hard work. Carl has put in long hours in his role of Assistant Producer, but it really paid off. He decided that if they were all going to put in the effort that it should be a sell out, so he really promoted it and sold out every show!!

I have been to many school productions over the years and this was by far the most professional and entertaining, in fact it was absolutely brilliant!!

The acting was outstanding, Oliver had the voice of an angel.

Last night was the last show, Tom and Beth went, Beth for the second time, After the show they had a party and Carl was presented with one of the props, (the picture above) signed on the back by lots of the cast and teachers involved, he also received gifts from the cast.

His teachers said that he has done an outstanding job of the production, remaining calm throughout and pulling off the best show ever!

Well done Carl we are all very proud of you!!!

Hertbeat Radio.

This morning we managed to get a request played for Beth on Hertbeat Radio!!
Tomorrow is her 11th birthday so I sent an email off to Steve Foland and the morning crew, to say Happy Birthday between 7.45 and 8 this morning, so we were laying in bed when Beth heard her name!!!
He read out my email word for word and even included my free plug for Panshanger school Christmas Fair tomorrow!!
She is mega excited about tomorrow!!!

A new Hair Do!!

Tonight we all had our hair cut. Beth begged to be allowed to have a fringe again, something she has not had since she was a very little girl, so I gave in and I think it looks ok, I'll go one step further and say it looks nice!!
I have had my hair trimmed and I am going to do something similar, changed from a side parting to a centre parting, with a fringe. Because we haven't had our hair cut for ages the length of my hair is quite Long so he has trimmed it all to a similar length, like a short bob. I think it looks nice, we'll see how it goes!!

A new little gadget.....

I have been blog hopping and I have found a guest book which pins guests to their location, I have added it to the bottom of my blog, I can't wait to see if I have any visitors from Lapland !!!

Phew, done it !!!!

A long long time ago my friend Nets asked for people to take up a card challenge to make a Christmas card using non Christmas papers, I took up the challenge and then forgot to scan it!!
So here it is, my card made with basic grey from a million years ago, scraps of ribbon and stickles glue!!
Phew, by the skin of my teeth!

Emilys Art Challenge.

Be Happy with where you are,that is my moment of self realisation.After a strange and sometimes trying year I am at this precise moment happy with where I am. Perhaps its my age, but there seem to have been a lot of people struggling this year health wise, lots of friends and family have had unforeseen operations, there have been job losses, relationship breakdowns and that's all within my circle of friends. On the positive side we have had good out comes to those operations and I hope that my friends get over their setbacks and find the positives that a new start can bring.

Off to take a look at the other cards for this week.

Searching for Squirrels.

Yesterday we took a walk over to Moneyhole Lane, Hunny, loves looking for squirrels, she hasn't worked out that the chances of her actually catching one are probably millions to one!! That doesn't stop her from having a good go, every tree she come to she gets up on her rear legs to get a good look. Yesterday we spotted a couple, but they were at the tops of the trees and well out of Hunnys way!!

I couldn't believe how quickly the sun set, it was only 4pm and the light was fading fast, as soon as the sun went it got really chilly. There is something special about this time of year, I love all the leaves and the smell of autumn.

Autumn Days!

It has been a beautiful day, very cold and crisp but bright and sunny, as usual Beth finished school at 2pm so I took the chance to take a few photos out the front of the house without anyone else being around! Loads of leaves still around, just need a strong wind to blow them into the next road!!

We are now going to take the dog out for a walk, hopefully Will get a few more shots as well!!

I have started and nearly finished!!

Today Tom and I went to Watford and started on the Christmas shopping. We went to a huge TESCO'S in Watford !! I think I have just about every out of family cracked, need to sort out the kids and close family then I am done.
I took advantage of the the wine deal, I bought 6 bottles that were 50% off, and as I bought 6 they gave me another 25% off, so that was a real bargain. I decided to use the double points voucher on this shop as well, so this quarter is going well. I must do an online order to get a few more free points!!
I bought quite a few things that had a printed guarantee, I was amazed to find that there was a years guarantee for a set of earphones that cost 97p!!! I think I will keep that one !!
We had a lovely lunch at ASK! and felt too stuffed to walk around afterwards.
On a bum note the engine maintenance light came on on the Zafira, so we stopped and switched it off. When we restarted it, it worked. The book said that it would go into 'limp home' mode, but after the restart it was fine. It did it again on the way home, so we have it booked into the garage for next Tuesday, Apparently its safe to use , I'll just have to use it as little as possible until its fixed.
Tonight we had Carl's parents consultation, he is doing very well, but has a bit to catch up with after the time he missed on holiday. He has a problem with giggling, which I blame on my mother!! So all on schedule for a great year of study!

Its nearly Christmas.....

and I have precisely ONE present stashed away. I mean what am I to do?? I really think its the holiday being so late that has done it. I am usually mega organised, but this is a horrible feeling not having done anything much.

I am hoping to crack it tomorrow with a shopping trip to either Watford or Stevenage with DH, can't make up my mind which would be best. I will make my list tonight and that way I will remember everyone. I like to take a flexible approach, don't usually have a firm idea in mind, I like to see what is available and go from there. Beth has a birthday before then and I haven't

even got her present yet!

This month I was asked to be a last minute stand in as a guest on ATDML, and these are three out of 4 of the layouts I submitted (they are up on their site as well!) I am pleased with them.

Catching up with Emilys art Challenge.

I have been away for two weeks and last week I was so jet lagged I couldn't have done anything !! So here are the three missing cards, just in time for the new challenge issued tonight!!

The first one is if you had a magic carpet where would it take you? Well I would love to go back to America, only just home, but I love it there, everything is so cheap there are so many craft shops that its like heaven on earth! Hot weather (not all over) Nice cars, HUGE houses, cheap restaurants, the whole place is bliss !!

The next one is thankful week, well I am always thankful when Friday arrives, although at the moment my weekends are far more stressful than my weeks, I feel in control of my weekdays!!

The third one is Home, I decided that these are some of the things that mean home to me. Even after a bad few days it usually means calm, fun, peace, its a creative place and a place I love to be (most of the time!!!)

Roll on tonight for the next card.

What has happened to my weekends???

Well all I can say is that it is less stressful being at work!!
All we seem to do at the weekend is drive drive drive. It starts with taking Carl to work Saturday lunchtime,I arrived home for a short while and then Stuart arrived to try and fix mums computer.Tom took Beth to an audition for the Wizard of Oz. That dragged on so we ended up dropping her off at Laura's for the evening before heading off to a quiz night. Luckily Mum and Dad offered to get Carl from work at 9, so we collected Beth at 10 and headed home.
Today has been no better, Tom took Carl to work for 8am, came back and then it was shopping, now Beth wants to go over to see Hannah and Lee, which is an hour return journey. Carl needs collecting at 4.15 and then he has an interview at another pool which is closer to home,so I hope he gets it and I hope he cuts down on his hours so that he has a bit longer to study.
I want to do some scrapping but its impossible to fit it in..........

The Victors!!

Today Beth played goal attack for Panshanger School in the schools tournament at Stanborough, for the second tournament in a row they WON !!!They played so well all of them, they never lost a match and only conceded 2 goals in the whole tournament.

Also as usual it was freezing cold, glad I wasn't there all the afternoon!!

Don't they look happy??

It was great to see Sue, who popped along to see us and check her school performance (sadly out in the first round!)

Tomorrow we have some of the windows being replaced in the conservatory, so we have been furniture shifting tonight!!

Some photos from Epcot.

We spent a couple of days in Epcot, the weather was very mixed with one of the afternoons ruined by torrential rain. Beth got into swapping pins at Epcot!!

Where has the weekend gone???

Well I think we have finally caught up with all the washing and clearing up after the holiday, suitcases have been put away, passports stowed back into the cupboard, nothing to do but wait for the next holiday now. I have decided to try and save up for our next holidayby accumulating Tesco Club points. I started last month and so far by taking advantage of all the different double and treble points offer I am underway, so as far as I am concerned if you can't get it from Tesco's I don't want it and that includes Christmas presents. The offer on at the moment is buy two J&J toiletry products and get 100 extra points, so watch out everyone you will be getting attractive gift packages containing baby talc and soap for Christmas, you have been warned!!

I have ordered my holiday photos to scrap, (guess where from??) I have also ordered a set for Laura, so just 400 pictures! Snapfish were going to charge me £42, but Tescos was only £20.50 plus the points and I collect them from Hatfield in the morning - Bargain.

This weekend I have been scrapping, managed 5 pages plus I have been playing with the stamps I bought in America. I want to do some cards to announce Laura and Scotts Engagement, having a play with designs for that at the moment. I have also bought a couple of Magnolia stamps, its very therapeutic painting them, you could waste hours on them !!

Off to plan my next assault on Tescos!!!

Poorly Baby....

It always happens, we come home from holiday and someone is ill, just before the holiday Carl and I both had throat infections, Laura came down with a cold on the last day, but yesterday Beth went one better and got herself an earache and sore throat. This morning we went to the Doctors and she is now on Penicillin and an ear spray. Not allowed to swim for a week. She has started the course and three doses in she feels better. Its such a shame when they are poorly.

I have to sort out my photos so that I can upload them and order them, some of them need photo shopping to get rid of red eye. I will try and sort that tonight. The three below were taken on the first day after we arrived, in the magic kingdom. It was soooooooo hot 95 degrees which was unusually hot for this time of year, The second week cooled off and got a whole lot wetter, so shouldn't complain!!

Back at Last.

We finally arrived home at 8.30pm last night, after a horrible journey. We arrived at the airport 2 hours before the flight only to be told that it had been delayed millions of hours, we dumped our cases and we were bussed to Altamonte Springs Hilton, we were served with a very nice hot buffet, lots of fruit punch and tea and coffee. Which was just as well because after that they took us back to the airport where we had to wait for 8 hours overnight on very uncomfortable seats. We were all exhausted and finally got on the plane at 5am arriving home in England 24 hours late.

We are still trying to get our heads sorted !!

I have managed to upload my photos and I am really pleased with one that I took of the Space Shuttle Launch. I think it was the most fantastic experience of my holiday Discovery launching on the 120th space mission


.

The Last Supper

Tonight was our last meal out in Florida,we hit Bob Evans again. We had a darling waiter who was very attentive and a laugh. We got home around 10pm the kids went for a dip, although it was a bit nippy only 75 degrees.Our room looks like a bomb site not sure how this lot is going to get packed.
On the last day Beth discovered pin trading another Disney money making experience she spent the last of her dollars on a lanyard and some pins to swap.After talking to a friendly cast member we found out some are more collectable than others,so while dodging the showers she went off in seach of secret mickey cast member pins.wish we had done this earlier she loved swapping.

Countdown to home...

We are into the final part of our holiday,it has flown. Lasr night we went for dinner at Planet Hollywood , what an experience !! I had never dined like that before. We met the Jacksons and what a night. It was hard to actually eat as felt like we were eating in a disco! The down side was it was crowded and Laura couldn't cope so she and Scott ended up waiting outside. I felt bad for her but what could we do ? In the end they decided to walk around Pleasure Island and found a couple of places they liked. After a very lively dinner we strolled around and had a HUGE one scoop chocolate icecream. We watched toffee apples being made and we raced some Lego creations.
Laura and Scott were waiting in the car, so we stopped off at Burger King on the way home.
Today we are going back to Epcot for half a day then back to Universal for the rest of the day.
Tonight will be packing followed by cleaning the villa.The biggest bonus is having the washing machine, we won't be bringing home any dirty washing.

Exhausted !

We have had another busy day, afull day at Islands of adventure,we got there at 10,and left at 7.30.Mid afternoon it poured with rain and the kids were already wet from the water rides,the rain chilled everyone. Carl,Hannah and Beth got friendly with one of the water ride attendents, JC, he magically got them onto all the coasters without any wait. I put it down to Hannahs wet t shirt catching his eye !! who cares it got them on. Tonight we went to Bob Evans for dinner,very nice !
For those of you still reading my foot blisters have now turned black, I think that is positive !!
Tomorrow we plan on doing the last bits of shopping and we may take in a park in the afternoon. Can't beleive its nearly over ........

Home Again

Today we spent at Universal Studios, went on loads of things but mever managed Nickelodeon will have to do that another day. Beth had her photo taken with loads of characters,Dora the explorer,Spong Bob,Shrek to name a few, should be some scrapping out of that lot.Dodgy foot responding well to the anti inflammatory tablets and pain killing drugs so I am hoping tomorrow will be the same.
Tonight we are baby sitting to allow Wendy and Ian a meal together at 'Hooters' I have told them to be back before dark !!

TODAY...........

Its Universal Studios ! we are heading into the last few days of our holiday updating my blog will help me scrap the trip afterwards. Mum if you are reading i have got you a few scraping bits. Bought an extra suitcase yesterday. Off to hhave fun if my blistery foot will allow !

Helllloooooo

Tonight i am supposed to be getting ready for dinner, but I can't get motivated ! Tom and I have had a good day shopping and chilling out the kids went to animal kingdom. Tonight its the turn of the waffle house.
Last night we went out with Debbie ,Malc,Sam and Georgie,we met them at All Stars Resort,had agreat dinner and lovely time!

Shuttle Launch .

Yesterday we got up at 6.30 am and headed for the coast, Cape Canaveral. The shuttle Discovery was leaving for a mission, it was launch 120. We arrived in Titusville around 8.30.We parked on the side of Interstate 1. To pass the time we chatted to the people nearby.It was a fantastic experience,eating doughnuts,drinking coke.When Discovery took off it was 'awesome'' I am so glad we made the trip. I have some great photos for when I get home. On the down side I now know that there are stinging ants in Florida, I trod on a mound and got stung loads of itchy blisters.

In the afternoon we went back to MGM Studios. We caught a few shows we had missed the first time around.Beth was thrilled to be picked out of the audience to join in with High School Musical, she knew all the steps !! bought a tear to my eye,she was SO SO Happy !!

TONIGHT .....

I should be asleep because tomorrow we are getting up early to see the shuttle take off. its due to leave at 11.39.14 am precisely ! its only an hour away but you have to get there early to get a spot ! can't wait last time we missed it because of the traffic . we are planning to arrive at 7.30.
Went to Joannes today they have a huge sale bought 4 scrapbook albums 4 $6 each, about 3 quid,and they are decent ones. Also picked up some bits for mums cruise. So many bargains so little time !!

Madness

Yesterday we went to the shops and bought 4 Orlando Sentinels. The papers weighted a ton, full of adverts and it seems no news BUT there were 2 50% off coupons for Micheals and Joanns, so it was well worth the effort. Off to take a look. Micheals has a ton of stuff and i have 4 vouchers to use. Don't ya just lurve America ?

We're Off!!!

The day has arrived and we are off on our holiday, we allowed ourselves plenty of time so it hasn't been too traumatic. Hunny is at Mums, Sat nav is set ready to go, I'll see you all in two weeks when I hope to return groaning with armfuls of craft goodies!!

hellooo from Florida

Well here I am posting from my bedroom in Florida we are having a great time the weather is unbearable in th high 80's every day very very humid. The big news is that on Lauras birthday Scott proposed !!she now has a beautiful white gold solitaire ring ! Very romantic.

We have Animal Kingdom to do plus both Universal parks. Its been exhausting !

Behind the Wheel.

This morning at 9am Carl took his first ever driving lesson, how scary is that?? He is being taught by our friend Brian Goodman. Today was a two hour lesson and he ended up driving home, so a good first step. He has to wait until we come home for his next lesson.

What a night!!!!

Last night I went to see Donny Osmond at Wembly Arena, well what a show and what a singer. He is every bit as good as he was when he was my teen idol back on the 70's. I went with my neighbour Karen and two other friends Lyn and Sue, Karen being the biggest fan had had the tickets for a while but had a last minute drop out so I was invited!!!

The atmosphere was fantastic and Donny can really sing!! We were the centre of row 11, just 11 rows from the front, we felt we could just about touch him, in fact at one point he came down into the audience and Karen managed to shake his hand. (before swooning and swearing never to wash her hand ever again !!!!)

At the end of the evening we headed home, the only way to finish the evening was a KFC, so we headed for Hatfield and bought ourselves one. When I was much younger and used to go out with Madeline we used eat out chicken and then throw the empty boxes up the poshest drives we could find, so as we were reliving our youth it just had to be done. So we packed up out rubbish and slung it in the back garden of a posh house in Panshanger. I hadn't laughed so much in ages, our ribs were aching!! I think we really led Sue off the straight and narrow, she'll not be able to hold her head up in public ever again!!!

Best bit is they are having an Osmonds Concert on the 30th of May next year, I have put our chief ticket getter (Karen)on the case!!

Take a look.......

http://www.paperandpencil.co.uk/index.htm

My not so little God Daughter, Rebecca has opened an online shop selling gorgeous books, stationery, pens, cards etc. Pop along and have a look, Its free postage at the moment as well!!

Netball.

What can I say?? for the second week running Panshanger have won, last week 17-2 against Templewood and today 13-2 against Springmead, Long may this last!!!

Happy Birthday Carl.

Today is Carls 17th Birthday, where have those years gone?? I am sure its only 5 minutes ago that he was born!! Now he is taking his A levels, he is working as a life guard at a fitness centre and his driving licence arrived so he is having his first two hour driving lesson on Saturday morning!!! He celebrated this week by taking a bunch of friends to Quazar in Hemel Hempstead.He received loads of cards and presents, Beth bought him a Wii game, Nan and Grandad gave him a digital camera, We gave him Money for his driving lessons, and he received lots of money from other relatives and friends.

Happy Birthday Carl!!

Emily' Art Challenge - Not Anymore.

What are you 'Not anymore' ? Well I thought about this one and decided to use some photos that I have recently scanned in, of me when I was much younger!!The funny thing is my two younger children have looked at these shots and we can all see me in them. You know how it is everyone says that children look like their parents and you can never see it yourself. The bottom right photo is very like Carl, bottom left is like Laura and top centre has the look of Beth about it!! I must say that the hair cut in the bottom left has actually improved a little now !!!!

7 More days!!

Only 8 days until we start our holiday. I can't believe its so close, it was in the high 400's when we booked it, where has the time gone?? I am now worried that it is going to go by too fast and I want to slow it down a bit. I want every minute to last for ten so that I can fully savour the moment!! All that's left is for me to pack the bags, WHOOPPEEEEE
This week is a busy one, Carl turns 17 on Thursday, he is going out with some mates on Tuesday to celebrate. His driving licence has finally turned up so he is having his first lesson next Saturday morning, how can my baby be old enough for driving lessons??

Last Friday night I spent a lovely evening with my friend and neighbour Karen, great company, the odd bottle of port, with lemonade, listening to classic 70's music on Magic on the TV. The really nice thing to come out of our evening is a trip to Wembley to see Donny Osmond in concert, I'll be able to sing along with all the classics, Puppy Love, 12Th of never......Dreamy.
Roll on Friday!!!

Could these bounces be the last of the summer?After such a terrible year weather wise we have decided to leave the trampoline up for the winter in an effort to catch any decent day that might crop up. We have had so many problems with the trampoline that we are going to bounce it into the ground!!!