Word verification ...

.... one, spammers Nil!  I decided to take word verification off yesterday as I'd had no spam at all, in any way, shape or form, since putting it on.  Today?  It starts coming back in and within a 5 minute period I'd got 3 spam messages in my inbox trying to post in my comments.  I know Blogger's spam filter stops them before they get to the comments but it really is a pain having them fill my inbox.  Think that the word verification will stay, at least until I start blogging in earnest again. :0(

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Word verification ...

... I hate it.  It puts me off of commenting on other blogs and I've refused to use it myself - until now.  I've put it on this blog.  I don't get many comments so it won't affect many people, if any, at the moment but I've been getting so many 'spam' comments (mainly targetted at the same blog post) that I've had to do something.  These comments haven't actually made their way into the comments as they've been caught by Bloggers spam filter, which is very good.  Until this month that filter has been enough but these past 2 to 3 weeks my email inbox has been inundated with comment notifications - and Blogger had isolated over 300 in just over a week.   I then found my email spam folder had over 500 of the blooming things in it so I had to do something.  Initially I decided to moderate all comments on posts over 7 days old.  That still meant that my inbox was being bombarded though so I've made the decision, albeit temporary, hopefully, to use word verification. I'm hoping the spammers will understand that they are not going to win and give up.  Because of the way they 'spam' word verification should stop the comments coming through any which way.  Since I've put it on I've had no spam getting through :0)  Here's hoping it continues not to get through and here's hoping I shall be able to take it off again if when I start blogging properly again ...

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I'm still around!

... not that you'd believe it with nearly 6 months of not one post :0(  What's been happening?  Something and nothing but what's happened mainly is that blogging mojo has gone totally awol.  There's certainly not been much crafting either.

June saw the now annual Crafter's House Party and didn't do much crafting there.  A lot of chillaxing and laughing but crafting?  Not so's you'd notice.  Camera was reasonably busy but had a 'new' one (Christmas present not used) to try out.  Trouble was, nobody was keen on me 'practising' so there were a fair amount of really random photos taken and nothing much specific.  Fewer attendees this year but it was the best so far.  Don't think we stopped laughing from the time we arrived until we left.

Once back home I decided to make a start on a photo book of all the House Parties since the inaugural one.  Next year's (yep, it's already booked) will be the 5th one so thought it would be good to have a photo book of the 5 years.  3 years are complete, this year's to finish and hope that there's space for next :0)

Weekend of the House Party, Paul had his elbow replacement.

Earlier in the year I made a start on redesign of the study, then got ill, had a holiday and the House Party.  Managed to pick it up again after the House Party and new furniture/storage was ordered.  What a palaver that turned out to be!  Ikea.  12 items ordered but couldn't be delivered for a week. Delivered early evening, items checked .... 9 of the 12 were damaged!  Next day spent on phone to get items redelivered and damaged items collected.  Another week's wait.  This time all items arrived undamaged then it was getting refunds for compensation on delivery blah, blah, blah.  Eventually got all that sorted out and nearly a month after items ordered they were able to be put together and in place.  Started finding homes for 'things' and then it all ground to a halt again.

Paul's elbow seemed to be getting worse, rather than better and he was in excruciating pain from the outset.  He lives with pain permanently but I've never seen him in tears from it before.  It was becoming quite common.  Consultant wanted him to wait a while to see if it settled.  It didn't and an x-ray showed the joint had moved, hence the pain.  It was decided he needed a different joint - longer stem - and have it cemented in.  This one hadn't been.  From that visit he left with a date for an 'urgent' op, just 3 weeks later ... except it wasn't!  Part wasn't in stock and the op was delayed a week.  He's now 2 weeks on from the replacement, replacement op and the difference is incredible.  Don't think the first op worked at all by what's happening now.  Trouble with all this has been that I've had to push him everywhere as initially he wasn't allowed to use the arm after the first op, then he couldn't because of the pain and now he can't yet, following the 2nd op.  I've been pushing him around indoors and doing all that needs doing since June ... all by myself!

Anyway, all this decided us that our bathroom needed updating.  21 years ago we had the bathroom done, extended, walls knocked down to bring bathroom and loo into one room.  Nothing done since then.  It was no longer suitable for purpose and we decided that a wet room was what we now needed so, quotes obtained and work has started.  Trouble is it's taking longer than the original conversion we had done 21 years ago!  We were told it would take 2 to 3 weeks.  We are now entering the 5th week and the tiling is just about finished (with a couple of problems to sort) then it's the finishing and sealing of them before things can be put in place.  To say we'll be glad to see it finished is an understatement.

Anyway, way back earlier this year, I asked our doc about pulmonary rehab classes to try to get my lungs working better, or at least, to be able to use them to the best of their ability.  Referred to a consultant at hospital and he agreed I'd be suitable so put me forward.  I started the rehab just over a week a go.  Twice a week for 8 weeks.  I've done 3 sessions and the last one was the hardest.  Seems my muscles are protesting - lol!  Physio says it's 'cos they're waking up.  Don't know about them waking up but with all that's going on and this all I want to do is sleep!

Our eldest grandchild got married at the beginning of September so he's now, not only made us great-grandparents, he's given us a granddaughter-in-law and a step-great-grandson.  More expense at Christmas - roflmao!

On a downside we unexpectedly lost one of our very good, long standing friends in April.  He was a real joker and it could only have been him that chose April 1st to leave us.  We can imagine him sitting laughing at us all.  It will certainly be a date we won't forget.  We think of him often ... he was just that sort of guy!

There have been a few crafty moments amongst all this - a weekend away on a Create and Craft weekend (the last morning of which was the day our friend died), days with friends but nothing much has been made and .... another jaunt has been booked with Jackie.  Staying closer to home this time and we're visiting Italy - Sorrento on the Bay of Naples :0)  Something to look forward to next April but it could well be the last jaunt we have although we have mooted a long weekend in Rome at some point.  We'll have to see.  So many places, so little time but mostly, so little money!  I was hoping for a cruise on the Oceana at some point.  My eldest nephew is a dancer on board but that's not to be - well, not while he's on it anyway.  He's planning on making this his last season but there may be other plans on the cards when Paul is back up and running again.  He's a lot of time to make up and I don't feel we celebrated our Silver wedding properly 2 years ago because of his problems

So there's a potted history of the past few months.  I'm bound to have missed something along the way.  Guess the next job should be to go through the photos and put them on record and they could well remind me of what I've missed out.  And the redesign of the study?  Full stop and door shut tight.  Will have to be picked up when the dust has settled from the bathroom makeover :0)

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A few ...

... sights and sounds ....

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No excuse ...

... just not blogged, mind you have been busy-ish.  Been on another holibobs since last posted.  Mexico!

What a wonderful place it is too.  The history that oozes from the place is amazing!  Had a few problems with mobility in Mexico City - or rather, breathing, which made it difficult to move around.  I knew it was at altitude and knew I might find it more difficult than at sea level but it was harder than expected.  Came home and then discovered that I hadn't fully recovered from that virus I had early February (last post) for which I'd had the 2 courses of antibiotics and steroids.  I ended up on a 3rd course and having a chest x-ray.  Fortunately that didn't show anything different to what was already known but the fact I was still carrying a bit of the bug while away certainly wouldn't have helped me in Mexico City.  Not only was it at altitude, there was a fair amount of pollution as well.  Not obvious until you were at top of hotel and saw the fug at low level - or until you drove back into the city from outside and saw it from a distance.  Having said all that - I wouldn't have missed it for the world.  Would I go back?  Like yesterday I would!  Loved the place and would now like to see more of the country and/or revisit the sites we saw before but in my own time and at my own pace.  Beautiful country and beautiful people in the main - including the different nationalities we met on the tour - American, other Brits, Argentinians, Spanish and so on.

Cancun?  Nice and the hotel was luxurious but it could have been anywhere in the world that had sun, sea and sand.  Nothing to suggest it was even Mexico, especially as the main accent heard was American.

Mérida?  Our middle stay of the holiday.  Lovely city and easy to get around.  Central to travel out from as well.  Excellent!

Photos - all checked, edited and book is in process of being printed .....

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Better late ...

... than never?  4+ months after we're back and I've got the photo book done covering our Cypriot holiday.  OK, I know the wedding album was done before Christmas but it's taken a while to edit the actual holiday photos, select from the many, many I took and then to squeeze those I wanted into the maximum number of pages.  Some of the ones I'd have liked in didn't make it in .... just ran out of space :0(  Anyways, it's now ordered and hopefully will be on it's way soon.  Just in time for me and Jackie to be taking off on our Mexican adventure.  There's still stories to tell but they'll have to wait.  

I've been quite poorly the past few weeks.  I got a bog standard, boring old cold but boy, the after effects have been bad.  Ended up having 2 courses of antibiotics and a short course of steroids.  Now it seems I'm suffering withdrawal symptoms from those steroids.  Hoping the next few days will see the end of them.  I've never had such weird feelings as I'm having now.  I had a few sleepless nights when I first started taking them but that's OK now but certainly not liking the withdrawal.  Still, first time I've ever taken steroids so had no idea how I'd react, while taking them or after.  Think I now know that I can't just stop taking them, even on a short course.  Lesson learnt and filed :0)

Catch up big time is due - but then there's a good 4 month's worth to go through ... Cypriot holiday, meets, Christmas ...

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It's been a while ...

... coming but here's some pics from the holiday in Cyprus back in September/October.  The reason for the holiday in the first place.  Our eldest son's wedding.  The rest of the photos are still being worked on :0)

I produced this book using a selection of photos taken by me and the professional photographer.  I wanted it to tell the story of the day and I have to say I used quite a few of the professional photographs that the photographer didn't like enough to put in their preview album.  A disc of all the professional photos taken that day was purchased so we got all taken, including the ones the photographer himself didn't like.  I'm so glad, as there were some photographs I preferred to those he'd selected.  Just shows how subjective any art form is and, without that disc there would have been pics we'd never have seen.  I also searched Google for the words of the Cypriot marriage vows and I reproduced them within the book.

I've been unwell for the past week and finding it really hard to do anything.  I feel OK in myself now but the old lungs are not really performing for me so, although the mind is willing the body, unfortunately, isn't.   I've  missed an evening out and also 'missed' my 61st birthday on Monday as I wasn't at all well that day so spent most of it wrapped up in a blanket and sleeping!  The 2 little grand-daughter's had their 6th and 10th birthdays last week and we've had another 'first'.  Dad would have been 90 on Sunday, the same day as Emma's 10th birthday.  Such a shame he missed it by just 6 weeks ....

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I've found ...

... a pretty good reason to 'keep on blogging'!  How's about turning your blog into a book in the interests of family history ... well, in my case anyway.  http://www.blurb.com/create/book/blogbook  Think I may, at some point, be glad that this blog never really materialised into a 'specialist' craft blog and that it did become a rambling about my life in general - a diary type blog.

I'm starting to get itchy fingers to get back into this blogging lark.  I know I've a lot of catch up to do going back a few months but all Dad's bits have now been sorted out.  The funeral (cremation) took place in horrendous weather. Dad having the last laugh methinks as we all got blown to smithereens and soaked to the skin, then the sun came out in the afternoon.  We did leave the funeral to Morecambe and Wise singing 'Bring me Sunshine' *grin* It was a totally secular funeral service.

The flat has been emptied with most going to a local hospice charity to increase their coffers.  Wardrobes were dumped but everything else will be of use to somebody, not least the charity.  I sold a couple of things that paid for the wardrobe clearance and carpet cleaning.  Keys were returned yesterday so, once the last of any bills come in it's all dealt with.  

Today is the one month anniversary of his death and his death was the end of a generation in my family.  It seems longer and yet still so new.  2 days ago there was a new beginning.  The start of a new generation.   My first great-grandchild, was born.

Meet ... Tulisa Louise.

Born 12:31am, 12th January 2012

7lb 2oz 

The circle of life goes on in my family.

 

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