Get Blogging

I look at this blog every day - so why can't I blog every day huh! Don't know I just can't bring myself to click new post - i mean how lazy is that!!

Anyway life is bizzy as usual, Been sorting holidays and childcare for the summer - Caits last summer of freedom so no paid for childcare...... scary but manageable between my sisters and I and Hubby and Granny and Grandad. So she is going to have a whale of a time camping in the garden, chester zoo, over to see a friend of mine in Cambs for a long weekend then we have hollies booked in norfolk near the beach. She recently commented to my parents that when Mum and dad are dead she is going to the beach!! We thought we better take her before then!!!

I have also been planning her birthday party which will be high tea at our house and I am planning lots of cake stands, fairy cakes and fairly sandwiches and chocolate fingers all on a cinderella theme - best get planning the cake now!!

A little while back I filled a form out to possible go onto Kirsties Hand made home or whatever it is - slightly different this time as she is doing up other peoples rooms - and they phoned to screen me today - eek Hubbster will die - I can't wait to see if i get picked as I can't wait to see his face when I tell him. Could be fun as I think he may have a hat for her to eat following various comments she made about the housing market over the last few years!!!!!!! ROFL. Me I am on a diet!!!!!!!!

On top of that the Garden is looking well ermm still tatty - it is a constant battle but I am getting there - but I think I have 25 tomato plants at the moment - anyone want some!!! I can't bear to throw them away!!

Anyway - off to blurf....

Rachel

Household Adventures

Abound again - so no sooner had we got rid of the bees than the following weekend - NO ELECTRIC no bear in mind electric runs EVERYTHIGN round here as we are back of beyond - so even the LPG heating can't run as no electric pump!!!

It went off at 12 ish yesterday and I was getting a bit concerned after a few hours and then found out we needed a generator to come in to replace the substation as one complete phase had actually gone. So that arrived on the back of a LARGE lorry and is currently sitting inthe road humming along to itself creating a constant buzz in the background.

The freezer is back up to temp and the aga too and the washing machine has been on - off to put another load on before it goes again. I have a feeling it is going to be on and off for a week or so as they sort out the problem.

Roll on our extension and electric independence hopefully....we shall see

Rachel

bUSY bEES

No not me - really real busy bees out in my garden!!!!! Look. They arrived lunch timethe day before and settled in a Holly bush and then these chaps/Chapess came to remove them to a new home.

Rachel

A sort of day off

Cait is at the nursery fr half a day and I was going to catch up on housey stuff ...but it never happened I had work to finish so that got done instead - I will steal it back sometime I am sure.

Flippin cold here today got me cardi on and my hands are cold and stiff - need a cup of tea to type...

Building has started next door but they are not too bad - quite quiet for now. I am looking forward to this pm and a big play with cait and some tidying up and my two sisters coming over later so bit of a girl goss etc.

Gotta pop to Sains to get some extra for tea and maybe a bottle of something we can quoff while yacking.

I may even sort my photos out tonight and sort my picture editor out so I now what I am doing - miracles do happen!!

Gotta get ready to pick the munchkin up now and pop to Sains

Rachel

A weekend away

I thought I would at least try to blog more with words even if I can't sort my act out with the photos!!!

I had to take Thursday pm as leave and had prebooked Friday as leave so it was quite a long weekend in the end. Thursday Cait and I needed a hair cut so I booked that in and the agreement was we would go to the park and have fish and chips for tea - fine by me!!! Hubs was working late as well so no tea cooking for him. The rain held off and it was fun running around the park with a 3 year ld going on 4 - she raided the play toys and ran from item to item having a ball and spending as long as she liked. She then decided to go and see the ducks which are a bit of a wlak away - she wanted to feed them - I said we had no bread, so she said "That's OK we will just have to watch them swim won't we!" made me laugh! So we played hide and seek all the way to the river then sat and watched the ducks for 10 minutes sitting on a bench chatting. She had a run around an old pitch and putt golf course on the way back to the car and then we played pooh sticks and went into St John's Museum where she showed me round as she has been many times on rainy days with her childminder so knows the ropes - at one point as I looked like i might go upstairs she said to me "Oh you don't want to go up there it's full of soldiers" - Military history!! Then we had to play dress up in the play room and go and see the school class room they have set up in victorian style..

Alarmingly they have toys and clothes from different eras and some of the toys I might have had as a child - couldn't possibly comment!!

Friday she had photo day at Nursery then we headed up to my parents in North Wales for a Family weekend - which was nice as her cousin was over from Germany and one Aunt had just come back from NZ and Aus after 6 months over there. She had a complete ball and I got a couple of hours of crafty shopping in - well under the auspices of shopping for curtain fabrics etc for my office/craft rooma and the lounge downstairs. She got to run rampant at granny and grandads and was vry put out she wasn't staying on her own and Mummy and Daddy going back home for a week without her!!

I made a scrapbook for someone's birthday which was interesting - 24 6x6 pages and it took me 2 hours - speed scrapper or what. We added some of the photos from the weekend for Cait's Cousin's Mummy.

We ate at the Miner's Arms at Maeshafn - lovely food and good service. All cooked from fresh and a proper crust on the steak and ale pie no puff pastry in sight! I used to go up there when i was about 22 as it was the only local place to serve Theakston's Old Peculiar! Brings back memories. Trouble was we always had to drive as too far for walking and that meant a limit on intake! Not far from there was the "house that got away" as well. I don't recall exactly how much is was - only less than £20K, needed compelte refurb but easily worth 1/4 to 1/2 a mil these days - sigh if only - still hey ho! As I said the other day if I had bought it life may have taken a different twist and I wouldn't be where I am today etc.

The drive home was long and boring but Cait and I had a scream playing I spy and it kept her amused for ages and she was really getting the hang of it towards the end.

Rachel

Accusing Looks

I am getting from this blog everytime I drop in for some blurfing. I am sooooooo busy with lots of things at the moment withspring and gardens and business and stamping and birthdays and visitors so maybe I can be forgiven but then again..... every time I log in the last post looks at me and tells me off!!

We are slowly slowly trying to get things done around the hosue so we had some trees felled, some pollarded some cut bag and basically about £600 worth of tree work in the garden - I have photies and will upload at some point. The difference it has made is huge. Really opened it out and brought alot of light in. i now need to get busy with beds and weeding and planting and taming of the wilderness that is the bottom of the garden.

We have dug and filled two raised beds near the house - which my sister has nicnamed the graves!! and are due another two doen the bottom of the garden as well when Hubby pulls his finger out. We have 5 tubs of potatoes growing furiously and I have planted out salady stuff, carrots, beets, peas and beans, onions and shallots. I have sunflowers, corn, tomatoes and a few other herby things growing in the green house ready for planting out as well. i have also filled all the pots with flowers ready for a glorious summer (here's hoping) and am managing to keep up with the wtering routines.

The chicckers are keeping me busy with egg production - gotta bake bake bake to keep up with them - currently we have 20 eggs in the kitchen and I am getting a bit fed up of them - lol. Have promised some baking for a weekend away at my parents coming up soon. Mums Bday cake - another one - maybe coffee haven't done one of thos ein a while and also take some eggs for the sibs to take home with them. we seem to have finally pretty much contained them intheir corner of the garden which is currently very bald as they scoffed all the grass. We keep chucking them dandelions and grass as they eat it at a rate of knots. One of them is still getting out occasionally - flying - we have clipped her wings but she is still managing it - so i am going all country living and going to pink some bunting to go uplater today and see if that flapping around puts her off hopping over the fencing.

I have also been doing a fair bit of sorting this weekend and put a bagful together of baby things for someone about to pop and put another load into a car boot pile - hoping to do one early June when I have a free Sat. Am enjoying popping to a local one on sat mornings at the moment. would like to find one for Sun - I like small and local rather than big and trady.

Am either visiting or got visitors for the next few weekends so hoping to keep up with things in the week and have weekends free but it minimises pooties time and crafties time - so maybe not so much from me!! (Ha ha could it get any less)

Rachel

Catching Up with me

Well life has been manic and things and time seem to fly by. I have one sister in Aus and another in China at the moment although both due back int he next month or so so some catching up to do.

I am being forced to sit still at the moment and not do too much. I have labrinthitus - i.e. inner ear infection with side effect of travel sickness!!! Every time I move around I feel ill so frankly I am not moving!!! Very frustrating and I am hoping it gets lost soon as I don't fancy this hanging around for any length of time! So have caught up on news and blog hopping and currently enjoying 10 minutes peace from Easter visitors who are at church or shopping (Dad is shopping with Cait whilst Mum and Mum-in-law are at Church) oh dear they are wearing me out! And the noise is constant - I keep having to disappear and go to bed as my head is spinning!!

Anyway have stuffed some cakes in the oven for when they get back and now sitting down regaining equilibrium aftr the exertion!

My Uncle is also very very poorly on life support in hospital at the moment as well so Mum is quite worried about him - its her sister's hubby rather than her brother - but they were all close when younger etc. He isn't too old but had a huge gall stone which they delayed operating on due to finding MRSA in swabs, but then it went critical and they messed up the surgery really and he has ended up with peritonitus so I am thinking about him alot. Mum is very religious but I am more open to things and I had a little think about him earlier and it was like he was talking in my head and we had a chat so I think I will be happy with whatever outcome. I told him if he needs to go he needs to do that with a clear consience and not worry overly about those left behind as life does go on and if he is in great pain and ready he should go. There will be alot of sadness if he does. He will be the first of my Mums siblings/sibling partners to go and I think that will be a sad time for her. Dad has lost two brothers already - both far too young (40 and 53). A time to reflect and remember really.

J is working this weekend for the extra money. We lost alot of his overtime money when he broke his ankle last year so he is trying to find some more!! He is off to Germany next week as well.

Things with the house are slowly moving frward as we can afford to get things done - so we had lots of tree work done earlier this week and a loft hatch and ladder put in ready to start insulation and boarding for storage up there.

I have sorted some crafty things for sale so will list them here shortly - all none SU of course!!! But anything SU will be popped on the other blog.

Rachel

Oooh promarkers

I had a play with a friends set a while ago and fancied some of these - i have about 8 at the moment which is clearly NOT ENOUGH but Steph has a little giveaway -so fingers crossed!!


http://stephmuchadoaboutnothing.blogspot.com/2009/03/dont-desert-me-while-im-away-blog-candy.html

Rachel

Paper Share Stamp Set winners

For the latest share are Andrea and Calvin - Suprise SAB sets are on their way over to you!!

Rachel

Snowing

Yayyyy - although it is chilly!! We do need to sort the insulation here that is for sure - upstairs gets v cold and J just told me we don't have snow on our roof - whoops!!! Still we have to slowly do these jobs don't we.

Here is a piccie from my Office (read spare room window) and you should just be able to see the chooks having a wonder around too.

Its not a great piccie and no editing etc as not on the usual PC and it was from my phone.

Rachel

News Round Up!!

Couldn't think of anything exciting to call it - sorry!!

Well the eggs are every other day at the moment - although its so wet and miz here I can't say I blame Mrs Chicken for that one much. Part of me wants more of them to lay (one out of 4 and every other day!) but the other part of me says - not sure I like omlettes!! Lol

Everything is so wet here at the moemnt - I think we will have to permanently site the chickabobs and lay a path as it is madness sliding around in the muddiness that is our garden at the moment.

We need more logs as well so they are ordered - it has been so cold without the fire even with central heating at the moment. So they will arrive this afternoon so had to sort the log store out this morning and fill up baskets and boxes to get the dry ones that are left out.

We have been planning veggie planting for the garden inside - so writing long lists and I have bought some onion sets and garlic for now - but it is really too wet to be planting as everything will just rot. We will be raising beds so hopefully that will help with drainage a bit.

SU is going well and have been busy with party bookings so just now got to hold the parties and get the orders in :-) Come on girls - don't forget the SAB Offer - Spend £45 and get a free stamp set!!! Still plenty of time yet on this one so start your wish lists.

Did my tax return for last year which was completely painless despite putting it off so long - I owe them 20p so must get that paid today - lol. Although I have promised myself to be more organised for the next one as it is a full years worth and also I have done alot more business!!!

Work is busy busy so sneaking a coffee breakfor this but I have had alot of overnights and long days recently for training and big meetings - it all takes its toll - Cait is clingy, John is grumpy, I am tired and the house is a tip!!!

I have a days leave Friday and I am off for a SU Jolly with a few other demos and I have a couple of hours in the morning so no doubt will be doing fly lady running around and keeping things at least tidy!! Thank God for cleaners is what I say - although she comes Thursday so I might have to tidy Thur morning so she has space to clean......and as for the washing pile - heck you could lose a small child in it if you weren't careful!!!

S'all for now - work is calling

Rachel

Eggy

Yes we have an Egg - just the one. Bloomin expensive egg it is too.....

Hopefully the next few days will bring a glut of eggs.....

Rachel

Car

Hmmm Yes this is the new car!! Picked it up this afternoon!! Hoping to go up to my parents this weekend to give it a run as J is at footie.

Rachel

Find me

Here

Come on over and join the fun :-)

Rachel

Some Changes around here

I suspect everyone does this at this time of year - sits back takes stock and thinks about how they can do things differently, find that elusive 25th hour in each day and so on. So I have indeed being doing just that. I have resigned from the DCM Team with much sorrow as they are lovely girls and I longed to be a member for a while before I was asked. It is one of few where signing over your soul to a specific brand or make of materials is NOT necessary and is truly independent despite occasional sponsorships. Long may it continue!! I will not entirely disappear but for now there is a life out here in the physical world that needs more attention and this is one of the casualties - for now....

Another will be this blog. I am taking it off line for a while till life calms down - at work I envisage another round of job changes and possible redundancies and job shifting as well as a shed load of work requiring my attention and this is just too distracting and it has been one of the things slipping. I am not saying not ever ever ever and I will still haunt blog land - but really who am I kidding I can read all these blogs every day of the week, work full time, be mum, wife and daughter to a range of people, own chickens (oh yes new chickens chez us as well) , large garden with veggie bits, communte regularly to London, take on a new role, reinvent myself, lose weight, get fit and blog - I mean why did I ever have the time..... I am sure you knwo where I am coming from - so au revoir mes amis....for now.

I will maintain my SU blog but it will be SU and Crafty items which have been sadly missing for some time and hopefully with merely the one blog it will be more closely tended.

Rachelxxx

Interuption to Service

Happened without thinking about it really - no brain space to do more than think about blogging, way too much else going on as usual. But I have had a relatively quiet holiday so have caught up on some R&R and was spared the Christmas Cook Out as Hubby did all that and the shopping and thinking which was actually fabulous - in fact he has mainly cooked this holiday from start to finish for which I am grateful - it is my one BIG bug bear of ordinary life cooking - I can't get my head around spending alot of time on it and as a result its never very inspiring for me. I certainly don't feel creative with it that's for sure.

I will be trying to come up with some more recipes for the new year rather than our bog standard ones which we just seem to reiterate the whole time. Having an Aga now "Stew" features way too much for my liking but hubby likes it!

I managed to make around 350 Christmas cards which is quite an achievement but although I managed to make write and send the lot (with bank loan I hasten to add even with second class) I never photoed them so nothing to show really. Crafting this last month has been of necessity - even in this down time I have got some bits out to make some upcoming birthday cards but nothing much is being shuffled around on that front, not even with the new stuff I ordered before Christmas.

Work has been shall we say "interesting" I haven't been doing my normal run of the mill stuff but some other stuff and am now fully Programme Managed and trying to implement it - but finding myself feeling just generally vulnerable about the whole thing - I just think its a bit of a dogs dinner and a little too organic in its development for me - I am such a control freak! The thoery bit is fine - its the implementation within the organisation I am struggling with a bit - although it is fair to say there are people struggling more that me!!! Hence the difficulties - rofl.

I think I shall be reprioritising things in early Jan to try to fight my way out of the daily trudge to lose some weight and get more exercise, difficult with the daily running of Cait to CM, Nursery and frequent runs to London which take up time. Oh on top of a small home business of course!

Goodness knows why I am so awake at this hour at the moment - I think I will pay for it later but quite enjoy this quiet time to myself without someone going "Rachel" "Mummy" or frnakly just Oy! Maybe that should be part of my life reshedule - early mornings and early nights.....watch this space.

Rachelxx

Just as busy as a Busy Busy Bee..

My tune never seems to change does it!!! Well after coming back from NEC I went on a three day training course and was couped up nicely festering my poor back which then went out so I had a week of nursing that back t health then caught this nasty bug going around where you cough and hack for three weeks - every time you think its on the way out it thumps you right back down to earth - I had a few days off work with it and went back too soon really so wore myself out again!!! Have done nothing much with SU and even had to cancel tonights class - not enough interest and relly not enough time!!! Ah well - no more Dec classes for me till I have a stronger class base - hey ho.So I am feeling very crinkly round the edges - got little stamping or crafting done - just about got a few Christmas pressies, made the cards need to write and send now - may take them with me when I go away so I have something to do and get a job done whilst I am in London for a few days with work. I am also hoping for a little shopping wonder Wed evening - I am staying not far from Oxford Street so it will be nice to get some atmosphere!!

We will be getting Chickens this year and M&D are buying us some, They are getting fire irons from us as they have a new log fire going in - Mum can't wait!!! I think everyone else is pretty much getting money this year apart from Oisin and Cait who are the same age so easy to go out and buy for really. Although can't decide what to get Cait from us at the moment. Have lots of bits and bobs for her just no main pressie. Looked at a Leap Frog pootie and a bike - although she is getting a scooter and a Piano from Granny so not sure.

Well C is fast asleep so off to take a crafting opportunity to make some Christmas Gifts and sort my stuff for a few days away with work. More busy busy!!

Rachel

oooh ouch

Well Last Sunday I spent ONE day at the NEC on the SU stand - and oh my my back is still stiff!!!! But what a fabulous day I met lots of people - old new and very old friends who I had lost touch with - so basically just fabby and a great show - everyone loving SU which is always good cos I THINK IT IS FAB!!!

I then spent three days holed up in a room with work colleagues getting all MSP'd up and if you know what that means I feel sorry for you!! I have decided it isn't really something I am desperate to do - I want to do the change management side so now I know at least - but I passed with the usual flying colours so job done. We had a bit of a laugh and met and got to know some more people quite well. Back to work out what the heck to do with it now!!

I unfortunately have to go to London AGAIN tomorrow but hopefully it will move me along with some of the programme stuff and get things on the straight and narra!! Lol.

Crafting wise - loads went on the last few weeks and nothing this - no time to do anything. A customer order is in so I ooed and arhhhed over that - am still thinking about whether to put one in myself with it being so near christmas - not sure there is anything I need desperately enough but we will see how long that lasts.

The offer at the moment is great with an extra set for the hostess on top of the usual one and the free spend in the catalogue! So tempting!

I have another class early December so need to get on an advertise that and fill it up, which may lead to a couple more orders.

Don't forget I am looking for people for my Stampers 10 to start in Jan if you are interested, check out the "other" blog

I am behind with DCM too - have a piccie for last weeks haven't even thought about this weeks yet....see what I get up to tonight as John is away to London for a day or so and a footie match hopefully.

Busy day again tomorrow so thought I would just drop you all a line and let you know I am here in mind if not body - lol

Rachel

Run Rachel Run

What a busy bee I am - I have had a big SU party tonight which was a great one - its lovely to see people get so enthusiastic about the product!!! I just love it all and have a list as long as my arm!

So we did some Dazzling Diamonds with heat and stick and I hadn't realised it almost becomes iridescent when heated - great stuff and gogeousness for a card - will try and take a photo in daylight tomorrow.

In the mean Time - Jozza's sparkle and bling dare - with Dotty Images who are sponsoring this weeks dare!! GO and have a go - there is Blog Candy to give away as well.


I have a class to prepare for on Monday and a Christmas Fair on Thursday and then next Sunday I will be on the SU stand at the NEC so if you come along come and say Hello!!

Off to make some samples for the sample board now.......
Rachel

Happy Halloween!!!!!!1

Not that we really celebrate it - but we will have a little chicken pox monster to scare the locals with!!!

The Dare this week was from me and I thought we would open it beyond cards - if you wanted. SO I made some scary coffee stirrers!!!!!!!! Lol Cait gave me the spider and green monstor back as they were apparently "too Scarey Mummy" which made me laugh anyway!!


Rachel

Whooooooooooooosh

Is the sound as life flashes past these days - I seem to blink and another three weeks have gone! I am busy with work and Stampin' Up! So blogging is the thing that seems to take a back seat!

We have lots of decorating to do and gardening as we are settling in and it becomes clear what we want to do and where. We are planning on setting up some growing areas in the garden for vegetables and also some willow for coppicing as we have a log burner and enough space for half a dozen or so trees which could supply plenty for us in the long term although not enough to not need further supplies from elsewhere if it is particularly cold.

We have also made decisions about the extension and alternative power so just working out ways to pay for it all and have basic painting to do inside in the meanwhile. Aso been having a wardrobe and junk clear out so its all spring clean like for Autumn !!

Talking of Autumn I managed a DCM card - the first for a while!!

A Stamper's Ten

More details on my Stampin' Up! blog

here

A genuine opportunity to earn free product from one of the best quality Stamp Companies out there!!

Rachel

Look what came to my house today

I had vaguely read about these somewhere - the Tesco Kath Kidston Charity recycled Bags - but ooooh they are nice - so I had to invest a whole £7 in the only two they had :-)

Rachel

For Sale

I have two sizzlet Alphabets for sale - both in great condition in original storage boxes. £25 each to include postage. The two are Rat-a-tat and Nouveau. Contact me to reserve - paypal accepted.

Rachel

Fridays Dare - delayed slightly - lol

Well this weeks dare was girls for Boys - or all mixed up - so I went with cupcakes, frills and ribbons in boyish colours - I do hate making boy cards - I think it is more as they just don't appreciate them - well not for more than a few seconds anyway. All images are Stampin' Up! as usual!

I have a few family boy birthdays coming up so that will go in the birthday pile. I need to catch up on birthdays so I feel a mailing coming on later today.


Last night I went to a SU do in High Wycombe so a bit of a drive but not to bad - just fell onto the M40 and jumped off it again an hour and 20 later so no getting lost etc.

There is more on my SU blog

Rachel

I can't

Let it get to a whole month without posting - lol. Just so busy and something shad to drop for the time being so I am afraid blogging was one of them. I can't even say any of it is interesting it is just frantic at work and home and no space for me - I squeeze crafting in as that is the last thing to go but a few other things have gone by the way side.

The house is still also keeping me busy with all the little odd jobs and also some gardening of the big variety rather than just weeding - so hedge chopping lawn mowing and bed clearing!!! But we still love it - just wish the rain would let up for five minutes to get out there and not feel like we are walking round a bog.

Hubby is now on his last week in plaster hopefully - he goes back to them monday to suss out if they take him out of plaster and start the rehab road. He is hoping to be back at work in 2 to 3 weeks, I am not so sure given there is some considerable driving involved in there usually. We shall see next week. This has also curtailed any going out stuff for me as he can't babysit Cait as she is being a little monkey about going to sleep at the moment and is up and down like a yoyo and he couldn't cope with that really.

Stampin' Up! is also keeping me out of trouble - they have a retiring list out with reduced prices and also a new catty next month and there is a demo training evening on 19th Sept so hoping to go to that one and have made some 50 plus swaps for it so I better get there!!! Lol. Quite looking forward to it - luckily I am on leave next week for Caits first proper week at nursery so get to go down around 3.30 and be there well in time for some grub and chit chat with other Demos and sharing stories no doubt as well!

Rachel

Jinx

Well I well and truly jinxed things with my last post - Hubby decided to do an irish jig at the top of the stairs and fell down breaking an ankle so as you can imagine I have been super woman the last two weeks to his manly "I'm ill" thing.

Am shattered to be honest but have leave this week anyway so am just making the most of it to set things up for a BBQ this weekend and spend some time with Cait. Work is insane too so I am not looking forward to next week at the moment but that will sort itself out eventually.

So till I have more time and inclination for thoughtful musings...

Rachel

Back in the Swing of Things

Well trying to be anyway - so you guys better keep ontop of me or I might fall again. It has taken me ages to get back into regular cardmaking - I find it frustrating that I don't have a real space in the new house and have to work in the lounge or dining area and can't leave things out generally. We are working on some options but that involves mre upheavals and lots of dosh so it may have to wait its turn.

We are still also a bit disorganised as we need to do decorating and refurnishing of some rooms so are making do. Also my sister is with us and whilst that is helpful with Cait it is more temporary stuff and people if you know what I mean.

Anyway - SPRINKLES was the theme for DCM and it just had to be a cake (will upload to my blog shortly but to see it pop along to DCM) from the Big Bold Birthday set which co-oincidently is part of Monica's kit for the UStamp classes - see my other blog for details on my offer - OPEN to all not just UStampers.

All images copyright Stampin' Up!

Cait is really growing up and having a ball with Aunties galore to play with at the moment and going on holidays with Granny and Gramps - she is lovin it and has come on so much with her language its been great. She should be back tonight so all hell will let loose again!

Gah!!

Life is just completely manic at the moment - no stopping and our spare room is like a merry go round with all the washing in between so nothing much is getting done.

John's Mum came to stop for a night before flying to Ireland - John drove down on Saturday and back Sunday for her to be woken 5.30 the Monday with her panicking as she had forgotten her passport!!! SO after much persuasion she went and had a cup of tea rather than going to stand on Hatton Station for 3 hours waiting fo rhte first train to London!!!! I was in London and J decided to drive down and get said pass port - so off we go driving. It took us 5 hours - i missed my meeting and liturally walked in the office and back out again which was annoying and J bless him drove a further 1hr or so to the house picked the passport up turned around and drove home - I actually beat him home on the train by about 10 minutes!!! So all in all a wasteful day and exceedingly frustrating in to boot.

We also now have a new PC so we are in the process of uploading email, files and favourites and dealing with the joys of Vista etc - so bear with us - I am really hoping normal service resumes soon.

M&D came Wednesday and left Sun as they had a wedding Sat and also looked after Cait for me Thur as my sister had gone off to York for a holiday and a ball - back to be bridesmaid on the Sat. Love seeing them, love having them here but glad when we get the house back to ourselves and things are where I left them five minutes ago!!! Just catching up with washing again though even that is pretty much all Mum did when she was here!! I am not sure where it all comes from!

Childminder is off for some surgery soon so got two weeks of Cait around - which will be a bit hair pulling when i am trying to work - Sis will look after her but its hard when everyone is int he house together - I get a bit claustrophobic about it all.

Have been also doing bits and bobs ont he garden and around teh house so it is very slow but things are being achieved - we just have to be patient - waiting on the architect coming back to us about possibilities with an extension.

Crafting - oh there has been a bit - plenty of invites for our summer BBQ and double birthday celebrations and a couple of SU things but could do with a few more if you are interested! I have also done some albums of scrap pages - yes whole albums - but all without pictures - find that much easier!!! How wierd is that - I think it is more like card making which makes it easier - not sure!

Camera wire was working but now we are on a new PC and got to resort out all the software and so on so it all takes time - got a lawn mower that needs fixing first!!!

Rachel

Been away

for a couple of days training about Onions apparently (very strange) and off today to the royal show for errr probably more onions - lol

Back shortly and will see if I can get the lead on the camera to work :-)

Rachel

All sorts

Not licorice!!!

So many things going on at the moment everything just gets jiggled around on the list and nothing seems to drop off!

Cait is still not sleeping right so I end up being disturbed in the night and booted out so she has room with Daddy - I think in part as she misses him as he is working evenings at the moment so she doesn't see alot of him.

Work is still busy and July is horrendous so I am going ot have to seriously think about the various commitments I have.

My camera lead is not working - at least not reliably and I haven't had time to locate another one yet which is rather annoying as despite everything I have had a bit of time for card making and stamping and have photogrphed it just struggling to get it onto our slowly dying PC. Oh yes - did I not tell you that bit - we think we have mortal injuries so new hard disk is waiting although I have a feeling its the graphics card.........

Hey ho the sun is shining tho - if only for a while - speak soon

Rachel