Finally got it ...

... done.  My MP3 disc.  Haven't tried it though so it might not work.  Hope it blooming does though as it's taken me nearly 2 days to get it together, what with ripping CDs and converting others that I'd already ripped.  I've now got 1,179 tracks on one CD.  Reckon that'll keep me going for a while - *lol*  

This evening I've been trying to crop a short video clip but for some reason it ain't happening!  No idea why 'cos I've done it before but this time it's just not working.  Think I'll leave it for now and go back to it another time *grin*

Back to the House Party and Saturday 25th June .....

A bit more crafting for some ... 

... and chilling for others *grin*

Weather not brilliant but not too bad.  It didn't stop some of us having a stroll round the 'grounds' ...

... and some even went a bit further afield and found the farmhouse.  Not just the farmhouse but the hangar that the light aircraft and microlights were kept in.

Somehow they managed to get an invite for a microlight flight the next morning, for those of us that wanted to partake - subject to them checking insurance, weather and all the usual.  They'd contact us if it was a goer and there were several of us that were certainly up for it - me included! After jet-skis and parasailing in Bali a microlight flight seemed the next logical step *LOL*

The evening was our 'posh nosh' night.  Local pub but certainly not normal pub grub. We've been to this pub on the Saturday night every House Party.  It's not likely to stop as long as the House Party happens ... or until we're banned :0{  Got to say we're not the quietest of groups and they certainly know we're there.  Just as well we have a room to ourselves - *lol*

They've updated the name to The Black Horse Restaurant & Bar and it is certainly restaurant quality food.

My starter - Crayfish salad.

A fancy prawn cocktail but wonderful flavour.

Main - pot roasted blade of beef.

Superb!  The beef just melted in the mouth.

Dessert - an Assiette

In this one - créme caramel, Eton mess, bread & butter pudding and lemon (?) and ginger cheesecake.

DEEEEEliscious!

We scrub up pretty well as well *grin*

From front left going round the circle: Cathy (from Surrey), Toni (from Tamworth - a local - lol), Me (nearly hiding and from Brighton), Greta (from Surrey), Kim (from Hampshire), Cally (from Sussex), Susan (from Co. Durham), Chris (from Spain)

Again, starting front left and going round the circle - Lynn (from Spain), Trace (from Wales), Cal (from Stoke), Debs (from Essex), Jackie (from Kent), Nita (from Spain), Jennie (from Sussex)

No, she's not dancing on the table but she did decide that it would be a good idea to stand on her chair and 'strike a pose'.  Wasn't sure why at the time but thought it wiser not to ask.  If you know Jackie you'll understand - *rofl*

I've since discovered that she was trying to demonstrate a flamingo, erm, flamenco pose .... yeah, right! Flamingo was probably nearer the mark!  As I say, if you know her you'll understand - *LOL*  

Love you J, mwah! 

Kim found a message on the way out and thought it prudent to show us *grin* Can't think why :0)

Then back to the cottages and some Fuzzy Ducking which caused a whole lot of laughter but I think it was one of those things that you had to be there for to appreciate - *ROFL*

To be continued :0)

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Bliss ...

... my hot crystal massage this afternoon. It was a Christmas pressie - well, the voucher I paid with was - from eldest and his partner.  Only just got round to using it but it was much appreciated.  

Weather's not too good at the moment.  Sunshine and showers for the past few days and, although the showers have been few and far between, they've been quite heavy when we've had them.  Think we've been lucky again compared with most parts of the country but then I guess that depends how you look at it.  If you're a gardener or farmer perhaps they don't feel the same way :0(

I've spent the afternoon converting WMA files into MP3s. I ripped a few CDs a while ago for my MP3 player, which successfully downloaded to it and it's been listened to. My new car has a facility to play MP3 music discs as well as ordinary CDs. I'm assuming that the files for that will definitely need to be MP3, hence the conversions. In future I shall be ripping in MP3 format - *LOL* I found some really good free software that's converted them all for me though so it's been pretty easy, peasy :0) Anyways, the idea was that I could get hundreds of tooons onto a DVD and have hours of music medley, from rock to classics (I have a very broad taste in music *grin*). Now I'm gonna find some more CDs to rip :0)

House Party Weekend  ... 23rd to 27th June

Crafting, walking, reading, therapies, hairdressing, chatting, eating, loadsa laughs and chillaxing!

Thursday - arrival day.  Last arrival around 7pm and an evening spent eating, drinking and laughing! Cally and I had a different room again this time.  We've now occupied all 3 bedrooms in the Barn, working our way along in orderly succession - *lol*

The view from our room this time.  

There were swallows flying past on a regular basis as there were babies in a porch under the window.

A bit of furniture removal to 'customise' a couple of lounges - lol!

Friday - therapy day for those that wanted and .... Cal opened her hair salon for those wanting a haircut/restyle/colour.

Jackie was Cal's challenge for the day (in more ways than one * hehe*). 

Didn't she do well :0)

Some crafted in-between the other things on offer or just chilled with their books and Kindles.  

Others took instruction on making basic chain maille jewellery - like me - after I'd had my hot stones massage - bliss!  

All 3 cottages were well used this time.  Jewellery tuition in the Barn's kitchen and it's lounge became the 'quiet' area.  Two of the Barn's bedrooms became the therapy rooms (hot stones back massage in one, Indian head massage in the other *sigh*) There was a hairdressing salon in the Granary's lounge/kitchen.  The Hayloft lounge/kitchen was the IT area, reading room and general meeting place.  The Refectory maintained it's status as the craft room, cleared for the evening meal if we were eating in.  As I say, well used *grin*

Friday evening?  Takeaway of choice, chatting, drinking, laughing and just a liddle bit of singing! Not always appreciated :0(  Had a door shut on us at one point - can't think why - *ROFL*

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Getting to ...

... know it *grin* Had to drive over to the dealer this morning and take the MOT to them - as well as all the other rubbish I found relating to servicing etc of the old car - so got to find out how the windscreen wipers worked for real - *LOL* Yep, it was raining. The wipers are odd as they work to the speed of the vehicle so, the faster I go the faster they wipe. Strange! I then sat in the car with the manual so I'm as offay with it as I'm gonna be until I really get to use it fully. At least I know what I'm looking at - sort of - and I've sussed the radio. Can't have a car with no music :0) Still got to get used to the sensitivity of the the pedals but it's getting there.

Continuing with catch-up .... Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week - nothing! Just general day to day stuff and dental check up followed by a pick and shovel job. Oh yes ... and Paul took himself off to his gun club for the day on Wednesday. YES!  He's driving again. He gave it a go while I was away at the weekend so off he went around 08:30 Wednesday morning 'for a couple of hours' with me saying I'd see him teatime. Guess who was right - *lol*  Anyways, he's now out and about again and has even attempted to shoot. Needs to adjust his hand shooting position at the moment but at least he's giving it a go and he's catching up with his mates. He had another CT scan this past Monday. Won't have the results until September unless it shows up anything more than before, then they'll call him in sooner. We're hoping he's not called *wink*. 

The House Party weekend has become a regular on our crafty calendar although it's not entirely craft. We did the 'shoebox' card concept again - where we each design a card, then make up packs of the necessary materials to make the entire card, for everyone that's there. This time we ended up with 15 cards (including our own) as there were 15 of us there. Every one was so different. I didn't make many as I wanted a chilling weekend but this is the card that I copied a design of and put together as my offering. I'd had several people wanting to know how to make the flower after I made a very similar card at a Glitterpot workshop *grin* Got to say that those who made the card at the weekend made a much better job of the flower than I did.  Reckon those that took them home will probably have done the same *lol*

The next few posts are likely to be House Party weekend related - if I can sort out some pictures worth posting *hehe*

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Well, I didn't ...

... expect that!  Stupid it may be but I couldn't help but have a few tears as I was taking my old car to swap it for my new one. Never felt so attached to a car before and didn't think I was that attached to this one but seems I was when it came to crunch. It's only a box with a wheel in each corner at t'end of day but it's been my box for 7 years however, I think it's more than that. Mum paid for part of that car and it's the car that took her to all her hospital appointments as her health deteriorated, took her shopping, to the theatre and generally out and about.  It's the car that took me to the hospital every day when we knew she wasn't coming back home. I think it's the car that I've had most history with in one way or another, so it came to mean something to me except ... I didn't know it until today! I'm now in mourning and if I think about it I'm in tears. As I said - STUPID!

New car is lovely though. It's a dream to drive, although I need to get used to the brakes. Now I've got to learn what all the bells and whistles mean. The dashboard info is a bit space age, although the speedo isn't a problem as it couldn't be more in yer face *LOL* Tomorrow will be a 'getting to know you' day, after I've taken the MOT out to the dealers as I forgot all about that today - *ooops!*

OK, back to Saturday ... after I'd dropped the car off at the garage for the aircon check I planned to visit a bead shop that I discovered was just round the corner from the garage. Been there donkey's and it took a friend from Essex to point me in it's direction - *LOL* Problem was - car dropped of at 08:45 and shop didn't open until 10. Time to kill. Strolled through the North Laine area which I hadn't strolled through in years. My, how the shops have changed, but they are really individual and not one normal 'High Street' shop in sight.  

The bead shop, Beads Unlimited, is the shop with the Sale signs in the window, far right, in the pic below.

Stopped for a coffee in a shop that used to be a good, food discount store. Wonder how long ago that changed? 

Then I saw this in a shop window.  Superb caricature.  

Couldn't take the pic straight on as I had to negotiate a security grill to get it *grin*

... and round the corner?  More amazing work!

... and reflected in the old local newspaper building which has since been converted into city centre, luxury loft apartments but - love that architecture.

So many different types of crafts and in such a small area

Finished with a lovely hour in the bead shop. Not too happy about having to count out 500 little beads though. Reckon they need to do them by weight - *LOL

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Continuing with ...

... day to day stuff and catch up *grin*

Spent the morning today catching up with some blog reading which I've not been doing of late. Been too absorbed with other stuff so thought it time I tidied up Google Reader - *LOL*. My, oh my. What a lot of catch up to do there! A bit at a time methinks. I also photographed the cards I made at the House Party so, once they've been checked and edited I shall post them, as I will with a few other pics of that weekend. What fun that was. Sooooo enjoyed it and can't wait for the next one :0)

Monday was spent on admin and laundry :0(  Admin was fine as it partly involved cancelling a service appointment for my car and arranging insurance to cover a new one. Yep, I'm changing my car *big grin* And that's why I shall be out near the grocery store on Thursday 'cos I've got to go collect it and the dealer's near the store.  

The aircon has decided not to work in my current car .... again! Last year it was suspected there was a leak but it was regassed and a dye put in so that if it failed badly again it could be checked. Well, it's not worked at all this year and with the hotter days it's become very uncomfie in the car. (Just wonder how we used to manage in the days before aircon in the car, but we did)  Anyway, took car back on Saturday to have it checked and yep, it's a leak.  Garage wouldn't re-gas now they know for sure there's a leak (illegal to do so) and it was gonna cost another arm and leg to have it put right so ... it was either live without again or repair. One arm and leg is enough on a 10 year old car and it had that on the braking system late last year. It's developed other little problems as well. Right hand indicator has had a mind of it's own since I came back from Bali and goes off when it feels like it. It needs a new brake adjuster. Thought it was just brakes needing manually adjusting following them being new but that would have been too easy! Rear wiper blade UNIT has broken because of metal fatique and eldest, who was going to replace it, has had probs sourcing replacement.  Must be a common prob as no breaker's yard has them (not paying for new on that one).  Anyway, Saturday afternoon I decided enough was enough and, if I was gonna have to spend a good few hundred squid or more then I may as well bite the bullet and put the money towards another car and cut my losses. Saturday afternoon I spent surfing the net to see what local dealers (or local dealers that could bring cars in from further afield) had on offer.  There was a small selection for the criteria I set but nothing hit me except one.  Higher mileage than I would have liked for the year (averaging just over 6k a year but still more than I've had on my previous cars) but other than that it ticked all the boxes and, the higher mileage wasn't so much of an issue as it was diesel .... bonus!

Car is not quite 3 years old. A little bigger, both physically and in engine size, than my current one but it's gonna be cheaper to run all ways round.  Road fund licence (or vehicle excise tax if yer like) is £120 cheaper, insurance about the same (or it will be when I shop around on renewal but was cheaper to stay where I am until then) and it should get around 60mpg on the fuel. Win, win all ways round with all the extras car has as well.  What is it?  A Citroen C4 VTR+ HDI  like this one ... and this colour - ish!

Can't wait for tomorrow to come now so I can go collect it and play *grin*

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Okey, dokey ...

... peoples - well, me anyway. Not sure I've too many readers but that's OK. I do the blog for me and if others happen upon it that's fine as well. Anyways, it's catch up time again but I'm gonna work backwards. Seems as though I just get up to date and then I fall behind again. Perhaps I should have blogged while I was away. Note to self ... you take lappy away with you, try blogging as you go next time *lol*

OK, it's Tuesday today, which started off with the usual visit to Dad.  Not really sure why I go any more.  I clean his hearing aids, cobble together his shopping list (with no input from him other than he likes cherries if they've got no pips - huh?) and, apart from a couple of sentences the rest of the time is spent in silence with him reading his newspapers. Why he can't do that when I've gone I've no idea but he decides he wants to talk when I get up to come home. He insists he's happy with his own company but managed to tell me that he sees nobody now. Seems the 4 visits a day from his carers don't count and I'm sure it's because he's no longer misusing his buzzer so not getting that many extra calls. Now I'm wondering if he was misusing it to gain a bit of company, no matter how limited that was.

Rest of the day was taken up sorting stuff ready for a weekend away next week and stowing shopping that had been delivered. Takes a while to go through and check it's all there and it's what we ordered. There's been enough incidents to make it worthwhile checking everything off and ensuring that there's no damaged goods. I'm glad that wasn't my responsibility at the House Party this year although if one's checking the receipt and others are calling out as they unpack and stow it can be got through quite quickly. I was one of the last arrivals this year and it was all done and packed away by the time we arrived. Anyway, I've digressed ... Today's was fine except they decided that they'd substitute sliced, cooked, silverside beef with a roasting joint? What's that about? Joint went back. I'm out near the store on Thursday. I'll go buy what I ordered then ... and the bits I forgot to order - oops!  Why am I out near the store on Thursday? Another story for another day *grin*

In meantime, weather has been lovely for a few days and today, coming through Ovingdean village on the way home from Dad's, there were lots of sheep in the fields, with their young. No longer tiny little lambs but growing fast. There were just so many of them and some had managed to get the wrong side of a fence. I watched them for a while but they'd not found their way back by the time I left. I'm sure the farmer will 'rescue' them if they don't manage it themselves.  Couldn't resist a few photos ....

Aren't I lucky that this beautiful place is just the other side of the hill from my home?

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Oh dear! ...

... not again!  Normal service will be resumed as soon as :0) ...
 
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