Roomies

Give it up for my roomies Nic, Nic and Steph.You would think it somewhat awkward to be sharing a room with girls you only know online.
You worry about not fitting in, being smelly and snoring loudly.
You worry that the hotel towels will barely cover your nipples let alone your backside and that letting it all hang out for a laugh is but a chance if not obvious option.
You hope they wont laugh at your big knickers and winceyette jammies or notice that underneath 3 miles of makeup, you are an old hag with a voice to match.
Luckily none of the above factored into equation (ok, the towel did but still - the little bugger wouldn't even meet together, it was the size of a face cloth).
Oh we did have moments where our weak bladders performed to its best and chins blended into your neck giving you the classic "chinneck" look (where you don't know where the chin ends or the neck begins). Tears combined with mascara gave us beautiful grey streaks on our faces and puse, rosy cheeks burned from almost busting a blood vessel when we tried to contain the outburst of spontaneous laughter. The girls know sarcasm really well and fortunately I was able to withstand the FBI interviews under spotlights as they forced me to cuss and swear in my english accent and take the proverbial pee. We say the same words but of course my accent makes it funnier. Bloody and B****cks were the choice words of the week but the more I spoke, the more repetitive the sayings got.
Nic Harper has been a firm favourite designer of mine since i joined SC. Her attention to detail is flawless and I knew I wanted to befriend her immedgiately. Notice that I spelled that wrong? Steph thought there was a G in the word judging by how she says it. I had to correct the poor darlings grammar but then I have room to talk with all my typos! Nic H has lots a lot of weight and is looking tres foxy. Couple that with her deep, Ohio accented voice and you have sarcasm on a stick. I loves me some quick witted people and she is the bestest at it. My fave line from her this week was the line of the whole trip. I couldn't repeat it, it would bore you to death but it tickles me something rotten. Me loves Nic H.
Nic Samuels pretends to be quiet and demure and adorable and yes, she is adorable and yes she is demure but secretly that girl has a wicked sense of humour. Can you believe I got lucky with the comedians of the show? You know, we both sport Mom-bob hairstyles which is so 2009 - respectable, neat and convenient. We clearly don't have a problem with our noted fashionable hair, we loves it. She has the most amazing eye colour and her layouts coupled with her photography is awesome. She makes the most amazing layouts of her beautiful children, real cleaver stuff at times. Me loves Nic S.
Stephanie Howell? Possibly the only woman who can talk at a million miles an hour and who I can keep up with at that rate. When I first met her on the Saturday of the show, all I heard was blurpalurpablurb Harper. blurpalurpablurb Sadie. blurpalurpablurb Jimmy. I cried with laughter recalling that and that is how she talks. Who else would she be harping on about - thos epoeple are cleraly her life. Her layouts are very much from the heart both artfully and journally. She is funny, very witty and can pull a billibob inbred face at the drop of a hat - but seriously, those pictures are going to have to be shared privately. She has a terrific, beaming smile and whose Mommy tones made your heart lurch every time she talked about missing her kids. I cry with laughter thinking about all the faces she pulled during that summer romance we all shared together. Me loves Steph H.
The pictures were taken at Newport beach on the Tuesday before we left. We rented a car for $28 and aimed for Scrapbook Oasis. The bloody thing was shut as the owners had gone to CHA (funnily enough). Instead, we paddled in the Pacific, hit the pier and grabbed lunch where I sampled my first crab chowder (erm, vom) in this delish little bistro:It was Nic H's first time in the Pacific and on a pier (so I hear now). Had I of known at the time I would have made it a bit more spesh but in hindsight, we already had a good time.
We also made time for the 10th Birthday social of Two Peas. Now Im not strictly a two peas girl, I get lost on their boards and I find it too hard to navigate. But still I have been a member there for almost 5 years now and shockingly barely knew a soul there. We left not long after scoffing a rather delish cupcake a piece to join the Sc team for a rather fine Mexican meal.
Pounding the floor with those girls was the best and it seemed we all homed in on the same supplies that grabbed our attention. Perhaps I was the most over zealous on the BG stand but then I always am. I got to cuddle up with my fave BG designer - dinky Kelly Goree. She is an absolute diamond and she is my favourite and my best.
Joining us from time to time was Emily. Emily has a beautiful knack of nailing layouts with simple undertones - one that I can't seem to nail myself. She is quietly spoken, very sweet and super duper crafty. At one point she saved me from an almost horrible moment at the corner of Prima and for that I owe her my life. Thank you Emily - me loves you for that :)
April and Scarlet, the busiest of bees and ducking and diving from hither and dither. Plotting and planning future kits with perfection and spreading Kentucky sunshine smiles all the way. We didn't get to spend a great deal of time with them but when we did, it was lovely. Me loves A & S
The same goes for Lorie. Lorie is a helper-outer at SC and is incredibly funny and kind. i warmed to her immediately as we chatted about our girls. I haven't got one picture of her on her own, going to sort that out and borrow one from somewhere but she naughtily caught me scooping up on the all you can eat ice cream spread put on by SEI at their launch party that we attended (burp!). Lorie spent an age lining up to have her picture taken with Jane Seymour and although I didn't hang about much, i got a cheeky shot of her talking about her painting techniques. Me loves Lorie.
Shadowing us and keeping an eye on the rowdy crowd was Greg (Aprils husband) and Stephen (in house graphic designer). Total and utter "boys will be boys" and great to have as mediators and jokers. Me loves them but not like LOVE them. Mwahahahahhaha
I met some British contingencies out there including Emma from Artbase, Jill from A Trip Down Memory Lane, Vicky from Capture the Magic, Sarah and Leanne from Sarahs cards, Kathy from Personal Impressions, The QVC buyers (Jo and Abbie), Dawn Bibby and Becks. Also I got to chat with Bev Fletcher from Banana Frog, Shimelle, Marion from Sugar and Spice plus Sue and Richard from Craftwork Cards.
Not much celebs treading the floor but I was delighted to bump into CD Muckosky who is a real darling and I managed to spurt out "We love you Donna Downey" like a dork as we stopped to say hello - she is looking really skinny right now. I obviously hate her for that. Heidi Swapp was there but not generally scmoozling and I saw the Timeister. I stopped to chat with Anna Griffin whom I met at QVC in November and revelled in the fact that I could tell her that we adored the Darcey line and really, that was that on celebsville. I am pretty bummed that I missed Emily Falconbridge though :(
And finally I got to meet some Studio Calico members - Ally (Scrapally - dinky and adorable), Brenda (Scrappermamma - me loves bit of Brenda hair and ultra brilliant eyes..... Im in immediate love with her), Reyanna (she is so sunny and smiley and funny) and Joanne (Spa girl, i just loved her) as well as Heather Fuentes who has beautiful looks plus lots of other remarkably friendly people from Scrapbook Trends and Craft Critique.
I dont think (except bedtime) there was a moment where one of us was not talking or laughing. Being with like minded people in a huge convention centre does have its plus points but sharing a room with them is even better although i have to say that 5am wake up calls should be banned even if I went to bed at (shock, horror) 10pm...say what?

Gotta go and settle in for the night after discovering I owe the Tax man jack sheet. Now thats the kind of tax return we all deserve (thanks Lyn xx).

So, CHA...............

CHA was not almost all about the stash.
I mean it was but it wasn't.
Hanging out with Nic, Nic, Steph and Emily for most of the time was the funniest thing.
I know how annoying it can read sometimes when someone says they had a good laugh and giggle at a certain event, I mean its kind of expected that we had a few laughs - we were away from the boys for starters!
And honestly I am going to be annoying (whats new?).
All I did for 5 days solid was laugh my head off.
Im hoarse from talking and laughing and fooling around.
And then we got some time out with April and Scarlet of SC bossage who were closely shadowed by Lorie, Greg and Stephen. Everyone was so busy in that department but then running a huge kit company is a busy job.
Greg was constantly on video patrol, I had to watch my manners.
And language.
To see some of the videos go over here - but I warn you, they are gruesome close ups of us all!

Saturday we pitch up and go through the doors at 9am. Having spent the night with my roomies of Nic, Nic and Steph I got to know what middle america does for their morning perk.
Eggs, biscuits, bacony creamy saucy thingy.
And.
Starbucks.
Great wodging cups of half shot, extra frothy non-fat skinny latte macchiato, sunny side up, hold the cream, double caramel sauce and chocky sprinkles to go.
Caffeine is the wake up call of America and Starbucks is cashing in on stimulating the nation. I wish I was a Starbuck franchise and then I could pump copious amounts of espresso though my veins for 24 hour alertness (and of course be very very rich).

Our first port of call was the new Paris Hilton lines.
Only because it was en-route to the bad boy stands.
Move along, nothing to see here I said to myself.
The papers are dire in the sense of digitalised bling and chiuauau doggies.
Even one has a printed title, entitled "my first drink".
oooooooooooooooooooo-kaaaaaaaay.
I mean if she wants to cash in on an industry worth 4 billion dollars, she has got to get it right. They are just not what you (the reader and scrapper extraordinaire) are looking for and as much as I should have, I couldnt point my D200 at them to take a snap.
Hmmmmmmm, me thinks its not ever going to be stocked in the UK.
We did try and line up to see her but there were far too many journalists there and a suspicious amount of men hoofing around her stand. And we kept geting told to stay back which meant practically having to lean at a 45 degree angle if we wanted to get a peep.
Luckily Greg "James cameron" Foster got in there with his trusty steed, Stepehen for a personal autograph from Paree as she breezed into the buiding almost 4 years later than expected.

After viewing her collection, I knew the rest of the show was going to be superb. And it was to a certain extent. So here are the pics and some little thoughts along the way. Brace yourself, there are lots of pics :) Some are really poor quality but the light in there is cack as it is.

Oh, before I do, Basic Grey came up trumps this year. After suffering abyssmally with Boxer (yuks) and Cupcake (double yuks) last year their 5 new babies will be mine - all mine :)


Melissa Francis Vintage loveliness





These locks and keys are my abso favvo



Crate paper is all yum, but that is expected of them these days :)







Chatterbox gets better each year - I love them so much **sigh**

Cork is going to be big this year - me loves the cork jobbies
Jenni Bowlin - vintage at its monochromatic best.





The onlything from Doodlebig that touched me this year was the stand - everything else was same old, same old

Pink Paislee is slurpoliscious this year, i loved all their lines









Kezia of Tinkering Ink fame has moved on up to Autumn leaves with these pretty papers (I have some poppy papers in my new line too, we have great minds!)


Prima, just flowerlishus and the absolute kind of floralness




Graphic 45 has the best stand ever - its like 7 gypsies but more profound. Loved it :)








Fancy Schmancy Pants gets groovacious


Anna Griffin has a fabulous array of new lines out... we were amazed!






Us Sc girls loved this Darcey line:

Maya Road rocks the chippyboard




Basic Grey - my fave paper form the Bittersweet line


My fave paper from the Wisteria line
My fave from the Porcelein line
Blingy tattoos (rib ons, actch)from BG - slurp




Mini packs of stamps by BG - afforable delights :)
Major Blintastic from BG







Heidi Swapp has these papers coated in a gummy thingy that you paint over and it stays gummy. I cant explain it but it will be needable!

My Minds Eye is superb this year, I was really impressed. I hope that a distributor in this country can do us justice and buy it all.











Cosmo Cricket is also very tempting:







SEI has 4 new lines of which I love very very much. My first love with SEI was with Grandmas Kitchen line but they have come along way and should be celebrated.










Creative Imaginations - when you strip back the cartoony themed papers they relish on, you can slurp on Karen Russell for pure vintage eye candy




Spotty Felt - hooray!









Making Memories had a mediocre release of papers buut their embellies are to die for , so Ill let them off.











I love these wooden letter - a LOT
Look! Pins with flags on them...me loves




And that my dears, is that.
Which ones are you getting?

Studio Calico - February Kit

Here it is - on a groovy lil slide show with a piece of music you will recognise.
By far my most favourite kit from Studio Calico :)
TFL

Home

Open door.
Dog goes mental.
We hug and kiss.
We nap.
I fetch Belle from school.
She is super delighted to see me.
We go home.
Dog goes mental.
We hug and kiss.
Mark comes home.
Dog goes mental.
We hug and kiss.
Surf.
Eat.
Bath.
Bed.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

15 million, 375 thousand and 82 photos later

and not one to share just yet.
I brought the wrong cable with me to transfer all my lubbly pics.
Am currently sat in the hotel waiting for the bus to head back to LAX.
My roomies have all gone, my suitcase just about closes after clearing out Target and my feet are about to explode from the numerous blister pustules (mmmm, yum).
Working with Studio Calico at CHA has been such a brilliant experience. The kit club has gone from strength to strength with lots of surprises in store to keep up that superb growth. In the crazy scrapbook world that I find myself in there has to be someone (April and Scarlet) keeping ahead of their game and I find myself gobsmacked with each new month and each new challenge.
I have lost my voice, I have lost any dignity (thanks to G-man and his secro-cam filming us saying and doing strange things) but I have gained crazy scrappy friendships with the team that walked the 9,000 square miles of paper and glue perfection.
Im almost home, sweet Belle, to plonk big fat smackers on those little rosebuds of yours. Mark, I so need your home cooked food and cuddles, darling and Eddy? Oh you little rascal...... Mommas coming home xx

Sneakvilles

Its my favourite time of of the month.
Studio Calico's kits go live on the 28th with a beautiful collection of their OWN papers as well as our scrapbooky favourites - papers that blend perfectly design wise. They are the simply divine. I wasn't sure if their papers would ever have that type of designer appeal but Steve, the Studio Calico on board designer is more into scrappy cool than you or I. I feel so fortunate that I can cut them up and make pages for my album with them - I hope they decide to manufacture them in excess of the kit club demand.

Have been to a sneak preview of SEI's new collection tonight. Really love them but not as much as the new Making Memorys line. Pictures coming as soon as I can catch up on some zzzzzzzzzz's.

My personal observation deck - LA bound

Commonly known as my sight combined with wild imagination.
I love looking around me and experiencing whatever life throws at me. I try and make a joke out of very bad situations and soak up the best times as and when they happen. I love meeting new people, even strangers and most of all I love how random those situations turn out to be.
Take a long haul flight to LA La Land, California.
Lets start with how come I got the bog end of the flight deals. I had choices but all came at a price so my thrifty eye weighed up the pro's and cons of my travel. I could have flown from the following options: Manchester to.......

• Heathrow then Heathrow to LA
• Paris then Paris to LA
• Schipol then Schipol to LA

All came at odd prices and varying degrees of travel time (14 hours minimum to a staggering 26 hours in some cases.....VOM!). But no, Kirsty had a preset budget plan which meant Kirsty would be Dora the frigging explorer and go from Manchester to Atlanta (Georgia) then to LA. Even when I paid for the flight in Weds, I was retching at the thought of DVT, cramp, sweaty old men with bad breath and a hot cabin with crap films. 17 hours travel time its taken me today and as I sit in my Travelodge room opposite a mirror, I absolutely stink and my hair looks like Ive dipped it in chip fat. Two rather delicious sized bags sit under my eyes and my eyes themselves look like I have been poked with branding irons (secretly spelling "mwahahahahaah!").
So anyway, I boarded the plane at Manchester and prayed to whoever that I don't get dicked to be sat next to smelly, bad breathed man. That's not because of my suffering but because of his - for I am chatty bag almighty and I really do feel sorry for people sit next to me. I have to know everything about that person, I get excited telling them about my family and work and experiences and I have to know the same. I even manage to withdraw bank account details and pin numbers from them; I mean, how else to do I pay for these jaunts? As I schmoozed up the cabin, edging slowly past premium and drooling at the leg room and travel bag full of bed socks, ear plugs, eye masks, moisturisers for the discerning traveller on a fat pay check - I eyed up the destination of seat 18A. My main focus was on 18B to be honest and in search of smelly, bad breath man. Alas, when I arrived there was a lovely lady sat there and as I asked her to kindly move so I could get in my seat - I made sure I inhaled past her presence to test whether she had halitosis....just in case. Thankfully she did not smell and gratefully she was able to tell me how much she had in her off shore bank accounts as well as random tidbits of useless but utterly delightful information. We got off to a great start.
Her name was Gayle/Gail/Gayal (I never thought to ask for the spelling) and she was in her fifties. She travels the world on business and had just been working in Yorkshire. She lives in Cleveland, Tenessee. She has been married twice and has two good looking kids in University ( we shared pics...as you do). I could go on all day but we talked about everything from 911 to the inauguration to gulf war to movies that we watched together and chatted about afterwards. It was just the best. I always meet such nice people and I will always remember them.

I would have loved to have said that the time flew by but it didn't. It took 10 flaming hours to get there and if wasn't for The Duchess (sad, tragic film....loved it), Road to Rodanthe (Bloody hell, I blubbed my eyes out at the end, if it didnt have the ending it had - it would have been pants) and then I watched little bits of Ghost Town and I have to say as much as Ricky Gervais gets on my wick, he was a bit funny in it.
Anyway, the cool, gliding descent in Atlanta made me love terra firma again and a tick off in my "states Ive visited" list. Ok, I was only in the airport for two hours but I was in Georgia and it looked purdy. And here is my picture to prove it.Whilst at the lay over in Atlanta, I met Doreen. She is 77 years old, very glam, very funny and very wise. I loved her immediately. Sadly she was on a bereavement visit to the US as her nephew had passed away but you know, she was cool about it to a certain extent. Well were right old gas bags for that crazy two hours and talked about everything. She was such a hoot. At one point I was talking about airport security at Manchester to her. I explained that I got frisked after the alarm went off when I walked through that thingy. I had to whip off my boots and stand with my arms and legs in the star position. For the purpose of the story I have to tell you at this point that when I fly long haul, I don't wear a proper bra. They are restricting and uncomfy for such journeys and therefore I wear like a camisole with in built support which means, you know, they kind of hang loose-ish. And believe me I ought to wear a bra as mother nature cackled when she donated my wares, the bitch. Anyway, when she started frisking me she wasn't exactly quick and embarrassed. No, she was a bit too much touchy feely. I almost died at how intimate she got. I was, indeed, dumbstruck, speechless and mortified. And because I didn't have a bra on, it felt like she had to heave each boob-i-kin over each shoulder to check for my obvious concealed nuclear weapon. After she had done with her near-rape, I walked away all smug and thought "hmmmm, you didn't find the kalashnikov I had tucked in my hair - sucker" and I went about my business in the departure lounge at terminal 2. Which I have to say is undergoing refurb and looked like Beirut. I didn't fancy any preflight splurges and instead stocked up on more mags that 17 hours could handle, a bit of choc and shed loads of water. Heat magazine, my absolute bible was at the top of the list. It is my gospel according to Saint Bull and I love how tacky everything is. I even love how they know whats going on in a conversation when a picture is taken of two celebs having a chat. I mean, these pictures are bought from huge picture agencies, so the journalist writing about the article wasn't even there so they make up some bull story that we all believe and therefore our love affair with celebs is based loosely on a journalists bull and wit. Rather like the smack blog philosophy, don't you think?!!! Except of course, wit doesn't come into it.

So after regaling my frisking incident to Doreen she quipped "A little case of Lesby 'aving you, then?". Which prompted me to spurt my half shot skinny latte over three rows of people in the departure lounge. I laughed so hard that I now know the full meaning of a hernia and I give my dog credit with having to live with one for so long before his op last Monday. Doreen is my new BFF and I love her. I love how I came to learn about her surname. Which is Dentist and guess where she works? Well, actually volunteers? At the dental hospital in Manchester. Isn't that cool?

Before we knew it we were on a 5 hour flight to LA where I found myself in the middle aisle in the middle seat, flanked by two very abrupt, rude and loud women. The person on my left I shall call "yah, I have no manners" and the person on my right "I snore, I eat everything on the trolley and dont even think about asking me to move if you need the lavvy". Oh fabulous. On the last flight I went to the loo once and I promise you I drank 3 litres of water. Thats not healthy but it was so dry and air-less between Manchester and Atlanta. By the time we landed I actually felt more than desperate to go. Gayle mentioned that the restrooms were seconds away near baggage claim so I used my pelvic floor muscles to keep the sloshing bladder bag in control. Well, what used to be my pelvic floor muscles anyway. Oh I was in such pain. You know the bladder pain face you pull when you think you wont make it? The look on my face was enough to make customs and passport control ban me from ever visiting America again. Can you imagine how many Brits visit the US after long hauls, desperate for the loo, pulling bladder-pain faces? They must think we are such a stunning nation of lookers. As we walked almost 15 miles (Atlanta is the US's largest airport and boy did I know it) the signs for the restroom kept pointing ahead and ahead and ahead. Gayle said that I shouldn't think about it. But I had beads of sweat running down my head and back and I reached out in slow motion for the lavvy when I saw the sign finally came into sight. It felt like that every step I took, I took ten back when I neared the loo's and when I finally got in there, it was the best toilet visit in my life and I will never, ever forget it. Never. It was a wonderous moment and the sigh of relief was greater than the moment where I thought the Manic street Preachers were going to split up in 1996.

Anyway, these two women either side of me were not going to be on my hit list of people to get to know, clearly. Lady on my left was on the phone the whole time when we boarded and was asked twice to switch her phone off which she did just as the engines fired up for take off. Lady on my right was asleep and snoring in my right ear. Friggin great. I was permanently wedged and as much as I promised my bladder Id never do that to her again, I declined any water on board and opted to munch on Trail Mix (OMG, my new fave snack) and the ever so reliable Pringles. I made sure I chewed real loud to let them know that although I was wedged, I wasn't doing it quietly.

The flight was frigging boring. Delta Airlines will show you some great movie if you pay (robbing dogs) for them on your personal little tv in front of you so instead I opted to watch TV. I mean - TV! LIve on board? But in the US, TV adverts come on every 7 minutes and last for ages and one hour into the flight, they were doing my tank in. So I pressed recline that went from 90 degrees to 86 degrees (oooh big drop) and fell asleep, upright. Only about 10 minutes later I woke up as my head fell foreward and cracked on the tray before me. Damn, I wish Id have bought one of those tacky, bulky neck pillows that cost the earth but actually have a purpose. Another 4 hours of this crap was going to make me grumpy. Lady on my left elbowed me constantly that the rest of the flight I spent with my arms crossed over my chest and hands behind my neck. I didn't want their infectious bad manners to touch me and as stupid as I looked (like dracula, you know) I also didn't mind losing the blood supply to each arm neither.

We landed 15 minutes early and baggage claim was prompt and at the door of the exit. Cool. I spied and hailed a taxi which I hadn't read the small print of on the side markings. It read "You are a stupid brit and we will screw you $17.50 for a trip that's less than a mile and by the way, we speaky no englio". Bloodio painio in the arsio, if you ask me but I needed my bed so I checked into the travelodge, screwed my clothes up into a ball, threw back the sheets and feel into a fat juicy super king size bed. That was at 6.30 in the morning UK time as well.Its now 1500 Uk time (Sat 24th) although its 7am here and I don't look like Ive been punched in the eyes with puffy cheeks and oil slick hair. Im sure a shower and a quick visit to the all you can eat breakfast buffet will sort that attractive look out and even though its raining and my room still wreaks of gas (I dare not even light a match even though I dont smoke but still) - Im off to Anaheim laters with the SC girls and attend a pre-show event with SEI (lick, slurp, yum).

Note to Belle: Miss your sugar lips, gorgeous girl. Ill bring you those crispy M&M's back that you love so much even though you can get them in Sainsbury's.
Note to Mark: Boy I needed your super efficient organisational skills at passport control love. You know how much I need you and being without you is like having a missing limb.
Note to Dog: Miss your really smelly breath and slobbery licks, Momma back home soon.
Note to scrappers: will post pictures of delish things, as soon as.

Feeling virtuous

I love the feeling of being organised.
Note the word feeling.
When I used to serve in the RAF some hundred years ago, I was super efficient, organised and proud but when I became a (neurotic) momma, it all fell to the wayside. Somehow I lost my zest to dettol every surface in the house and prioritise my life within a nano second of accuracy. Now I just make lists and thrive on a deadline although I have to say Im still a neat freak. I suppose I live my life on nervous energy but secretly love the challenge even though sometimes I think I burst a blood vessel from the urgency.
And so with less than 20 hours to go before I fly off this frozen island, Im more or less sorted. Plus I only got my Studio Calico kit yesterday (about a week later than normal...customs, grrrr!) which had me in a bit of a panic because I didn't want to leave without doing a few layouts. I stayed awake last night til 2am churning out 4 layouts and a project; Im in the middle of doing two more which has left me feeling very smug with myself. Ive got my dollars, Ive got a few essentials from the shops to take with me (and choc for the Studio Calico girls....and boy!) and Ive just to dry off a pair of trousers and a blouse, pack it and prick it and mark it with B etc etc - then I am done.
Im driving to my freinds house tonight who conveniently lives less than 2 miles from Manchester airport (thanks Jane xx) and stay over for pre-flight shenanigans. Im packing Ellies Flip Video (just in case I get an exclusive with Paris Hilton who is launching her own range of craft products oh and Jane Seymour will be there too.... talk about celebsville), my mac attack (for blog updates and sneak shares-ies), my Ipod, countless mags and pics of my guys as I will miss them so, so much. Even the pooch who had his stitches out today, little love.
Its real sad that one of my fave scrap companies wont be there (scenic route) but I hope to drop by SEI, Maya Road and Basic Grey (come on, they are my no 1 favvo's). I may just sweep by American Crafts, October Afternoon, Sassafrass and last but by no means least Wubie prints (ok, I was joking about Wubie prints, yuk...do you remember those?). There wont be much scrap celeb spotting as my fave, Ali is preggo and about to download, Cathy never goes and even Elsie is off the scene. So this trip is purely a dedication of Studio Calico and the DT plus soaking up as much new stuff as the eye can take.
Ill prolly update with Im in Cali-forn-I-A.
Toodle ooooo.

Little pick-me-up's

Feeling much better today, the sun is shining but its bitterly cold.
Ive got a chance to go to CHA but Im not sure whether to take it or not. Will probably decide last thing tonight as flights rae relatively cheap :) Plus the unsteady market will reflect on a very cool atmosphere there. Hmmmmmmm.
Happy things like this keep my upbeat - I love these two songs at the mo......not sure which I love the mostest. In true Lilly Allen style, expect a few expletives :(

And this is my iTunes favourite right now too:

**edited...am now booked for CHA to go and work with the Studio Calico girls. Their job is immense as their kit club is so large now, that extra help is going to ease the burden of choosing delightful yummies for their montly kits. Fun, fun and fun.

Im maxed

Today I am at boiling point. But Im all out of steam to even consider exploding. I feel like I need oxygen!
Why?
In a nutshell, Ill explain my last few days...........
Having woken up at ridiculous o'clock on Sat I wizzed over to my birth land (LEEDS!!) to make some paper projects using Craftwork Cards monochromatic line of papers. I sat with 16 new and old friends to enjoy 6 hours of creative indulgence. It was a lovely day and whilst I was there, I met a lady called Lynda who was sharing some of her card makes with a bunch of the ladies. So I had a snoop and I was really taken aback. They were gorgeous and full of little details that made me think "Erm, wow!" Id met Lynda before at Dy's when I taught a workshop before Christmas and I had no idea of her great style of creativity. I promptly asked her to join the team of making stuff with my new product. I couldn't help myself, this lady deserves to show off her talent!
After the event I went into Leeds to celebrate my Uncles 50th birthday. I had no idea that it was going to be such a big event, there were dozens of people there including my fab bro and sis and sis in law. Oh we did have a laugh but I was on drive patrol so was on coke all night which meant watching from my sober eye towards their rowdy antics. All but two of my cousins (which meant a good get-together) were there plus aunties and uncles and loads of extended family members. I swear there was never a moment when anyones camera wasn't in my mush, god help any facebook tagging in the next few days - the delete button may have to get used!

Can my brother and sister ever be serious? Erm, NO!My beautiful niece and god daughter, Emily. see how much she has grwon since THIS picture in 2005 (try not to laugh at how very untrendy my layout is although at the time, it was erm, stunning?!!)
Me, My bro and sister - a very rare picture without one of us mucking about!
My sister - erm, Mucking about. Love my brother in the back ground... nice one, Leigh!Me and my siblings plus my gorge sister in law, kerry xx
My bro stuffing a foot long meat ball marinara down his grinner at 1.30am in the morning. Obv my sister is partaking in the said face stuffing sesh!
On Sunday I got to Dy's workshop after being detained at the gate at RAF Leeming (where my bro lives) which meant almost breaking my neck to get there. I was teaching 5 layouts in 5 hours with 5 techniques and 5 design principles. And we did it - with almost an hour to spare so I had to make something up for the last part so everyone went home with 6 projects altogether. Now that's a bargain class if ever I saw one.
Have you ever been to Dys studio? I LOVE IT - its a proper, working, down and dirty, paint and pots and glue and art everywhere type of studio. It has its quirks and sometimes I just want to roll myself up in double sided tape and stick everything to me. Here it is, all full and interesting - you should go sometime. And these pictures dont include the top end of the studio (ie the shop etc etc)When I got home all I wanted to do was sleep but going to bed early is not something I do very often but anyway, I treated myself to 10 hours sleep and woke up feeling even worse yest morning. I took Belle to school and was going to start on my tax return (yeah, great job....it wont take long but i get confoosed!) but all I wanted to do was veg and then before I knew it it was time to get Belle from school for her millionth hospital visit. I was so tired and grouchy all the way there because I knew Id be doing it again on tuesday. Alderhey is a childrens hospital, they ought to make as many appointments in one day to prevent the kids missing precious school time but no, there was an appointment scheduled Monday and one for tuesday (and you dont get to choose when you have them neither). But when I turn up the admin lady said no, your appointment today was cancelled and scheduled for tomorrow to coincide with another appointment. Well that was it. THAT WAS IT. I almost passed out, burst into tears and walked out. Rather than make a scene (what is the point in flourishing your bad moods elsewhere like I would have done a few years ago) I bit my tongue and walked out. A nurse who chased me up the corridor was so sweet to come and see if we were ok because when I burst into tears, so did Belle and when kids cry - well, it melts peoples hearts doesnt it? In effect we had gone for nothing and time is not a lot of stuff I have a lot of.
And we came home, I just laid on the sofa with belle and the dog and I sat and stewed over it...my blood boiling in the process and feeling too weak to fight it. I guess I was just having a really bad Monday and hopefully Id wake up on Tues with a bit of zing. I think a blast of fruit and veg is in order, dont you?
Belle has opthalmology and brainwaves Tues. Lol at brainwaves, not sure if its called an EMG or something else but i know she is having electrodes glued to her head. I think she was quite excited at the prospect of seeing her brainwaves in a monitor. Talking of brains, she got an enamel badge to wear for a week from Maths. MATHS? I know! My girl is not very good at Maths but this week she is a star pupil so she must be getting better. We are so proud of her. And thinking about it lifts my mood, actually!
**Edited - brainwaves test was actually to test her "photo phobia". Now anyone that knows us as a family unit and have met Ellie will know that she has an aversion to bright light. She always has and constantly hides behind hats, big sunnies and even behind her arms (shielding her eyes). Today we were told under no uncertain terms that there is no pathological reason why she has an aversion to bright light. For 13 years we have been trying to find a reason but today it was confirmed that basically, she has to live with it and she has to learn to deal with it. Cold as you like but straight to the point. So I decided there and then that we shall not continue anymore with further appointment this year and just take the ones offered thus far and just give up looking. I mean, what is the point of upsetting ourselves and Ellie missing school and me missing work opportunities and having doors slammed in our faces? Yes, that's right. Im in that side of a mood which means I am failing her right now by not doing the service of being the caring parent I usually am and what could well read that Im going absolutely friggin crazy over it all. Im sure I will wake up and regret writing this but its how I feel right now.... next week I will probably re-instate my "interfering mother who wont give up and seems to be wasting everyones time"(I even think that I have got to the stage where I am making all Ellies symptoms up right now, they clearly don't exist. In fact, Ellie isn't even my daughter, she is a figment of my imagination. Yeah, its got that bad).
It didn't help that there was an incident prior to the appointment which made me burst in to tears (subsequently, Belle into tears!) because there was a massive hoo-haa over parking at Alderhey. There was no spaces to be seen as it was a massive exam day for students at the hospital which meant we had to park 2 miles away which in turn meant we were an hour late for our appointments. The parents of other children were going crazy about it and I felt sorry for the staff being heckled at. I refrained from such a scene but the tension added to the incident which happened at a reception station when I asked for directions. I really can't be bothered to recall the entire dialogue it but it was a "light the blue touch paper" moment, you know? Grrrrrr.
So there you go.
Not exactly having a few fun filled days but this shall soon pass :)
Im going to finish up editing a few glitches in my product before I show them to you. I was going to you on Monday but this week is horribly manic for us. And anyway, the glitches need an editors eye cos you know me and typos...............

More bloods

Finally, the bloods we should have shed (!!!) for genetics at Alderhey in 2007 was eventually and gratefully taken today.
After the furore of giving blood on Monday for the USA, I rang Belle's geneticist up and explained (again) how hard it was for us to give blood due to some inter-county red tape crap and that it wasn't fair holding up their research because of it. Having thought for a second that she might actually read my blog (she kind of knew what I was ringing up for and its not hard for anyone to jump in on my blog as my jacket advertises my business and I wear it to hospital when we go), she never fussed at my angst and decided that she would take our blood herself. I have to say that as much as we despise the NHS system, we do not disrespect the majority of the Doctors we come across. Sure, some of them have zero bedside manner and some are down right rude/obnoxious/not interested but I have to admit that Belles UK geneticist is a doll. I realise its not her fault entirely - its the system and the lack of resources we face in this god forsaken health service. We also have a huge respect for Belles Endocrinologist and her Neurologist too - so you know, its not all doom and gloom.
Any old how, mark and I gave yet MORE blood today and after having just one puny glass of red wine with dinner tonight - Im a bit squiffy as a result. Well, thats my excuse anyway.
On Monday I have a preview of my new product which I must remind most of the scrapbook readers here that its actually a card makers product. Im really excited about it and after spending almost 80 hours on it (if not more) Id say my body is grateful its ready too (and my sleep pattern, and my wrists and my anxiety!).
Gotta go, Im up at the crack of stupid o'clock as I meander down to Leeds and Harrogate (ahem, the land of my birth... ultra cool and super trendy). Hope your weekend is equally gorgeous.

Hello Hummus

Literally.
I wrote hello in my leftover hummus.For who?
For me, for my journal, for my dog?
No bloody idea, I thought it would be a fun thing to do.
I love wholemeal pittas with hummus as a breaky-com-lunch (commonly knows as brunch - yeah, I know...ingenious). I took photos to share with you my snacky treat.V. Healthy = V. Virtuous
Gotta say, these sooty little eyes were willing me to offer him some of my tasty treat so I parted with a nice wodge of it for him for him to only turn his nose up after licking it for a couple of seconds. No matter but as always, true to form, I picked it up and plonked it in my mouth. That's how much I love my dog, whats mine is his and vicky verky.

We took delivery of the "other" sofa this morgen. The previous delivery of the 3 seater sofa was not successful - not even through the frigging window. So we had to trade it for a smaller size. And so we have re-arranged the furniture for it to fit which meant putting the armchair in front of the window. I was excited about this notion because I knew it would act as a look-out post for the boy. The poor love doesn't get to see so much live action throughout the day as our doors are solid and the back yard is enclosed by fences that he can't see much over. Dachshunds are renowned for being nosey little sods, in all sense of the word.
And sure as eggs is eggs (that never types right, does it... surely its "eggs are eggs"....ho hum) he was up there like billy-o and staged his sausagey self as a Meerkat on watch. I swear down that this will be his "spot" from now and for ever more. Me thinks that the pile of cushions to help prop him up will need bolstering and covering to stop his shedding hairs from ruining my neatness. He is not exactly blessed with height but he sure makes up for that with the incessant barking that has culminated from said look-out post. **sigh** - that dog has my heart, well and truly and I'll be deaf before the day is out or hoarse from screaming at him to shut the fudge up.
Do consider poppoing over to Leeds or Harrogate this weekend if you are at a loose end (see 2 posts below this one) and if you can't - have a good one anyway.

Never done one before

Well, I have but not actually designed something for one before.
Ive been a member of UKS for 4 years now and I go through fits and starts with participation. I think I struggle as Im not on a team so therefore I have no familiarity with anyone other than through blogging. Its a great source for inspiration and even though I may not always chat on the forums, I sure use it to hunt down my fave shops and locate the best deals on supplies.
But for this Feb I have supplied 4 classes via Bubbly Funk of which I put my heart and soul into. I think only Caroline knows this because I was last-minute-dot.com (as ever) with my entries.
Oh lummy - what am I talking about?
Cybercrop Feb 2009 - thats what Im chundering on and on about.
Grab yourself a kit at a bargacious £8.50 a throw (here) and follow a class with me to make a little something like these snippets in this here blog.

Coupla places left

Want to make 5 layouts in 5 hours this Sunday? Each will have its own design principle, technique and scrummo sets of papers. Come on over to Art from the Heart at Harrogate and have 5 hours of real good fun - I mean that! Dyan will naturally by assisting me if not peering over her glasses at any naughty students!

Also Im at Craftwork Cards on saturday in Leeds. There are two workshops, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. We are making a gift complete with gift bag and two cards. Sue's products are the most alluring, timeless and droolable card products in the whole world and absolutely any style of papercrafter will love the classes I have in store.

Phone number sare at the top of this blog page :)

Michael Phelps? Pah!

Who needs an 8 times gold medallist when you have a teeny, weeny bag of curls and bones who can earn her first ever certificate at the tender age of 13?
Hmmm?
HMMMMMMMMMMMM?

SHE DID IT!
She got her 10 metre certificate.
Im the happiest Mum-ky alive.

Two not one - Two, dammit

Oh you do not know what a quandry I have got myself into choosing 1 person out of over 180 entrants to help make stuff my me new product. I started emailing everyone yesterday but I ha vent got the time to do anymore and that's just as bad a feeling. Please forgive me. Instead Ill be lame and just make a lil announcement here. I will eventually reply to each and everyone of the entrants of course but you know, January is a scarily busy time for me.

I ended up choosing two. Mainly because my heart told me to and my mother always said follow your heart. I feel I owe it to Momma. Momma knows best and all that.

For those who were not chosen by my choosing finger can I just say that its a rotten job to pick someone and not have everyone. But I think I will have some of the others do some guest work and then that seems fair - doesn't it or not?

Ive been on the receiving end of not being picked. Like Tracy Jones who never picked me to be on her netball team or being the last to be chosen for a game of hockey lest we forget that I was never chosen for the Prima DT last year - unforgivable. Ok, Im sure these girls (and gents) dont feel like that but you do start to question yourself and wonder just how you were not the chosen one. Well if it makes it any easier I had, out of 184 entrants, a lot of overseas entrants which I can't actually have. Thinking about it I should have stated that from the start. I need product turnaround really fast. So Im dead soz to those living o'the water. Out of the rest there were card makers stuff that was just peachy. Peachy is good but Kirsty wanted Peachy Melba's with lashings of whipped cream. I didnt really buut I could just bloody eat some of that right now. To be honest, it was a pleasure looking through galleries and blogs (and some without galleries and blogs which made it hard) and I made of list of ideas I want to steal and claim of my own from those galleries. Heee heeeeeeeeee! But time was chasing me so therefore I had to get my choosing finger to choose from the choices of many, many great card makers.

And so I chose my bestest choosing finger (my right hand index finger with little finger all crooked).

I chose Jo Kill and I chose Jozza :)

And for the rest of you, please blame my choosing finger if you were not picked :(

Dogs still fetic

Its amazing how many emails, facebook comments and blog comments you get when you write about your icky pets.
Which proves that we are, indeed, a nation of pet lovers.
Never thought I'd even be a dog/cat owner and I can't believe how much our Ed's has transformed our lives.
He is still laying down, all fetic (Belle's baby word for pathetic) but the sneaky little sod went for a trot around the street this morgen before Belle went to school and he even managed to chase the little girl, from the corner of our street, so that she ran back home (sorry, Lucy).
Me thinks he is faking it a little so that he gets extra loves.
Typical man, if you ask me.


**PS: Note that I am not involved in any 365 photos this year, hence lack of photos....Im devoid of even showing the slightest interest in my cameras right now. It feel a bit good**

Da boy is icky

Eds had a hernia op today.
Picked him up from the Vets at 4.30 and he did not bat an eyelid when he saw us.
Normally that boy does cartwheels and pee's all over the place out of excitement.
Eds will do this after either 8 hours or 8 minutes of not seeing you.
This cut Belle and I up to the core.
We brought him home, lay him on the pouffe with blankets and hand fed him meaty morsels.
Belle burst into tears, she couldn't cope with how limp and sad he was.
Then of course I start to bawl my eyes out too.
When Mark came home from work, instead of Eds bounding to the door - the boy just lay all forlorn and pathetic.
Sniff sniff.
We fed him best steak for tea as a pick-me-up treat which he devoured from my hands and then he promptly fell back asleep.
As the anaesthetic wore off he whimpered and whined so quietly and heartbreakingly sadly that it caught my breath.
I know its all so silly to some of you, espesh if you are not attached to a pet or even a child but let me tell you this - its gut wrenching to see them go through this. They depend on your care and attention and loves and hugs and kisses and snuggles like nobodies business.
And Im cwazy enough to sleep downstairs with him to make sure he is comfy as he gets through this uncomfortable 24 hours.
Me no likey it.
Me no likey this at all.

Oh Yeah - NHS really is getting on my nerves

Giving blood for Genetics in the UK is like trying to get blood out of a stone.
Yah, really.
Both Mark and I got up at the crack of a sparrows fart to go and give blood this morning. We had bloods for Nevada and bloods for Alderhey to be taken.
We take our forms and explain to the nurses what was needed and you could see the tremblings of a panic attack rise from within.
How dare we present them with such non-routine, out of place problems on a Monday morning.
Because my love, that's what Monday mornings are all about.
We gives her the US medical forms and samples tubes - that was easy and straight foreward. She takes the blood without batting an eyelid. Remember these are going all the way to America this afternoon; 24 hour priorty mail. Easy!
But trying to give blood for a hospital less than 20 miles away - well, no way was that happening.
Basically Alderhey won't take our blood because we are not children. Alderhey is a children's hospital but come on - its the best paediatric hospital in the north with very sick children and this means adults have to be involved in the research they do there. And the genetics team at the afore mentioned children's hospital want our blood. Then if that wasn't a pain in the neck enough because we live in Wigan its just not easy to give blood for a Merseyside hospital (we are neighbouring counties - big effing deal). This is four times we have encountered problems trying to give blood since November 2007... not 2008. And its not easy even if you offer to drive the blood there yourself. Oh no. The thing with the NHS is that its just too departmentalised. Nobody talks to each other and nobody wants to either. Its as if you are your own problem and you have to work everything out in your life. It was me that decided Ellie had a heart problem when she was 7 but oh no, not according to the UK doctors. But then I got to the USA some 6 years later and oh yes, she does have one. You see what I mean?

So anyway we give blood for the American research facility and post it off today.
As for the UK bloods (or lack of it)?
They can shove it up their ****.

I feel much much better now. Camomile tea in hand, feet up then work as usual.
Carry on..........

**edite to add**
Snapfish have a promotion where you can order up to a max of 50, 6x4 photos for a penny each. Plus if you are a new customer you also get another set of 20 for free! Type in PENNY2009 to receive your discount. Valid up until 13 Jan - that will be tomorrow, then!
Happy scrapping :)

A very splendid two days

One of my favvo things to do is travel and meet new people.
Especially people you meet and who make you feel good.
I never have any great expectations (therefore never disappointed!!!) but when something delightful happens - well, it is a buzz you wish you could bottle up and sell. It would be a best seller amongst elbow grease and stay awake ointment for the eyes.
So I goes to Melton Mowbray on Friday.
This is a place where imagine all its residents live in a pork pie and eat stilton cheese all day long. Imagine my surprise when I didn't even pass one crumb. But still, its a beautiful countryside and Ive never really been to Leicestershire before. On route Id gone from Lancashire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire - all in the space of two hours. I get to Melton Mowbray and do a little business. Namely the hard sell of my new product. Well, hardly hard sell because the support I have had with the whole shebang has been with the company all along because this idea was borne from buyers at QVC. Well, anyway - the client was just overwhelmed in a way that made me just feel good. I always have doubts about most of my work and not because I dont think its not good enough for but bad enough for some to be unpleasant about it. Ive experienced enough of that to believe that it happens but with this, I secretly had an inkling, hell - even felt a little optimistic to a certain extent.
The client kindly allowed our appointment to take place at her home as the time was convenient for us both plus she could send extra time with her little baby girl. Oh you dont know what it felt like, for me, to scoop that little angel up in my arms. She was hypnotic, I couldnt stop adoring her. And of course I got to feed her whilst the client and I chatted at full belt about the crafting industry/families/the price of fish - as you do. I pre-empted a photocall as a gift (some might say collusion but you know, if I had a photographer friends - Id expect photographs!!!). The light was failing if you can call January a time when you can expect light at all but still, a little shot or two came out to my delight.
I left Pork pie land at the break of evensong and travelled cross country (and I mean up one, dirt track lanes and often over boggy marshes) to get to Northamptonshire. Corby, in fact. Never been there and the only association with the word is a trouser press. I hate that men get the good shit in hotel rooms but still. I arrived at my friend Rosie's house in good time via a little M&S food stop/cafe - yum, decaff coffee to unwind from the cross country hike was a flipping god send. I was greeted by the usually zealous Rosie and her over excited dog, Maisie who clearly had the scent of eddy up her nostrils from 5 miles away. Then I got to meet her absolutely beautiful children.
To be honest, I connect better with children than I do adults, I don't know why. Im fascinated with their minds, cheek, humour, eagerness, friendliness and charm. Its like I need to consume their vivacious enthusiasm - its almost like I am a vampire and need to suck up that energy. However, Rosies family as a whole was a connection enough in itself. We went out for a meal to a local pub where Jacob delighted myself (but not my gag factor) with his contortionist abilities. That young boy can hold his hands behind his back and bring them from behind his head, over the top and in front of his body without unlocking his hands. Try it if you dare but be warned, you will be in Accident and Emergency if you do. I mean, this kind of freakish behaviour is a massive tick in my book and its a last resort career for Jacob in a circus if all else fails. The whole pub stood up and applauded; I only wish we had gone round with a hat for donations.
But you know, throughout the whole evening mixed with lots of laughter and chatting, one little lady was close by my side almost all night. Little Freya is an absolute diamond. Her lashes are to die for and her elfin features mimic my Ellie's so much - it felt like Ellie was with me so I didnt feel like I was missing Ellie in a way. Freya, in her childlike charm shared an absolute major secret within 1 hour of our meeting that I have to take to the grave with me. I think to be bestowed such information from a complete stranger is like being entrusted with top secret information in the highest order. Even though the secret is kind of personal, I couldn't help but spew the contents of my cup of tea over Rosies table when she announced this secret in front of her parents. It was endearing if not hilarious. I think that this was her way of letting me know that she was going to enjoy being my 24 hour friend.
Rosie and I chatted until 2am (an early night for me then) but I had come on with a cold and a glass of red wine (note: one glass!) had put paid to any minute longer. Plus, I was still trying to get over the fact that when I went to the loo earlier that night and went to pull my attire back to its original state, I dropped my thumb ring into the lavvy. Scruples, sentimental values and the vomit factor came into play and there was no argument on the matter - it had to be retrieved. Fortunately it was only a liquid visit but still, I had to wade through lavvy roll and erm, liquid to find the blasted thing. Luckily Rosie had bleach on the cloakroom and I scrubbed my hands and arms to within an inch of epidermis hell. Nice.
I woke up really late in the morning. I slept in jacobs boy-boy room... full of boy things and boyishness. It also had black out curtains. I had no idea of any daylight nor the time. I woke up when I heard a little noise. And if I hadn't, Id of been in bed all day. But my cold had taken hold and I was not feeling fizzy foo fa la. I went down to brunch and for 3 hours we sat around the table chatting and playing word games with the kids Granny went to market will always be a fave in our house let alone anyone else's house but ours consisted of some remarkable grasp of the english language. Starting with Freya, then me, then Rosie then Jacob - it went like this:

Granny went o market and she bought
an Apple
a Baboon
a Caterpillar
a Dronkey (you know - half donkey, half dragon from Shrek)
an Enormous Elephant
a Fart (tee hee, I couldnt resist and Freya giggled like crazy - for about an hour, at least)
a Galaxy
a Hairy old man
an Indian
a Jolly Hockey Stick
a Kangaroo
a Lighthouse
a Microscope
a Nincompoop
an Oscar Statue
a Pink Bra (tut tit, Jacob!)
a Queen
copyrights to the word Ridiculous
Santas Sleigh
Train track
Underpants (nice one, Freya)
Very Volatile Vesuvius
Wee Willy Winky
Xanthan Gum (random, Jacob!)
Yappetyyapety Yak
Zany Zebra on Zinc

Oh we did laugh for hours before I decided to get dressed and take photo before daylight ran out.





I managed to grab only a few good shots of the kids before Will and I talked editing and cool stuff about photography. He has an absolute perfect talent for taking photos that i was almost too ashamed to share my images. Then not long after I had to get back to my dudes to share with them my cold and a huge hugsvilles.

So now I must try and get back to sleep, breathe my germs all over Mark and see what Sunday brings. Hope it brings you sumptin lovely but if not - lick your screen now as Ive just sneezed some cold bacteria through my blog for you to enjoy. Im more than happy to share my miserable disease. No, really.

Fed Ex Fabulousness

Ive had some deliveries in my life both from the mail and womb varieties.
It could get rude here but you know me, thats not my style.
The mail ones are less painful, less gory and requires no stitches and lest the disgusting cup of tea afterwards.
Mail ones are the best deliveries although you could deem that little humans are indeed great deliveries but I can't exactly wax lyrical about the joys of giving birth. If I was to be completely honest, I found childbirth horrendous even though I was only in full labour attack pain for 3 puny hours. Nothing prepares you for your first delivery and I will never forgive my mother for telling me that I will forget the pain once the bundle of pink has arrived. It has become abundantly clear over the years that she spoke with a fork tongue at the time and I hadn't noticed the devil horns protruding form her head when she did.
So anyway.
My Fed Ex delivery.
I wasn't expecting anything from Fed Ex and almost collapsed from excitement when they came to my door this morgen. She said I have a parcel for Mr and Mrs Wiseman.
Oh great, I thought, not another bomb from the Taliban.
The thought does pass through my head when we get unexpected parcels, you know.
And in age old tradition I gasped "who could this be from?"
I bet she hears that a trillion times a day.
I looked at the senders address and it was from Las Vegas.
Had Donald Trump seen me on the strip last April and sent me jewel encrusted gifts to woo me. Bluergh, not on your nelly, have you seen his comb over?
Then I saw it was from the Research Facility and my heart practically kaboomed through my chest cavity. I was on my way to dropping Belle of at School and as usual I was a lil late. I raced like hell fire to school and back and every tom, dick and harry were on the roads this morning driving at a speed that Miss Daisy would orgasm over. I chatted to Ellie about what it could be. She really doesn't care, she has Geography this morning and she was geared up for that.
I raced back home, foot to the floor and again - stuck behind millions of other mums on school runs/drop off's. My heart was racing so fast that I could hear it in the echoes of my empty head.
When I eventually got home I ran in, grabbed a carving knife to open the over sellotaped box almost whipping both my eyes out in the process which would have actually been ironic if not slightly funny. Not being able to see this baby would be gods punishment for inside were requests for bloods from Mark and I.
And it looks pretty urgent cos they said get it done and send back on a 24 hour Fed Ex. They even put an ice pack thingy to freeze when we do. I mean, ER comes to the UK. Im so friggin excited. Im tempted to stab my arm with the said carving and knife and draw it myself - they even sent rubber gloves, a torniquet, phials, needles, sterets. Id even hand deliver it if I knew it meant something. Which it might not. But I think they have found something and they need Marks and my blood to rule something out.
Genetics is a mine field of rabbit warrens, twists and turns..... all these chromosomes, DNA, researches and bloods bring new things everyday. But with our little Ellie there is a little hidden imprint that will surely tell a story one day. Christ knows that 13 years waiting is far too long and it seems, recently, that her nerves are starting to judder a lot. Poor love can't sit still at the best of times but the last few weeks she has been cuddling up and when she does, she jerks, shudders and cannot rest for ONE second. Alderhey Hospital have got her earmarked for sleep observations (she does this juddering in her sleep too) but like everything else, there is a looooooooong waiting list for such a test.
But I can't be pissed off with all that NHS shit when research facilities out there are as FABULOUS as this (and if any of you are feeling ultra generous you can make donations there too).
This is turning out to be a bit of a bloody fantastic day......... Ill be back laters.

Afternoon.
I posted all the above this morning and now its afternoon.
Ive had a delivery for Ellie which I openend because its mother preogative to rifle through their teenagers stuff.
Well, actually I fib. I don't rifle through her stuff but I knew what the delivery was. Belle has treated herself to a Flip video camera because her phone camera is pretty shizzer and the quality is dire.
So I had a play this afternoon and quite surprisngly, Eddy hated the dame thing - you will not this when you watch this (by the way, turn your volume down as there is a moment where I am forced to scream and also - ignore my accent. I hate it HERE
Then when Belle came in from school, we went through the Fed-ex box and I recorded it. Ellies behaviour is so ad-hoc and I love how she sounds on it HERE
And finally, because you always get a little video happy with a new video - I recorded this for her before I went to walk the dog HERE
Expect more flip videos of total and utter randomness soon. Good job Belle cant use it from 9am to 3pm so that lil baby is all mine.

Todays Observations

Im sat in my work room with the poochmeister.
Its 11am (diet coke break) but I'll probably publish this tonight.
Belle went back to school today with a skip in here step but with a blow to my heart.
She really is such a little love.
So much of a love to Mark, at the moment, too.
When he gets in from work she has now started turning the Tv channel from her faves to his - namely 511.....SKY SPORTS. Ugh.
But even so, her considerate nature is so charming that I wonder why the dog can't be just as thoughtful to go and take his gas into another room rather than delivering it here and me being sat here choking in green mist.

So, this mornin'.
Dropped off my girl at school and came back to tackle the dishes from last night.
I know, shame on us.
Its a rare occurrence to be honest but some nights you just want to tuck your legs under your butt on the sofa, with a blanket and remote control and just veg.
Well, Mark did.
I was in here making my fingers and eyes bleed by doing some computer work until 1am and believe me - that was an early night.
So anyway I took one look at the dishes and almost vommed at the carbonara sauce floating in the top of the bowl from last nights suds.
Time for a TV breather, I thought.
Now Im not strictly a morning TV girl.
Jeremey Kyle put paid to that.
He does pick em, doesn't he? And then in fits of spitoon rage you can see his veins popping out of his forehead as he slates some 14 years old boy for sleeping with is cousins best friends dog and bleat on about DNA tests for impending puppy-gate.
Jeremy Kyle does not look attractive when he is riled.
So anyway.
I flicked through all the channels to find something to while away an hour.
Frasier, Will and Grace, BBC Breakfast etc etc.
Then I hit upon Americas Next Top Model.
Im always intrigued by this programme. Its so contrived, over illustrated, bitchy and fake (which is the same as contrived but I needed to spin out the sentence). I think I watch it just to try and a grip of my own life and realise that although sometimes it may be crap - at least it isn't plastic. The would-be models are so nasty to each other (behind backs of course - I mean you NEVER see anyone bitching to someones face, do you?). Well anyway today they were giving 11 models a hair makeover. You know, weaves, streaks, volume, lengths etc. BUT
Oh.
Em.
Gee.
They actually forced one of the cute girls to cut all her long hair off.
And then bleach it blonde.
Jeeez, I was spitting foam at how they cajoled (bullied) her into it.
And thats the magic of Tyra Banks - drop the line, feed the bait, hook em in.
Rather than sit to the end where you get to watch how the judges choose one shot at the end of every programme (to decide which model should go home next thus explaining to each candidate that she didn't look her best, she wasn't giving her all, the angle was wrong - which, in my opinion is the friggin photographers fault not the model) I went to my work room to start sifting my scrapbooky wheat from the chaff.
And boy have I had a good purge today.
If anyone lives in the vicinity of my house (Wigan) and wants to offload this from me - please be my guest before I change my mind. There is, admittedly a mix of old and relatively new. You take the chance but there is some nice stuff in there that even if I had the time to use, I would prob still use. So one box goes to whomever can cone and collect. Mail me as opposed to leaving a comment, if you do not mind. **edited - they is gone!**

After skimming the surface of my supplies I really couldn't find the energy to be creative. Its like some voodoo curse has been slapped upon me and somebody out there has sucked up all my mojo. Well whoever she is, give it back! Ive got a project to do for Crafts Beautiful and at this rate its going to look not Beautiful. Well, of course it wont but at this rate it **might**.
Anyway I sat at my desk, dog still delivering nerve agent in my vicinity when I decided to go surfin'.
Yah huh!
You know when you think "Ill just have 10 minutes" and then 2 hours later you wonder why your backside is wedged to the chair and the circulation to your legs has stopped. That was I. After a quick check that I hadn't induced varicose veins, I started again. The thing is with me, as soon as I start blog rolling I just don't stop. The brightness of the screen makes my retinas burn but I continue regardless and when I get to some blogs that I just cant do without reading, Im also faced with cystitis because the effort of going to the lavvy might a: make me burn some calories (as if Im going to do that) and b: I might miss a juicy post from some unsuspecting blogger of whom is on my faves list, which is as long as a roll of aloe vera extra soft bog roll. **My need for tena ladies just doesn't stop at random outbursts of laughter, I can tell you**
Im sort of glad I did waste 3 precious hours doing absolutely ball-all but surfing as I happened upon a couple of galleries to draw inspiration from. the placement of one embellishment on a layout at Studio Calico set me off with an idea for CB project but all I have to do before I start is try and retrieve my smarting vision, restore my legs to the colour pink instead of a white mass threaded with greeny-blue strained veins and go for that damn pee ive been holding in for hours on end.
Cranberry juice, anyone?

The Great British Twiglet

Like the Marmite debate, with Twiglets you either love them or hate them.
I bloody adore them.
And when they are half price for a whole drum of the little bleeders, it would be rude not to buy them.
They were bought at 8pm from Sainsbury's last night and then oh! How convenient, I had the go-go munchies at 11.30pm.
Go-go munchies are things you need to shove in your gob real quick for an instant hunger pang fix. They needn't be healthy (and lets face it, how many grabbable munchies are - except, of course, fruit - but sod that). They just have to fill a hole.
A great, gargantuan, nuclear sized hole in my case.
One led to another and before you knew it I had bad breath, smelly fingers and sore mouth (They do play havoc with roof of your mouth though - so knobbly and sharp sometimes).
I have to convince myself that the overload of vitamin B12 from the yeast extract itself was going to do great things for my nervous system - for starters, at least. Mmmmmm, like if I load up on these before going on TV again, they should calm me down?
They are baked therefore not fried and have 79% wholegrain in them which means I won't have any trouble "going", if you catch my drift. So from a health perspective they really did me the world of good.
And the bonus is that the dog really doesn't like them.
However, with three quarters of the drum now filtrating through my digestive system (and Im guessing about now its about to make an appearance in my lower intestine, which is the department before the bowel) I have to now think how best to make the drum see through to Friday.
Naturally my instinct tells me to go pulling little branches off the trees and coat them laboriously in Marmite but at £1.24 a drum I might as well go and buy a couple more, just to see me through to D day - which is next Monday.

If you can't get hold of these little monkies in your country, they are bound to sell them in your import aisle alongside other great British exports like Cadbury's Chocolate, Tetley's tea and a calendar of Jordan getting her wabs out.

**edited to add: Have you seen this bargain of the day? The Wii aerobic work out game with free delivery. Little old chubs here has invested........you too - perhaps?
**I also found these (ok link not working when you do click on the link - search for morphy richards then hair care.....(cordless straighteners and tong reduced from £90 to £15)- which, I swear to whoever is in charge of miracles, is such a magnificent offer
**Last but not least if you have any spare dosh and fancy a bargain just because its a bargain - check out this (Nikon Lens - its awesome!)

Fancy a bit of crumpet?

I loves me some crumpet and although I shouldn't be eating such lardy goods, my excuse is that before I re-commence my diet - I ought to eat everything left to tempt me in the cupboard first.
And you can't have a bit of crumpet without good spreadage.
In this case, Lurpak butter.
This is Ellie and I's only rich indulgence. Sadly, Mark has to have Benecol (usually the spread you have to have when you are over 50) because his Cholesterol is shockingly high (9!!!) but then that is down to bad genes as he doesn't eat unhealthy foods nor does he drink.
With this in mind, if I chose to have him assassinated, Id plum to ply him with thousands of eggy goods cos those little buggers are laced with cholesterol.
I don't know why I chose to blog about Crumpet.
I think, for a start, the word sounds funny and for a second - I think we are the only nation in the world that eats them (actually that could be a lie, I just Wiki'd it and it seems our cousins in Oz and NZ eat them too). You can stuff your puny Pikelets (the skinnier, less fat absorbing of the crumpet family) back in the cupboard - cos fat crumpets rule!
The whole point of gorging on these little bready sponges is so that it will soak up as much Lurpak as spongily possible thus lining your throat and your oesophagus with pure fat, which - when you follow it with an ice cold drink will harden and prevent you from getting any infections.
Ingenius, really.
As I stood at my kitchen counter, sucking all the butter out and chewing on a bit of crumpet - now and again I could feel the dog's eyes penetrating my conscience. I have to explain to you that our dog is fed really good food (Dog food makes his breath smell like Grimsby docks) and he is loved and looked after like a family member as opposed to being "just a pet". He is fed best meats and chunky, meaty biscuits of which he savours. But you know, after he has troughed his way through such generous portions of fine food he can approach you with those devillish, sooty eyes which seem to say "Feed me again, you tight arse gits. Im frikkin starving here". No matter how much you try, you just cannot stop a dog from acting like it has never been fed. Even if the dogs food was overflowing from his belly, throat and ears - he would still think he had never sen a crumb of food before. Dogs are greedy little monkies and as much as I love my Eddy, this particular behaviour drives us insane.
Thus was the case when I was devouring my crumpets today.
I could feel a tractor beam of doggy death stare from his eyes to my crumpet and I could read the telekinetic messages from his mind to mine. Basically, my pooch Eddy, told me that if I dint give him a bit of my crumpet, he was going to cock his leg on all my Basic Grey and turn it yellow with a heavy scent of ammonia. How do dogs do that? (the mind game thing, not the cocking your leg thing). I really have to know because if I could do that, Id be minted.
So I tore off two small chunks to feed him. He took a sniff, a lick and a little chew but he didn't loik them and so spat them out. The little bloody sod! So in my dream-like crumpet state, i promptly picked them up and shoved them down my gullet before I could stop to think about if the floor was clean. Can you imagine eating dog chewed food off a dirty floor? Bluergh.
Somebody once claimed that Joan Bakewell was the thinking mans crumpet - its a famous quote. Being termed as a bit of crumpet is quite the thing you know. A bit saucy in fact. And if anyone asks you if you fancy a bit of crumpet these days it can mean one of two things.
A: Do you want a hot, toasted spongey thing - dripping in butter (lurpak of course)
OR
B: Do fancy a bit of "hows your father".
Say no more.
LOL.
Im laughing my head off here.
I don't know whats come over me with all this frank talking on my blog.
I blame the sluttish red bag I got yesterday, its made me feel all minxy.

Gotta dash, Mark is due home from work any minute now. I must go tie my pinny with a pretty little bow, sprinkle some suds on my hands, spray my brow with fake perspiration and make out that I have been slaving in the kitchen all day. As he walks through the door I can then offer myself over the kitchen table. I mean, offer him some crumpet on the kitchen table. Like, the real Warburtons crumpets, not the hows your father stuff. Tut tut tut.

Loves x

**edited to add - erm, Im very grateful to all the poele vesting the interest in my call for a one wizzy wizzster to help make some cards with my new product but what i wasn't expecting was 106 entries (so far). Now I have the awful job of telling 106 minus 1 people I can't use their gorgeous talent. Someone help me!**

Ladies what shopped

**Warning - this post has contents relating to sluts, over-use of brackets, terrorism, size 8 clothes, Next sales, a book and bitch bags. Not for the faint hearted. You might need Tena Ladies or do as I do, not bother and let it all go in WH Smiths**

Belle and I shopped in the lavish surroundings of the Trafford Centre Mall today.
I couldn't bloody breathe, it was heaving.
If anyone wanted to blow up a shopping mall with shoppers at full capacity - today would have been the day.
Not that I think that's funny and nor do I condone such terrorism but whenever I leave the house these days, I'm forced to think such things. Why do you think I love online shopping so much?
Well, anyway, Belle had a mission and I followed her to various shops to keep a watchful eye on her Christmas spends. My only distraction was to go via Selfridges because their sales are generous. Like practically insulting to even charge you for such knock down items at the ridiculous knock down rates. They should at least give stuff away when it comes to 90% off stuff.
So, anyway (again)
Belle and I were reasonably dressed. I didn't put any designer gear on (and I mean Primark when I say that) nor did we dress in our slobbies. But you cant help but feel the sneer of smug little Selfridge's assistants judging you as you walk past their empty booths. You know for a fact they are talking about Belle in her pushchair or the fact that I wasn't fully loaded up with my make up. The looks of disdain when you approach a make-up counter makes my skin crawl and my cheeks redden as some perfectly coiffured 10 year old shop assistant treats you like you are 65.
I wear Mac as a rule.
But every time I go to the Mac counter I don't seem to blend in with young socialites with their Ugg boots, Juicy trackies and make up as thick as the rendering on our dining room wall. I seem to stand out from such a young crowd and you can see the Mac girls hard pushed to come and serve me and when they do, they pick out colours that would only make me look like Ive just had a friggin heart attack.
So today I thought "Sod it" and turned on my heels to hunt down some bargains at other designer departments, again with snobby little runt assistants giving you the evil eye. I mean, strip back the layers of their shop status and they are just as normal as you or I. But give them a name badge with Selfridges across the top and then watch their cumbersome life status run up a few notches of smugness. Why even at £6.00 an hour, they are suddenly shot into super bitchdom shop assistant who couldn't afford to buy anything on their booths even with a discount anyway. Then again, neither can I but you know.....standards and all that.
I was about to vacate the store after bypassing Jimmy Choo's, Prada and Luis Vuitton booths with slobber dripping off my chin(s) when I noticed a boxed gift set reduced. The alarm bells start ringing in your head when a red sales sticker denotes 30% off perfume. Of course this has to pass the sniff test before you contemplate purchasing such oddities and a quick spritz of Sarah Jessica Parker's Covet was atomised into the air. The top notes reminded me of lime cordial (a winner in Belles eyes, not that I sprayed it into her eyes... but you know what I mean) and then the mid tones gave me a dreamy feeling followed by the bottom note which reminded me of chock. Its not ultimately a sweet perfume, once rested, but I gave into the £19.50 sales tag and bought from the nearest kiosk, this being Tricia Mcevoy.
I asked the girl if it was OK to buy from her kiosk as many of the kiosks you may approach would be met by some over made-up assistant who would sniff her nose in the air and then turn her vengeful glare to signify "Don't come near me, you under made up in-bred carrot cruncher from the farm. This kiosk is for Clinique only, not some place to buy your cheap perfume headed by Coty". The girl, Annabelle who deserves sparks, bangs and whistles for her charming delight in that I chose her kiosk for the sale, was just lovely. Whilst at the till my eye wandered over to the little POS trick treaters (you know, the stuff they bung next to the register in order that whilst the assistant takes a purposeful 10 minutes ringing up your goods, they hope you will make the extra purchase out of sheer boredom). I sniffed at Tricia Mcevoy No 6 which was bloody gorgeous but almost fainted when I enquired as to how much they were. A girl at my age ought to know better that if it has no price on it (other than rendering it free, in my book) means that its not going to be cheap. So I started talking to the girl who was taking far too long to ring in one boxed gift set for my liking (I know their twicks) and I asked about Tricia Mcevoy products. Which, as you know, led to almost a full makeover from the said Annabelle. As she slapped on over priced make up on my chops, I noticed her co-worker on the stall was a young lad who wore this weird looking bitch bag across his front and was overly feminine in his gracious little moves to talk to customers who approached him, half magnetised by the bitch bag Im quite sure. It was clear he was delightfully gay. **sigh, Im desperate for a gay boy "friend" so we can talk about how best to sashay across a shop floor without evil eyes and dirt talk behind your back**. Anyway, Annabelle did a bloody cracking job of making me look fabulous so I enquired as to how much an investment package would be from the range of products that I liked. Naturally a second mortgage on the house would do the trick but I actually do love the concept behind Mcevoys level purchase theory. Basically you buy this fab little filofax style make up bag (erm, £42) and you buy plastic pages in which you insert your make up into (erm £10 each). I mean.... BINGO! You can have your make up and your appointments/diary/notes/london underground map all in one little zipped carry case. And because I am a level 1 make up user (ie very light use, no foundation/blushers etc) Id get to have the smaller filo fax where as level three full coverage make up customers get almost a weekender bag to hoard their trowels, chisels and cement mixers as well as the make up itself. Ingenius, Tricia. Im really (and Im not kidding now) going to look into that including the cheeky little No6 I almost bought at the register.
I left Selfridges feeling less worthy after the Tricia Mcevoy experience. Although to be fair, had I of teetered out in a pair of Jimmies, I would have felt a tad better. But still.
Belle wanted to go and spend her WH Smiths voucher and who can resist WH Smiths? Its packed to the rafters with books, stationary and random odds and sods - I could spend hours in there. Belle treated herself to a new DS game and some books plus a magazine whilst I bought this funny little book.
Im a tad pissed off that I found that link for you because I paid £14.99 for it today and at Amazon its £7.49 (cant you see why I still love online shopping - bastards!)
So - this funny little book.........I mean its written funny as in "little sarcastic outbursts that make you leak pee pee in your panties in the shop" kind of funny. You know exactly what I mean, I know I dont suffer alone. I would love to write a book like this (but obv not on this subject because that would be like copying/plagiarism/plain silly/almost a good idea stealing someone elses work). But I just dont have the time and besides - what if nobody laughed? Id deny the women who like to leak pee pee in their panties whilst in the middle of WH Smiths, wouldn't I? Everyone wants to write a book before they die, but I consider my blog to be my book - well, thats my get out clause anyway. And even if I slightly considered writing one it would be far from the SlitLit that I have been accustomed to recently (slitlit as in feeling like you need to slit your wrists cos the book (literature) is so sad). And besides (as she so convincingly is trying to worm her way out of a book deal that is bound to hit my inbox (not being rude) tomorrow morning) my grammar and punctuation is shite. No Editor could ever put up with it even if I bribed her with a share of the profits and a Tricia Mcevoy make over at Selfrdiges.
Once Belle had made a slight dent in her christmas spends, we head back to the car. Via Next of course. Everyone knows that the Next sales is the mecca of all things size 8 (US size 4) and size three shoes. No amount of sifting to the back of the rail is going to surmount to a bargain unless you slice your body in half (length ways) to even consider getting your arm in one of the trouser legs, let alone your leg itself. I love how Next dot the label in red - like a warning sign to everyone you know that you shopped cheap. I often think twice about wearing a Next sale item of clothing when I go to a place that calls for undressing (which in my case is the Gym and in various public places where I feel like streaking) just so that I dont have fingers of disdain pointing at me just because I bought something in the Next sale. This undignified red mark of shame ought to be banished - Hell, I might even create a Facebook group about it.
Anyway, I bought a bag - at full price.
Go me.
No fingers of shame pointing at me.
And its Red.
Ive never owned a Red bag.
I used to think that Red bags were sluttish, I dont know why. I mean, I dont judge others that have Red bags but to me they just seemed like a cheap cop out and less obvious than Black.
It called to me. (as with the other 35 bags on display. The whole shop did infact, even the size 8 blouses that wouldn't even go round my ankle let alone my body).
Even Belle gave it a thumbs up when I showed her the Red, the Black and the Dirty Brown for approval.
It was only £18.
Hardly Radley or Luis Vuitton.
So I bought it.
So now I can now tick off, on my life list, that I own a slut Red bag.

The end.

Wanted - One superfly, super cool papercrafter

I have a product due out very, very soon and in turn need one extra super duper card maker to churn out deliciousness on a card blank. Their cards may appear at a upcoming trade show and on TV (wooooot) - so they must make their cards "non camera shy" with nerves of steel and a style that will make the crafting population cry out for its need!.
I already have one amazing card makery girl to help me out, the one and only head creator Terry Bailey who I love to pieces because not only does she make the only cards that make me go all goosey goosey gander, but she is such a nice girl. And now, in my last hour of need, Im desperate for one extra pair of creative hands to wizz up some wizziness.
If you are she or indeed he... can you email me (my email link is in the side bar) a link to any online gallery that showcases your imaginativeness, your super-duper-est creativeness and your extra special talentful genius so I can have a little peek and see if you are what the product is looking for (yes, my product picks the winner! - my conscience wont allow myself to endure that arduous task!)
Ta very much.
Back to life, back to reality.................

You wanna see something like nothing else?

Im a big big fan/supporter/lover of the kit club (need I mention it it..... Studio Calico) that I DT for.
Its super fly cool with exclusive stamps that you wont see anywhere else.
Its co-ordinated with such military precision and love - a crazy combo you would never see anywhere else in scrapdom, I believe.
They even wrap their kits in beautiful brown paper bags with custom stickers and even a sprinkling of TLC.
I gush about it because I want to/have the inner need to/I love them.
They don't pay or expect me to do this. They are not the kit club that reel in designers so that they will, in turn, join 40 forums to spread the word - I think the kit kind of does that for themselves, you know?
So when I saw this, just 10 minutes ago by Greg (Aprils delish hubby) I kind of freaked out.

CLICK HERE

Shouldn't all kit releases by showcased like this? Well, actually this is Gregs pick of the DT submissions for the Jan kit but I would love him to do this every month to share scrapdom just how gorge their product selections are - to the backing of U2 of course; U2 being legends in my mind, heart and soul.
And, you know, if you and a friend in the UK buy the kit together - they will ship it together. How thoughtful are they of shipping charges?

Pooch needs a walk, taking my iPod which is fully loaded with every U2 classic there is.

**edited to add**
A dear sweet girly freind of mine, the one and only Kerry Lynn Yeary has brought, to Etsy, some kits of her very own. This girl rocks Vintagedom - see how she has flourished over here

A sparkly new year

ooooh its all new and shiny - full of possibilities and hope?
Well, isnt it?
Hmmmmmmmm.
Yuh.
Righty.

So.

Another year rolls by as swift and eventful as the last.
And today I feel pretty normal.
I didn't anticipate the stroke of midnight to hit my life like a bolt of lightening and sprinkle the magic I need/want all over my christmas chubbed body.
I didn't feel the need to rush to my calendar/diary and flip the page over to reveal the start of the new year.
And I have no designs to try and make this blog post profound, prolific nor plastic about my aspirations for 2009 either (or do I wish to recall the highs and lows of 2008 too).
What happened, happened.
And what happens in 2009, will just happen too.
I think that trying to orchestrate your life can be full of the pitfalls that tarnishes the lustre which can ultimately break the soul. Its stands to reason that Im a massive fan of anyone who can be so optimistic and deal with the blows that happens from time to time.
But Im not one of those people.
Which means that yes, I admit, I am a pessimist which also means we (as in me and the whole other bunch of pessimists out there) are NEVER disappointed. To me, its kind of funny! Look ........... -> IM NEVER DISAPPOINTED!!!
So instead of all the wishing and the hoping for 2009 Im just going to plod on in the usual Kirsty Wiseman fashion and see where those winding paths take me/us. Don't get me wrong, Im not sat here under a dark cloud or anything. There are some wonderful opportunities open to us here at our cosy lil 3 bedroom semi. Im pretty excited about them but when you are involved in a very unstable industry/UK Medical System/Financial crisis - you kind of don't get over excited about anything until it actually happens. And being "the pessimist" means that I won't be disappointed about that neither, although sometimes its more a case of being "not suprised" instead. God, Im laughing at myself as I type this. Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Well anyway, we toasted the New Year in with both our parents after a gruelling round of the 1980's edition of Triv. You know how insane it can drive you when you have all the pies/cheeses/triangles and are trying to get to the centre to round the game off? I wanted to kill myself at that point.
It.
Took.
For-friggin-ever.
My will to live had reached critical and with 10 minutes to midnight ticking away, it reminded me to sort the fizz for the gang. And as much as watching the countdown to the new year looks the bloody same every flaming year (ie: watching Big Ben and crowds gather at Westminster to watch the occasion ....oooh, except when it used to be held at Trafalgar Square but that was ages and ages ago) I couldn't help but feel a tinge of emotion as the clanging bells of Big Ben struck its mighty 12 dongs (snigger) to knock the hell out of 2008 and ring in the wonder of 2009.

He was awake one minute (standing in my fave pose with one leg hooked under his proud chest)

and sparko the next. Not sure if he well at the moment. He is a bit lethargic today after kindly upchucking over my bedroom carpet. His breath and fur is a bit stanky

We shall see what 2009 brings and deal with it bit by bit.
And Im sure I'll blog every step of the journey as often as I can.

Gotta go, Ive just got to watch the rest of "As good as it gets". I love this film mainly because I identify with Helen Hunts role as a Momma on a medical nightmare and that Jack Nicholson makes me wet myself laughing.