Yorkshire Tea Jenny

MORE CJ PAGES

2010-03-24T20:47:00.003Z

Well, with the more spring like weather, I was inspired to do this entry in Lorna's photo cj. Wont show the whole LO to spoil the surprise, but I picked the pictures of daffodils in Rouken Glen Park. The spring flowers are just starting to come out in the garden.

Catching Up With Scrapdolly Again!!

2010-03-13T22:06:00.003Z

All caught up again - well, until tomorrow's prompt at least! I am really enjoying the 52 in 19 prompts. The inspiration prompt took a little thinking about, but suddenly fell into place. I was pleased to be able to celebrate my friendships - another excuse to use that great photo of Alison, Jenny, Cath and I in Paris. And my best friend - my Mum. So - now I am looking forward to tomorrows prompt.

Catching Up With Scrapdolly's 52 in 10

2010-02-20T17:34:00.004Z

That's four Los done (one during the week and three today) to catch up with Scrapdolly's project - ready for tomorrows prompt. The music one is very general as I didn't want to stick to one song - have done too many LOs of my favourite song, You Raise Me Up. instead I have recorded my favourite song, album, singers, musical, hymn etc- I cant sing a note but I love music!
The family prompts were great - the first is the importance of the three of us, the second shows the photograph that set me on my genealogy project and the third a non-christmassy LO of family Christmas traditions! Looking forward to the next prompt.

More Los

2010-02-12T20:45:00.003Z

Have managed another couple of LOs which I am really pleased with. Beth took this fantastic picture of a robin with Nanny's camera. I love this photo of Bob on the second Lo - its so natural, and sums up his love of all things snow!! Also I really like these orange/red and blue colour ways on neutral backgrounds.

Stewarton Crop - Great Time!!

2010-02-03T23:10:00.003Z

On Sunday, I went down to Stewarton to join the Stewarton Scrap Dollies at their crop - such lovely people, made us really welcome - and I got three LOs and a mini-book made. Mini book is for my sister-in-laws 50th birthday on Thursday. Really like all these three LOs. Spotty paper is October Afternoon, c/o Angela aka Angel crafts who had her shop with her.

Back - after nearly a year!!

2010-01-28T21:08:00.004Z

I cannot believe it is nearly a year since I last visited my own blog!! So much has happened since then - I celebrated my 5oth birthday, started a new job after lots of stress in the old one, Bob has retired and is looking after the house....Beth is doing really well at High School.

So its a good time to start a new project, and I have decided that, as I enter my second half century and a new decade, I will do Scrapdolly's 52 in 10. Here are the first three prompts!

(1) Changes in the last decade - I couldnt easily lay my hands on a photo from 10 years ago so decided I willput them on the inside cover of my album, as on this page I wanted to emphasise how much I want to look forward not back to encompass the changes in our lives last year.

(2) Three simple resolutions this year

(3) I used this photo of me at 21 ( I am second from right) - there's lots of advice on the hidden journalling - but most important of all, make time for yourself and your family, for faith, for friends - and not working continually, and getting so stressed.

Back In The Swing

2009-02-04T09:30:00.003Z

Its a while since I updated, but now I have found the time! My New year resolutions were simple - keep the house tidy after all the hard work in December sorting it out, and do more scrapping. And I am still on course with both! Maybe one is the result of the other!! I also read 9 books in Jan and am on my 2nd in Feb. Work remains difficult and we have all been down with colds and bugs!

I have been following the Shimelle Scrap Like You Mean It Challenge - here are my first 5 Los!

Journal Your Christmas

2008-11-24T22:40:00.002Z

My 2008 cover for Shimelle's JYC class is done. I am using a paperchase kraft journal (as last year) but have replaced binding with a BIA bigger one, and ribbon with Christmas words twill. Scenic route paper, chipboard word from bubblyfunk, angel and reindeer c/o Tesco. I am determined not to buy any PP this year, and have put everything Christmas related in one pizza box so I am not chasing around for stuff every day. This year I might do more quotes, songs & poems and less photos, but will see how the mood takes me. With all the stress at work, I am not feeling very Christmassy, perhaps starting the journal will help!!

Catching Up With LOs

2008-11-23T21:39:00.002Z

Though I have been a bad blogger due to work commitments and general busy-ness, I have managed a LO or two - and some cj entries, so here is a bit of an update.

The Halloween LOs are done with a Little Yellow Bicycle Kit - I had loyalty card points to spend at Craftology, so instead of spending a fortune on Halloween papers, stickers etc which then hardly get used, I decided for once to buy the kit. I am really pleased with the LOs. However, I think my Red Devils look more like a girl band gone astray than scary Halloween creatures - and, yes, they did borrow my lipstick!!

The Surfing LO is one of my favourites of the year, it shows DH, DD and my nephew enjoying their surfing on Porthmeor Beach, St Ives, Cornwall. These fab papers are by We Are Memory Keepers. I put the individual pictures behind scalloped edges (done with a paper tearer) to give the effect of being in the waves, and also used rikrak for a wave effect.

The CJ was my entry in the Lift Offs "Moving Words" CJ, and I managed to find photos of Mountains and Stormy Seas that I had taken to illustrate the words of "You Raise Me Up" - my favourite song, especially when sung in concert by Brian Kennedy.

Christmas Thai Style

2008-11-23T21:15:00.004Z

The shops in Bangkok are always quite OTT at Christmas!! I couldn't resist taking these shots in the department store in Siam Paragon. The bauble tree was the height of about three floors! And I wished I had had more room in my suitcase - those sparkly poinsettias are fab!!

Hello from Bangkok!!

2008-11-06T05:54:00.003Z

Well, here I am, in Bangkok again - arrived Sunday lunchtime and have been so busy ever since that I have had little time to myself!! Hoping to remedy that today - after 3 late nights in the office (earliest left 7pm, latest 8.30pm, having been working since 8.45) hoping to leave early as flying back tonight. Went for a wander on Sunday pm and found an amazing shopping complex - but we got lost and had to phone our boss's wife for instructions how to get out, and by the time we worked out where we were, we had to get back to the hotel to change for dinner. We have eaten some fab food - Italian, French - Ossobucco to die for last night! But as ever looking forward to going home tonight!! The temple by the way is an ancient temple nestling among all the huge shopping centres. I also included a photo of the sunset as I have never seen one in BK before - normally it just goes dark!! Or so it seems from inside the office!!

BANGKOK CJ IS HOME

2008-10-31T16:48:00.008Z

Can I just say a massive thank you to the girls from my UKS All My Own Photos CJ hosted by Kathb for the wonderful entries in my CJ - I am overwhelmed, they are all so brilliant and I cant wait for the second round - you are a great bunch!! I loved having photos provided, makes it much easier, I think. Thought I would share!! And a special thanks to kath for being a great host, and for organising the next one.

Think Pink - Update

2008-10-31T16:36:00.003Z

Thanks for the good wishes - here I am dressed in pink with my pal Posh. We had a great day in the office - everyone wore pink, including the guys, and we had pink tablet (Scottish delicacy, pure sugar, if you haven't tried it, you haven't lived) and pink cakes with our coffee - and the pink raffle went down a storm!! Posh came to work with me too as she loves wearing pink. I promised her I would blog her photo too. We raised over £100 - and a few colleagues who weren't in have said they want to donate as well, so I am really pleased!! Things aren't easy at work at the moment, and it was nice to cheer everyone up!!

Thinking Pink

2008-10-29T21:45:00.002Z

I have organised a Think Pink Day for tomorrow at work - to celebrate the recovery of my Mum and my colleague's wife from Breast Cancer - both were diagnosed just a year ago, and have had great treatment and support, so I wanted to try and raise some funds. I know Think Pink day is Friday but lots of us are off, so ours is today. I have organised a few things for a pink raffle (and DD found pink raffle tickets in Tesco), so we should raise a few pounds, even though there are not a lot of us - most of the girls are making pink cakes - but as baking is not my thing,I have done the raffle - you can see the prizes above - there is a bottle of pink wine in the bag!!

October Scrap the Day

2008-10-26T09:59:00.003Z

Didn't take nearly as many photos as usual due to inclement weather and not much happening!!

Went out for lunch to Frankie and Bennys and to see HSM3, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but don't tell anyone!!! I think I will include some pictures from the web on HSM 3 for my Lo to make up for having so few of my own. And for some reason, DD didn't want to stand in the rain getting her picture taken!!

UKS Oct Week 3 challenge

2008-10-25T12:23:00.002Z

The challenge this week had a fabulous sketch, so decided to have a go! As well as using sketch, needed to use outdoor photos - have been itching to do a LO of gorgeous Glamis castle, Autumn colours and 10 of something - see stitching for latter!!

Its a dreadful day here, lashing rain and gale force wind, took MIL (she's 84) for flu jab and to supermarket this am, then went and picked up my threading water punch at LSS - now resting before a friend and I take our DDS to see HSM3 - I will either love it or hate it!!

Back from St Andrews

2008-10-18T13:47:00.005Z

We had a great break last week - the weather was lovely - bit of a cold wind but lots of sunshine.

We had a very relaxing time - practised our putting technique, and walked along the beach at Kingsbarns skimming stones and getting lots of fresh air! I also realised my long time ambition of going to Glamis Castle - loved it! The views down the drive with the autumn colours were lovely. No wonder the Queen Mum loved it - her sitting room was just perfect! We stayed at a cottage complex called Morton of Pitmilly at Kingsbarns - its just lovely, and has a swimming pool so DD got swimming every afternoon when we came back in. We also went to the Secret Bunker, which was a bit spooky - its where the Scottish Govt would have gone in the event of a nuclear attack - they must have been seriously concerned to go to those lengths.

Beautiful Sunday Morning

2008-10-12T08:56:00.003Z

I have been sitting at the computer downloading stuff to do at Sunday Club, and thinking about the theme of what we have to thank God for. Its the most glorious autumn morning here, very appropriate for my theme, and so I really thought I should get my camera!!

LO for UKS Oct Wk 1 Challenge - Ready to Snap

2008-10-11T15:44:00.003Z

Couldn't wait to use the stash in Sarah's Cards Breast Cancer Care kit - its all divine - the papers are Sassafrass Lass Life is Beautiful and are simply gorgeous, the matching bazzill stunning (thanks Sarah). Used it for the Week 1 challenge - Lo based on Sundays sketch, something inspirational (My camera), three word title, three circles, three blooms, three brads!! I took these photos in my hotel room in BKK when trying to get photos for Shimelle's Scrap the Day! Its not often I scrap me but I did like these photos. (A bit narcissus??)

More Autumnal Stuff

2008-10-09T09:53:00.002Z

Feels like winter never mind autumn! Opened the curtains this morning to find this glorious sunrise so just had to get me camera of course!!

Imagine my surprise when I popped over to Jo's blog "Captured on Film" and there was the same sky - we are both in Scotland, but hundreds of miles apart. Great minds think alike Jo!!

Second picture is another autumn LO - DD at Lomond Shores in the autumn sunshine a couple of weeks ago - she really is my sunshine!!

The QE2's final final visit to the Clyde.

2008-10-05T19:00:00.002Z

Last year I missed the QE2's final visit to her home river, the Clyde so today when she made her final final (definitely last) visit to Greenock, MIL and I decided to go and see her. Mind you, MIL is a veteran for the Clydebuilt ships - she went to the launch of the Queen Mary when she was in the Brownies, and that wasn't yesterday!! Greenock was "mobbed" as they say here, so rather than queue up to go dockside, we headed upwards to Lyle Hill - and what a view - well for me anyway as it was a bit of a scramble. MIL is 84, and wasn't of a mind for a climb! So we drove down to see if she could see it, and a little lower down the hill we found a little park where we could walk over and get more photos. It was the most fantastic day - sunny and warm - unusual for this part of Scotland at the moment. We really enjoyed ourselves, and realised we had been away for two hours!!

UKS National Poetry Day Challenge

2008-10-04T16:25:00.003Z

This LO was done for the UKS poetry challenge for National Poetry Day on October 9th. As I am obsessed with scrapping autumn photos at the moment, I have done a LO for "Autumn Fires" by Robert Louis Stevenson. My fires are the burning bushes in my garden! I painted a copper background and used BG Mellow. Oh yes, and had a go with the grunge board swirl again!!

Autumn Leaves

RL Stevenson

In the other gardens

And all up the vale,

From the autumn bonfires

See the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over

And all the summer flowers,

The red fire blazes,

The grey smoke towers.

Sing a song of seasons!

Something bright in all!

Flowers in the summer,

Fires in the fall!

Autumn At Lomond Shores

2008-10-04T10:08:00.004Z

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it,
and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth
seeking the successive autumns.

George Eliot

I managed two LOs this week - only because I had a morning off! Work was busy and didn't have much time for scrapping. The first is Autumn at Loch Lomond Shores, and I thought the quote really suited the page. I also tried grungeboard for the first time - painted in various autumn colours!!

Autumn in the Garden

2008-10-01T09:41:00.002Z

Good to tell I have a rare morning off work - going to a Fairtrade Coffee Morning at the school - and as it is bright and sunny (so rare these days), I thought it was time for autumn pictures of the garden!! The burning bushes are just beginning to turn, and the berries are all appearing.

I cant believe its the 1st of October today - where did the year go?

Scrap the Day - September entry

2008-10-01T09:38:00.003Z

Managed to keep up with doing this straight away - if I don't it wont get done! Was in Bangkok for the second month running so wanted to be different. tried the reflections theme, it wasn't easy finding reflections in Bangkok, must be something to do with the light. I loved the reflection of the flowers in the polished floor of the hotel lobby (actually had to take that on am of 26th when the light was good) and also my night-time photos. And of course, I had to include breakfast by the pool (and the egg chef cooking my eggs) and the simply delicious fried rice & pork I had for lunch!

Autumn Colour, Seahorses and Otters

2008-09-30T20:29:00.002Z

On Monday, I decided to take an extra day after my travels to recover. Bob and Beth were off for the Glasgow holiday weekend and we headed up to Lomond Shores for a walk and a coffee. The autumn colours are always good there, and the views great. We decided on the spur of the moment to visit the aquarium which we haven't been to before despite many trips for walks and coffee! It was expensive but really good. The otters were asleep when we first went round but we went back afterwards to watch one of them fish and play. The fish were amazing, nothing more so than the tiny seahorses, so elegant and beautiful. Great photo opportunities! There was also a strange fish in one pool that swam with its head out of the water!

Night-time in Bangkok

2008-09-29T15:58:00.004Z

Back from yet another business trip to BK - away Sat to Sat this time, so a bit longer but got more done and not so tired. Its difficult finding new things to take photos of, this time we visited the night market (an experience as its in a more seedy part of town) and on the 25th I went out in search of reflections in the evening for the Shimelle project. So here are some night-time photos.

Jim Thompson House Mini-Book

2008-09-17T06:17:00.004Z

I decided that the photos I had taken on my visit to Jim Thompson's House & Garden in Bangkok (see earlier post) need to be "displayed" properly so you got the true effect of that wonderful garden when showing people the photos, so with the help of piles of unusual blooms from Sarah's Cards (thanks, Sarah) and the idea from Shimelle of using whole photos as pages (thanks Shimelle), I produced a mini-book. I just used plain Bazzill in different shades of green, with the odd bit of pink, again to reflect the colours of the garden, which is designed to be like a piece of jungle, apart from the covers which are DCWV Far East paper. Like a lot of places in Bangkok, you are not allowed to take photos inside, but I think the garden is spectacular enough.

The pictures are of the cover and some of the pages. I used photobox 6 x 4.5 size photos which gave me extra width for binding.

CJ Catch Up Weekend

2008-09-15T06:44:00.003Z

Took advantage of feeling inspired and caught up with all my CJ entries - two for All My Own Photos (its two-weekly but I think one is ready two weeks early!) and one for ScrapLift which I am hosting - its posting today today, and I like to set a good example and be on time!! The All My Own Photos were Beatrix Potter and A Day at the Zoo. I must admit I have really enjoyed this one, only having to think of the LO and not the photos as well. The ScrapLift one is fun as well - the theme of this one was "I wish...". I was going to so something a bit more serious but couldn't find a good quote or picture so went for wishing I could be like the central character in Enchanted, and see good in everyone, and put the world to rights with a song!

I think I have a bit of CJ overload. I am going to do the All My Own Photos one again (if Kath will have me!!) but might have a rest from anymore!!

Car Boot Sale

2008-09-15T06:31:00.002Z

Beth has been very good and cleared out her room, with a bit of help from me - she has a cabin bed, which had several years of stuff underneath it! She wants a make-over for her room, with a "grown-up" bed and some new furniture, plus a paint job. We decided to go to a car boot sale with all the junk she didn't need anymore - some of it was in really good nick. We made the grand sum of £31.60!! I was really hacked off - it was busy with sellers and was in a great location (Erskine Hospital) but they had really made no effort to publicise it, so there were not many buyers. And we got wet setting up, though it cleared up for the sale itself. The main customers seemed to be the usual hustlers who are looking at your stuff before you even get out of the car. I think I need to find a busier one to get rid of the rest of the stuff. People making me laugh, haggling over 20p for books and cds!! Still, its £31.60 in the Beth's new bedroom fund - we actually, £11.60 as she was so disappointed after working so hard that I let her buy a new game for the Wii!! PS DH said I was extremely sad taking my camera along - in fact he went as far as to say it was a pity Beth hadnt thought to sell it. But I always have that LO in mind!!

Back to School LO

2008-09-11T06:36:00.003Z

The Lo featuring the photos from the first day of each new school year has always been one of my favourites, and this year is no exception. Beth is now in her last year at Primary School (where did the time go?) and I love this photo of my big grown up girlie!! I used Gib-X papers from an old Sarah's cards kit (never used) and blooms, buttons and bling from my stash - so no new items, very pleased with that!

Team Stash Challenge/Scrap the Day - Bangkok Theme

2008-09-07T20:41:00.003Z

I am finally back in the land of the living after the most awful bout of a flu like virus which I think I must have picked up either in Bangkok or on the plane. It wiped me out for a week!! It also wiped out my mojo, but luckily both me and it are beginning to recover. I finished my Shimelle Scrap the Day pages - I was in Bangkok on Aug 25th but didn't have a very inspiring day - I was up at 6.30 to go to the factory in the middle of nowhere, had meetings - lunch and the green drink were interesting... the green drink was foul, coloured sugared water!! I also took a skyline photo ( at 6.30 - which is just gone midnight here!!) and some of the hotel. I thought my photos were a bit dull, so even though I was late back from the plant, I dashed into MBK one of our favourite shopping centres next door to the hotel to get some more photos!!

Highlight of my trip was going to see the Jim Thompson House and Garden which Monty Don featured on his 80 Gardens Around the World Programme. I had arrived Sunday lunchtime so decided to see something other than the inside of an office or shopping mall! It was wonderful, the colours were great - all greens and pinks - it was meant to be a little piece of jungle in the middle of Bangkok - and it was. Deb in our team set a stash challenge of using something with edges - so I used up this scallop card. Everything else was from stash, flowers were from a stall in Bangkok. The colours are much brighter than the photo of the LO>

Happy 50th Birthday, Alison

2008-08-27T08:51:00.012Z

"Friendship is like a violin; the music may stop now and then, but the strings will last forever."

The first of my friends to hit the big five -o did so yesterday. Alison and I have been best pals since we met at Uni. We don't meet up that often but nothing changes - as per the quote above which I included in the book I made for her birthday, I wanted to make it a really personal gift - she was certainly thrilled with it - she was screaming down the phone at me (I am in Bangkok and was just going to bed) from the UK!! I had asked her husband and sister for some favourite photos, and also included two of mine - the toilet cleaner (she was obsessed with cleaning the toilet in our student hovel) and the one of us in fancy dress - we bought our dresses for £1 and went as the Von Trapp family, oh to relive those carefree days!!

You Raise Me Up

2008-08-18T08:00:00.003Z

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up…to more than I can be.

Despite a weekend of shopping, tidying, clearing dd's bedroom, managed to get a cj entry done for the Lift Offs CJ which I am hosting (so I like to keep up!!). This is a scraplift cj, and I am really enjoying it. The theme was "Moving Words or Quotes" and gave me the chance to use my favourite and most inspirational song. The hidden tag tells I had the privilege of hearing Brian Kennedy, the Irish Singer chosen by Brendan Graham to sing this wonderful song, sing it acoustically with no accompaniment. It sent a tingle down your spine!! So - not Josh Groban, not Westlife, just Brian!! He sang his version at George Best's funeral. I have listened to this song on my i-pod or in the car looking at wonderful views, and it really confirms my faith.

My New Picture

2008-08-16T15:37:00.002Z

After a boring hectic (all work and no play) week, finally something to blog about! My SIL is turning into a very good artist. She has painted the attached for me, which is now proudly hanging on the stair well - there is a window directly opposite so the light really brings out the colours. It is totally perfect as the colours match those of the landing (terracotta, raspberry, acqua) border and curtains and wall paper. I am so thrilled with it and think she is really clever!

Edinburgh Fringe

2008-08-10T07:27:00.005Z

Dh and I decided to have a day out to Edinburgh yesterday as it is years since we went to the Festival. We didn't plan to do anything in particular except lunch at one of our Favourite restaurants, Valvone & Crolla, but decided to just wander round and soak up the atmosphere.

It was pouring down in the morning, so we had to wander round shops - I bought a new hat in the Barbour shop!! Lunch was fantastic - we had crostini misti, then dh had penne in a wonderful sauce and I had deep fried squid, prawns & courgettes (cant remember the Italian name), washed down with the recommended wines, and, of course, we had to get a couple of bottles of that fab Pinot Grigio to bring home!

It dried up after lunch and we had a great time wandering round the fringe area, watching the street artists, the folk advertising their shows, and people watching! It is certainly Worth a visit! There were some clever performances, great mime artists and a real pile of weirdos.

Flowers, flowers and more flowers!

2008-08-07T06:35:00.003Z

The flowers in St Ives this year were stunning, and I was really pleased with my photos. As they were so colourful I decided to scrap them as a montage onto some Basic Grey Stella Ruby papers. I know its OTT but I am really pleased with it!! Ribbons from recent stash buy in Bangkok!!

Mini book for Jamie

2008-08-04T20:40:00.003Z

Spent a few hours at the weekend making this chipboard mini-book for my nephew. Made from scratch, heavy duty chipboard covered in scenic route and imaginesce papers. I wanted the photos to show what a great time we all had when my nephew joined us on holiday in St Ives last month. Jamie comes across as really enjoying it!! My SIL has done me the most beautiful abstract painting, and I wanted to do the mini book for her (and Jamie) in return!! Dad took it down to York today (he came to collect dd to go and join her cousin for another week of fun and high jinks with Nanny and Grandad) - and they loved it - Jamie phoned to thank me and sounded thrilled with it - which makes the work worthwhile doesn't it?

Bangkok Photos

2008-08-01T14:19:00.009Z

Home safe from Bangkok, and here are the promised photos - the hotel, breakfast garden, street life, shopping and that fab ribbon shop I couldnt resist!!

On the Way Home

2008-07-31T17:22:00.002Z

Sitting in the lounge at Bangkok Airport waiting to start my mammoth journey home. Its 00.25 here, I fly in an hour. 6.5 hours to Dubai, three hours stopover and then 7.5 hours to Glasgow. Hoping to sleep on first leg at least, as havent slept that well this trip. Tired today - heavy meeting schedule. Pity I cant post photos as had a fab time tonight - finished at 4.30m and went for a wander around Siam Square and Siam Paragon - Bangkok's posh shops. Food hall made Fortnum and Mason look like a supermarket - lots of Jimmy Chjoo, marc jacobs, Chloe.. could only afford to look!! Until i found the craft shops on the top floor.....got cheap chipboard flower shape books about 7 ins across and loads of fab cheap ribbon - pictures of the ribbon to follow.....yards and yards of it (they still sell in imperial here!!), also stocked up on pink buttons. Came back via MBK (the cheap one) and got DH and his pal golf polo shirts - 3 well known labels for under a tenner!!! Work has been hard, yesterday was really frustrating and I didnt do all I need to - so might need to come back next month - hope so!!

Good Morning from Bangkok

2008-07-29T03:03:00.002Z

As promised a blog from the Far East! Arrived yesterday, had good sleep on Dubai-BK flight, went straight to office and meetings. Got to hotel about 6.30 (staying in centre for first time as I am on my own), and discovered it has a direct entrance into our fav shopping mall - so spent a couple of hours browsing and people watching before a quick room service sandwich and early night. Bought pashminas and necklaces for birthday presents for a couple for friends, and some £5 trainers for dh - she loves them as no-one else has them if I get them here. Got some great vellum in a card shop - its sold by weight here and is cheaper than UK (what isn't). Breakfast this morning at the hotel was on the terrace - it was lovely but unfortunately at the moment blogger says the photos are too big for upload ! Now in the office for a day of budget reviews.....

Time to Pack

2008-07-26T20:12:00.004Z

Off to Bangkok on a business trip next week. Ha vent been since may so quite looking forward to it. Books packed for flights, hope there are some good films. Will try and do what I did last time and blog photos from BK so I don't feel so far away!! Quite a lot of work to do, so will be quite tiring. Staying in the centre as its just me, so that will be a bit different. Trip is shorter than last time so i won't miss home quite so much.

Decided to do my Scrap the Day LOs before I went or it would just get left. I quite liked the technique of the B & W photos with splashes of colour. I didn't have a particularly inspiring day and decided to concentrate on the garden, along with dh (he missed out last month!) and dd playing with her pals - plus her new skate shoes!! Oh yes, Scruffy and Mikey insisted on being in it as well, and I also included my new hippo DD won at the amusements on holiday. I decided to use the flower pics as the col,our and I think it worked quite well!

Will try and keep up from BK - if not see you in a week!

Bargain Blooms

2008-07-23T21:22:00.004Z

"Flowers really do intoxicate me"

Vita Sackville-West

At the end of the Church fete, I bought some very poorly looking godetia plants and a dwarf lavatera - for the grand sum of 50p. When I was enjoying a glass of rose in the garden tonmight, I noticed my poor plants had turned into beautiful flowers!! So had to finish wine and rush in for camera!!

St Ives Flowers

2008-07-23T06:42:00.003Z

The flowers in St Ives were just beautiful, especially when the sun finally came out, and the pictures are dying to be scrapped, but here are a few examples to be going on with!!

Catching Up

2008-07-23T06:39:00.003Z

This week so far has been all about catching up - catching up with work, washing, CJ entries (managed 2 at the weekend), tidying (prefer scrapping, LOL!!). DD is now at playscheme for a couple of weeks. Next week I have to go to Bangkok for meetings. Such a drag. Could only get business class flights so flights will be ok. Trying to sort St Ives photos for a mini album, will perhaps do one for my nephew first.

Back from hols!!

2008-07-20T07:57:00.003Z

Back from hols - why does two weeks seem so short? Have already cleared a mountain of washing and done the unpacking! We thought we were going to have a disastrous time - when we got to St Ives the rain was torrential - so wet the first evening we had to cancel going out for a meal!! It continued for two days...but luckily we had a comfortable house and bought an impossible jigsaw. Then it cleared up, and though we had one more day of torrential rain in the first week, thing settled down to sun and cloud, and we made it to the beach everyday. My nephew joined us for the second week (15 mths older than DD). DH, DD and nephew got lots of surfing, and we played lots of beach cricket! My new nickname is Ryan Widebottom...(maiden name Ryan, rest needs no explanation!). (For non-cricket fans Ryan Sidebottom plays for England). We also met up with friends we made last year. We had some fantastic food - the fish restaurants are wonderful. The photos are just a few favourites.

Off to Cornwall

2008-07-02T19:55:00.004Z

Well everything is packed and we are ready to head for our favourite holiday destination of St Ives in Cornwall. We are flying to Newquay tomorrow evening and picking up a hire car. Too far to drive from Scotland!! (not to mention expensive). Fingers crossed the weather improves - we have always been lucky with the weather - hope it does break this year!! Taking my laptop so might be able to blog a photo or two, if not see you on 18th July!!!

This weekends LOs

2008-06-29T19:27:00.003Z

This has been a busy weekend, getting ready for going on holiday to Cornwall on Thursday evening, but as it was raining managed to get a couple of LOs done - one of some rather lovely photos of my dear girl, and the other for the UKS weekly challenge - illustrating how my friend and I love bargain shopping in Bangkok!. Oh yes, I managed to do my Shimelle Scrap the Day for June as well. In between I fitted in shopping for school uniform (hate doing it so early but M & S always sell out), a trip to Tesco, packing most of our stuff, taking flowers to a friend who has just moved back to the Village, going to Church, more washing, watching Amy Winehouse and Neil Diamond at Glastonbury (both brilliant), having MIL for dinner and watching Atonement - which I am finishing off as I watch this. I loved the book and I think the film does it justice.

Oh and yes, I sorted out my Christmas stash into a pizza box - I stuffed it in a carrier bag when I finished the Shimelle project and it has never moved since. Now I will be organised when I start next years, LOL!! Me organised - never - house is a tip!!

Jo's blog

2008-06-29T19:26:00.000Z

Forgot to put this link in to my "tagging" pal, jo.bee!

I have been tagged!

2008-06-29T18:50:00.002Z

Tagged by Jo.bee- thanks Jo!!

What was happening 10 years ago?
That was 1998. I would have been 39 on 26 June. Beth was 15 months. We would have been in Devon (Georgeham) on holiday. Beth loved the beach and would play for ages with her bucket and spade, and would walk miles to paddle in the sea but the weather deteriorated rapidly and even she found it too cold in the end, and we ended coming home a few days early!!
Five things I had to do today
The rest of the washing for the hols, tidying up, going to Church, completing the UKS weekly challenge and having MIL for teas as we are going away.
Snacks I like (but shouldnt) - toast and jam, chocolate, crisps
What would I do if I was a millionaire? Clear the mortgage, build a conservatory, get a holiday home in Cornwall, and do nothing but travel and scrap!! And make a donation to Erskine Hospital and Breast Cancer Charities.
Places I have lived: Grew up in York, went to Uni and worked in Manchester, then moved to Renfrewshire, Scotland. Lived in Bishopton when we were first married, have been here in Langbank for 14 years.

Now who will I tag?
Fionaken
Arky72
Debly
Helley
Carole

Good Luck everyone!!

Catch the Week

2008-06-27T19:01:00.004Z

What a busy and eventful week. Work was busy - I finally completed the major insurance claim we have been working on since Sept last year (you may have seen the chemical plant inn Ayrshire story on SKY News) - it was scrap the day with Shimelle so set my self-timer to take a photo of me doing the final telecon (3 hours of it) - how sad is that!!

DD went to a prom for the kids leaving Primary School - have a lovely photo of her & her friends but not sure if I can put that up, so the pic is DD and her BF. The P7s who were leaving went away in a limo which was very exciting!!!

Oh I had a birthday!!! 49 - aaaaaarrgh!! into my 50th year, thats dreadful, so had a quiet day, but the photo is of the lovely stash that Jule sent me in the UKS swap. I also got 2 sets of BF stamps, a round it all, some posh PJs and money - now stash, books or more PJs?

And I finally solved the mystery of where Alice Mary, my paternal grandmother, who died tragically young was buried - have done a separate post, see below.

And thats me all caught up!!!

Alice Mary Scholey RIP

2008-06-27T18:51:00.005Z

Well, I have had a busy and eventful week, with no time to blog, so here is a quick catch up, and a few photos of what went on!! It all began on Sunday when my Uncle got in touch with my Dad for the first time in a while as he isnt well, and wanted to find out about his mother, who died when he was 3 and Dad was 5. Its a long story but he came up with a theory she was only 11 when she had him, and Dad soon realised he had the wrong person. Dad has never shown much interest but knew I had spent ages trying to find out about my paternal grandmother, Alice Mary Scholey. She lived such a sad life. Her own mother died of a genetic heart problem when Alice was 5: she lost two brothers to the same "leaky valve" (Robert at 9 months and John at 14 - he worked down a coal mine looking after ponies) and then she herself died at 28 on 1 Dec 1939, leaving two small boys. I told dad I would speak to Bernard, and I was thrilled with how happy he was when I was able to tell him all about Alice and her family. I have been trying to find out where she is buried for 2 years - once I gave Bernard her death info, he found her for me next day!! Right under our noses - buried in Bradford with her in-laws - in a family grave we knew nothing about. I was also able to give him a copy of the above photograph - the only one we have of her - he is 70+ and has never seen a picture of his mother. And even better he and Dad are back in touch - not that they ever fell out, just were not that close. Bernard and his wife went to the grave, but unfortunately it isn't marked, but still, I will go and visit it next time I am in Yorkshire. At least we know where she is now, RIP, Alice Mary Scholey.

Sunset

2008-06-23T06:36:00.002Z

"When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my souls expands in worship of the creator" Mahatma Ghandi

I decided to get this photo printed properly at Photobox to try and capture the sky the night the sunset turned everything pink instead of the usual orange, pink and yellow, and I am pleased with the result. I thought PP would distract from the photo, so instead just used paint dabbers for a background - a mix of pink and a little orange to bring out the colours of the photo. I thought the Mahatma Ghandi quote (studied him at Uni a long time ago!!) was very apt.

Fathers Day LO

2008-06-21T21:27:00.003Z

Beth and DH didn't want their photo taken on Fathers Day - but eventually gave in and I got this great shot - both have bright blue eyes so the blue suited them. As its such a great photo, I wanted to keep the Lo simple. Papers are Little Yellow Bicycle Delightful (why do I always want to call it little yellow taxi!!), Vinyl Thickers, BG white rub-ons and crochet flower and insect (must be age cant remember the name...) courtesy of Enfys swap - aren't they to die for?

This is my third LO of the weekend and there is another nearly done...good to tell its raining!!

Finally - a scrapping update - Races LOs

2008-06-20T21:39:00.002Z

I decided I was not coming back onto UKS or going blog-hopping until I had something done!

Here are two LOs to show some great photos from our visit to Beverley Races with my friend Cath. That's me in the red jacket, and dh is escorting us both -he did very well betting on the day. We had a fantastic time - champagne was compulsory , of course - and hopefully the pictures show that! Papers are Scenic Route Laurel - one of my all time favourites.

Have had a good week - finished and posted my new CJ "Bangkok" as well as doing these two LOs. Three CJs due in over the weekend/beg of next week and holidays only 2 weeks away!!

More wildlife!

2008-06-17T06:20:00.002Z

Bunny is certainly enjoying his breakfast in the long grass under the climbing frame. The garden is has lots of bunny visitors this year. They eat us out of house and home - well garden and home anyway!! The bunnies are getting so daring they even climb up onto the porch to nibble flowers in pots, and the local garden centre now has a list of bunny proof plants. Still - they are very cute and its nice to look out of the window first thing and see them.

Look at these gorgeous creatures

2008-06-15T19:07:00.003Z

I have often driven past the highland cattle (or Beasties) in the field outside the village, but yesterday, I decided I would go back with my camera and take some photos. DD and her friend came with me. The cattle were all down by the gate in a field by the road, and after some initial backing away, curiosity got the better of them and I got some great photos! They are simply gorgeous!!

Nana and Me - UKS Weekly Challenge

2008-06-15T18:58:00.002Z

I liked the sound of the UKS challenge this week - it involved use of a childhood photo, so it was a good opportunity to do another page for my family/BOM album. I love this picture of my Nana with me as a baby (c1959!!) - we were very close. Nana died at 89 just before dd was born, but would have loved her. Challenge was: childhood photo, pink, stripes, metal (see small "joy" tag, & something recycled - made flowers out of a bit of old cardboard off the back of a pad and painted them with TH crackle paint. PP is My Minds Eye.

A Craft Blog This Time - Recipes CJ entry

2008-06-14T07:53:00.003Z

Here is my entry for Diane's Recipes CJ in the Scraplift CJ that I am hosting. This is one of the most beautiful CJs I have ever seen, so I wanted my entry to live up to it!! Papers are Little Yellow Bicycle Delightful, Queen & Co felt (which I found hard to work with), & bits from stash. Recipe is for a 10minute quick and easy Sardine Pasta which I adapted from the back of the sardine can!!

I think CJs are my favourite thing, as its a chance to share inspiration and be inspired - its good to see it "in the flesh" as well as on blogs, UKS etc.

Pop over to Diane39's UKS gallery and check out that cover!

Another lovely evening

2008-06-12T21:37:00.003Z

I havent done much craft wise to blog about so back to photos! It was a lovely evening despite the cool wind. We even sat out for a while on the sheltered patio at the bottom of the garden. We are really pleased with the garden, it gets better each year. Its difficult to manage as it is on a hill and slopes, but each year we make a few more improvements. That's the royal "we as dh does most of it - under my supervision of course!!! Here is another photo from the balcony outside the lounge, plus some more photos of the garden. We have given up trying to grow too many flowers as I think it needs to just be a natural garden given the setting and the poor soil!

Pure Beauty

2008-06-10T06:27:00.002Z

"Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul". ~The Koran

It was a very grey dull day here yesterday, but overnight this dash of bright colour had appeared in the front garden - the first lily of the season. It is just totally perfect.

Is that another CJ cover I see?

2008-06-09T21:19:00.003Z

Yes, another CJ to be started - this time its "All My Own Photos" hosted on UKS by Kathb. One of my CJs only has two more postings (and entry is done for one) so I decided to join this one. I really enjoy CJS - love seeing what other people do. DH and DD would say I am just plain nosey!

I liked the sound of this one - I am sending photos on a disk and the others choose photos and LO. I decided on Bangkok, because its a bit different and I have so many photos! Here is a sneak preview of my cover!! Those letters were the devils own work to stick down (painted and uteed chipboard) and I don't know why the B looks squint because it doesn't on the CJ (honest!) - must be the camera angle (any excuse). Paper is from DCWV Far East stack - the colours are lovely and it was quite appropriate!! The colours are much deeper than they are coming out here - perhaps it was the light.

Anniversary Present

2008-06-08T09:14:00.002Z

Yesterday was our 22nd wedding anniversary (cant believe it). We were going to go out for the day with DD, but she woke up loaded with the cold and a sore throat, and it was a beautiful sunny day we decided just to stay home instead. It had a holiday feel anyway, shopping was done, and the sun shone and we sat in the garden! Apart from a quick trip to the Church Fete and the garden centre, we chilled out all day, and had a lovely meal in the garden in the evening.

DD was worried she had spoiled our day (she hadn't at all) and painted us each a picture. This one was mine - she used twinkly acrylic paint and I think at 11 she is already quite an artist - she says she wants to go to Art School! I think this is beautiful and am going to hang it in the bedroom.

Thanks Mum - CJ Entry

2008-06-06T21:01:00.004Z

Next posting for Pic n Mix is a week away, but decided to get the entry done early for a change as I have 2 others to do in the next couple of weeks. The theme for this one was "Read All About It". I thought of books I'd read (too many to mention), would I do classical favourites, or new ones that impressed me? DD and I were reading a book I read at her age (Mystery at Witchend, the first of the Lone Pine Club books by Malcolm Saville, which I adored) and I got to thinking about how my Mum read to me as I read to DD, and how still now Mum still finds new authors and books for me (she and Dad have wall to wall books in their house) and this inspired the LO "Thanks Mum".

The quote I used at the bottom of the page is one of my all time favourites:

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.

Richer than I you can never be

-I had a mother who read to me.

~Strickland Gillilan

The journalling reads: Books have always been my passion, since Mum first read Mary Poppins and Winnie the Pooh at bedtime, to Engleby (Sebastian Faulkes) & The Reluctant Fundamentalist (Mohsin Hamid) which are my latest reads. In between there have been classics (all time favourites, Pride and Prejudice & Wuthering Heights), Modern Lit (love Jon McGregor, Jodi Picoult, Kate Mosse), Romance (love Katie Fforde &Kate Fenton), Booker Winners (loved John Banville’s The Sea) and thrillers (Peter Robinson, Ian Rankin, Stuart Pawson)- where do I stop - trouble is I don’t! My shelves are piled high, there are books all over the house. Thanks, Mum, for the introduction to the wonderful world of books.

The second page also has quotes about books and excerpts from my shelves!

Quotes are: "My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter. ~Thomas Helm"

"Medicine for the soul". ~Inscription over the door of the Library at Thebes

"The love of learning, the sequestered nooks,And all the sweet serenity of books".~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow"

"A house without books is like a room without windows". ~Heinrich Mann

I hope the CJ owner likes it!

A Mediterranean Feel

2008-06-04T06:45:00.003Z

It was glorious here when I got up at 6.30, the view had a real Mediterranean feel (must be all that French on the Blog-a-thon thread on UKS) so grabbed the camera for an early morning shot.
I have decided that although I didn't do the 365 challenge (work commitments and travel made it a no-no), I am going to try and take at least one photo a day, even if its just of the view, or the garden, or the rabbits eating the new plants!

That way I will at least have something to blog - if I wait for scrapping stuff all the time, it could be only once a fortnight!!

Another glorious sunset

2008-06-03T21:59:00.002Z

Just had to get the camera out and capture this view of another West of Scotland glorious sunset - this was taken from my bedroom window. I will NEVER tire of this view. Its a real "trailing clouds of glory" sunset again tonight - and a contrast to the pink sunset the other evening. Perhaps I need a book of sunsets???

Chipboard Thank You Book

2008-06-03T06:35:00.002Z

I decided to make from scratch a chipboard book for my friend to say thank you for a great weekend in Yorkshire. I am quite pleased with the result - she is cynical in the least about my scrapbooking (finds it funny along with DH!) - but perhaps this might convert her!! I cut the covers, covered with BG Recess papers and painted the edges with an espresso paint dabber. I am getting addicted to mini-books as its a great way to use up paper. Used BIA to bind. This was made from quite thick chipboard so that it will stand up - like a posh thank you card!

I have written a thank you message on the back cover. No doubt some of you will recognise some of the photos from "Scrap the Day".

For info - the stuffed people are scarecrows - there seems something of a tradition in Yorkshire now to have Scarecrow trails in villages. This one was in Hornsea on the East Yorkshire coast.

Scrap the Day - May

2008-05-31T22:03:00.002Z

Really pleased with my May page for the Shimelle cc project. We were staying with a friend in Yorkshire, and we had a great day - we had left dd at Mum & Dads who live near my friend, so we had a "grown-up" weekend. My favourite picture was of the blackboard outside the local pub - Hull City were in the play-offs - and the chef had gone to Wembley. The sign was still there on Sunday - and Hull won! My friend had the great idea of recording the day by holding up the newspaper - also photographed!

Early Morning Mist

2008-05-31T21:59:00.002Z

Woke up to a glorious morning - but mist was lying over the river - thought it was a good contrast to the sunsets, so out came the camera again. I definitely need to do a mini-book on this view!!

Sensational Sunsets

2008-05-31T21:53:00.002Z

We always get glorious views of the sunset from the house, but Thursday night was especially wonderful - the sky and the river went really pink instead of the usual orange. Nut sure my photos really do it justice but thought I would show them anyway. I am thinking I should do a journal of the views from here - across the Clyde to Ben Lomond as I have so many pictures in different weathers!

Back into the swing, doing CJs

2008-05-19T21:15:00.002Z

Back from the excitement of the Far East, jetlag and all, decided to catch up on two CJ entries that I have to do, as I am away in York at the weekend. "Laughter" from the Pic n Mix CJ for which I found a great poem and "Favourite Film" from the Lift-Offs CJ - enjoyed doing the scraplift in that one.

Street Vendors

2008-05-16T03:52:00.004Z

There are street vendors everywhere in Bangkok, mainly selling different types of food. I have only been brave enough to buy iced coffee - I think you would need an iron stomach for the food, no strict hygiene regulations here! There is hot food, fruit, and it so cheap the Thais buy instead of cooking! Coming into the office compound, the car has to inch up the lane past people buying and eating breakfast from the lady in the bottom picture. Its not a very good photo as I had to take it from the car!!

View from my window

2008-05-15T15:39:00.005Z

Bangkok is full of beautiful buildings - colonial style hotels and public buildings and also temples, monasteries and palaces. I can see this monastery from my apartment window. It was taken early in the morning when it was a bit hazy. It is very humid just now. The other photo is a view of the city skyline from where I am staying.

Apartment Life, Bangkok Style

2008-05-14T15:10:00.002Z

Here is today's photo from Bangkok - how the other half live. There are a lot of people who earn only a very little money in Bangkok but they all have jobs and are satisfied with their lot - though this may well change as everyone starts to want wide screen TV and ipods. This picture was taken out of the window of the office I am working in. The family I work with are very wealthy, but this is definitely the real side of living in Bangkok.

Fabulous Food

2008-05-13T16:03:00.003Z

I love the food in Bangkok. Tonight we went out for a Japanese barbecue - the food (beef, scallops, prawns) was cooked on a barbecue in the middle of the table!! It was really good. Followed it up with green tea ice-cream!!

Hello from Bangkok

2008-05-12T15:42:00.003Z

I thought this week for a change I would update with photos as I am in Bangkok and there is always a photo opportunity around every corner! Today I arrived (having had a great journey upgrading both flights to business with air miles) early afternoon, went for a haircut (£3.00 at a posh salon) , bought some shoes for a fiver and visited the fruit, veg and flower display in the mall. Oh, and bought some Sakura pens as they are much cheaper here, for me and a friend

These photos are of the flowers, fruit and veg. Everything is always so brightly coloured and exotic!

Time for a Journey

2008-05-11T09:26:00.001Z

Quick post to say might not up date for a week as going to Bangkok on business!!
Might be able to upload some photos though as I am taking laptop and camera. Will see what I can do!!

Shimelle - Finished At Last

2008-05-04T19:25:00.004Z

I have finally finished my album and first LO for Shimelle's pre-cc warm up challenge. The challenge is to photograph the day on the 25th of each month, trying to capture ordinary things as well as what happened on the day.

I made the book with BG Mellow papers and my BIA (first major project!!) and lots of Bazzill. I followed Shimelle's sketch for the photos LOs for 25th April and I am really pleased with it!

I loved the sketch - and liked the idea of layering to include even more photos - I even did a mini LO of garden photos so I can compare it from month to month!

My First CJ as Host

2008-05-01T21:09:00.003Z

Brave or foolhardy? I am hosting the Lift-Offs 2008 scraplift CJ. Sounds like a good group of girls, and all going well so far, LOL!! The themes are individual but it is a scraplift cj, so that should be interesting. There are some great themes - wont spoil what will appear later!

My theme is Desert Island discs. Wow it was hard choosing the eight pieces of music. And the luxury item. And I have just realised I forgot to choose a book - doh! - how thick is that - it was because there were so many to choose from... Anyway, here are the cover, intro, sign in pages papers are all Rhona Farrer French Twist, felt flowers are Queen & Co (self adhesive which is good). Green and Pink felt ribbon are K & Co.

April Cj entries

2008-04-30T19:51:00.004Z

Did my final Disney CJ entry in Butterbee's Favourite Films - Enchanted had already been done so I went for Mary Poppins which I have always loved.

Also did an entry in Fairy tales for the Pic'n' Mix cj - its fabulous and I was really pleased with my Rapunzel layout - tried to make it a bit arty!! The MME papers were perfect.

Up Close and Personal CC Class

2008-04-30T19:47:00.003Z

Better late than never! Finally finished my second cc class - Up Close and Personal by Claire. Took me ages again but quite pleased with the result. This is the first time I have done stamping onto acetate - would definitely use it again.

Pretty in Pink

2008-04-27T21:35:00.002Z

The one and only layout I manged to complete during the cybercrop - Pretty in Pink Class by Cloclo. It was supposed to take an hour but it took me ages, and I cheated on the stitching by using a Bazzill template. Still I really enjoyed this. I have also nearly finished my Shimelle scrap your day album and Half done another class - Up Close and Personal. I stopped to complete the cj that has to be posted tomorrow!

Finally packed!!!

2008-04-11T20:38:00.001Z

Ready for the off to Antrim - cant wait! Lots of fresh air, walking and fab photo opportunities.

See you all in a week!!

The Baird Family

2008-04-10T06:28:00.002Z

Have never entered the UKS monthly challenge before but decided to have a go! This LO is for the Irwin heritage layout and shows Bob's Dad (the little boy) with his Mum and Dad, Baird Grandparents and his Uncle William Baird - have put the detail on a hidden journalling tag so we don't forget it. On an interesting note Mr Baird (Bobs GG-father) was an umbrella frame maker in Glasgow, he is also related to Baird's the Printers.

Challenge theme was Family (Three Generations) and chipboard (fancy pants swirls painted with Tim Holtz crackle paint and Maya Road scallop frame, painted with dabber, stamped with Stazon, then clear utee to finish off). papers are Scribble Scrabble from Sarah's Cards kit for March.

Votes would be welcome over in the Green Buttons Poll - I will be on holiday when it goes up and I am worried I don't get any votes, LOL!!!

Cj Entry - Pic 'n' Mix

2008-04-10T06:24:00.002Z

Did my entry for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Enjoyed this one. My guests were Elizabeth I, Jane Austen, the Queen and Emmeline Pankhurst! A formidable group of women. Journalling read as follows:

I would go for an informal “girlie” night in so we could all have a good old natter over a couple of bottles of wine and a simple meal. Grilled Scottish salmon and salad washed down with a good Chablis should do the trick. And lots of chocolate cake for pudding.
Not that my guests are in the least bit girlie - they are four women who showed immense character and strength in their time. As well as asking the most obvious questions - did Elizabeth 1 really think she would defeat the Armada, did Jane Austen base Lizzie Bennett on herself, what did Emmeline Pankhurst really think about being force fed, and what does the Queen really think about modern day Britain - I am also itching to ask more mundane things, like did Elizabeth 1 really only have a bath once a year, did Jane have a Mr Darcy in her social life, did Emmeline really agree with the girl who threw herself in front of the horse, and did the Queen like Tony and Cherie Blair?
But then I am very curious and like to hear about the ordinary things in people’s lives as well as the famous or even infamous bits!

Easter layouts

2008-04-05T08:16:00.004Z

Certainly got good use out of the Sarah's Cards Feb Fancy Pants Sweetpea kit for the Easter layouts (including Hot Cross Bunny below!), colours were ideal.

These layouts show what a fun Easter weekend we had.

The Elsie inspired Bunny Girls was taken at the Village Easter Hunt - everyone was so pleased that the girls didn't consider themselves too old for it - even more surprised when they got their faces painted. The Egg Rolling layout was Easter Sunday - we went egg rolling in the field at 9 am with Bill (our Minister) and some of the other Church members - and then went back to the Village Hall where Bill cooked us all bacon rolls. He is a fabulous Minister (he is in the centre of the top right photo). After Church, we went to Finlaystone for the annual Bunny Hunt. We have been going since the girls were small. They enjoyed it as usual and I solved the Anagram - adventurous bunny!

Mum's Best Girl - New LO size

2008-04-03T15:54:00.003Z

Have decided to mix sizes in my American Crafts D-ring album which I am going to use for 2008 pages as I have done a few already (we seem to have done a lot already - with Bob being ill last year, we didn't do much before May and I didn't get much scrapping time).

This is a portrait 11 x 8.5 - funny how much smaller the page seems than 12 x 12. I loved this photo taken on Beth's 11th birthday as it is so natural and shows her just as she is - Mum's Best Girl.

UKS Challenges

2008-04-03T15:39:00.004Z

These two LOs were done for UKS weekly challenges. Managed to use papers from Sarah's Feb Fancy Pants Sweetpea kit - very good for Easter/Spring layouts. Still into chipboard and utee!!

Beth will hate that face pulling photo in the top layout when she is older!!

Second challenge was to use a fairytale theme but with an unusual twist for April 1st. My twist was that my Sleeping Beauties were wide awake!! Photos were from Beth's sleepover last weekend (which DH had to sort as I was so ill) - just before Alix took a panic attack and went home!

The Sore Throat from Hell

2008-04-03T15:35:00.001Z

Blog not up to date due to having the sore throat from hell since Beth's birthday. Struggled on through the Wednesday but had to stay in bed by Thursday. Got a double dose of penicillin and it finally seems to be working. Cant talk for very long without voice going or coughing - some might say that's a good thing!! Done a few Los the last couple of days to pass the time.

At last!

2008-03-24T13:51:00.002Z

Having looked at the new BG collections, I decided that it was time I used last season's, hence the recess had been cut and used for this layout of Beth and Jamie eating ice-cream for supper late at night. Attitude should be Jamie's middle name, and Beth is learning fast!! BG papers (all recess), chestnut thickers, autumn leaves doodle note stamp (also on a first outing from its case!!)

CJ Entry - March No. 4

2008-03-24T13:49:00.002Z

Another Cj entry done! This time it is Disney Animals and it is ready a whole week early!!

Decided on Dumbo as he is so cute. Found the quotes on the Disney site - loved them!

Playing with Chipboard

2008-03-16T22:47:00.003Z

Have been experimenting with all that new chipboard I bought at the SECC - painting, stamping and embossing it, after I finally got some UTEE clear stuff. Did flowers, journal frame and stars for these two LOs of photos from our London Trip in February - the South Bank one esp shows how beautiful the weather was! Papers are Scenic Route Laurel from a Sarah's cards kit. Chipboard is mainly Maya Road.

Stitching!

2008-03-16T22:38:00.003Z

I have always fancied stitching on LOs and this Bazzill stitchz stuff is fantastic. I think the flourishes look great on the LO of Bob's grandmother, Jean Peddie Baird. Used ancestry papers, and for the title, a Maya Road chipboard frame painted with crackle glaze. Got it better this time, and inked once dry to highlight the crackling.

CJ Entry March No 3

2008-03-16T22:28:00.003Z

Have just done third cj entry of the month! This was in Elphaba's Books CJ - theme was what book would you fall into and why. I fell into Pride and Prejudice - just where Mr Darcy emerges from the Lake! What else? Used up old supplies as I wanted Regency stripes and gentle colours.

My Mr Darcy would look like Colin Firth of course so had to include him!!

Beth and Eddie

2008-03-10T22:35:00.002Z

When Beth met Eddie in London, it was definitely love at first sight! We had heard so much about Eddie, she is a lovely intelligent dog. Papers are Scenic Route Loveland. Maya Road chipboard hearts with BM ultra thick embossing powder.

Another CJ entry

2008-03-10T22:12:00.003Z

Only problem with my travelling is I always seem to be doing CJ entries. I was determined to do this entry for the Wonderful World of Disney on time! Theme was open, so I decided on tigger as I had this striped paper - also wanted to use my stitching again!!

An Irwin Heritage Layout this time

2008-03-10T22:08:00.002Z

Layout of Sarah May Roulston, Bobs Great Grandmother and her four youngest children - including Bob's grandfather Alexander, who is easy to spot because Bob looks just like him! Used Ancestry papers, Fancy Pants Chipboard painted with Tim Holtz crackle paint, Sarah's blooms and Prima journalling note.

All Our Girl

2008-03-08T15:19:00.003Z

I just loved these Scenic Route Loveland Papers - and this picture of Beth in Covent Garden in Feb was just perfect for them. Also tried out my Bazzill in stitchz template (love that too) and decorated the Maya Road chipboard hearts I bought yesterday! I think this is one of my favourite ever layouts - they come along once in a while!!

Back to Vintage

2008-03-08T15:14:00.002Z

Here are two vintage layouts done with Polar Bear Press Papers. First is favourite photo of Mum & Dad taken in London in 1954 (Mum says the coat was brown). Second was inspired by entry for Childhood Memories CJ which shows my brother and I enjoying Scarborough in the 60s!

DLO St Andrews

2008-03-08T10:05:00.003Z

I love these photos - the bright colours and memories of our first holiday in 2007 as Bob was recovering. Papers again from a Sarah's Cards Kit - perfect colours. First page is based on SI Mag sketch, I loved the idea of the four photos together.