I'm tiring myself ...

... out!  I had a delivery on Friday.  I'd been considering buying a 2 in 1 cross trainer for a while.  Mentioned it in passing to eldest son, as he's got one, only to be told not to be too hasty as it was possible that his would be going.  Newly bought and had become a coat hanger, apparently - lol!  Anyway, said cross trainer was delivered on Friday, after my exercise class.  It's big!  It's probably quite a bit bigger than the ones I had been looking at.  Definitely more substantial as I was looking at folding ones.  This one's not.  They look easy.  They are not!  I can't even start with the recommended 'easy' start because of my breathing problems so I'm adapting them all to suit my capabilities.  I'm doing little but often so when I pass the bedroom I pop in and just do 4 or 5 minutes on the machine.  The walking bit I can only manage about 1½ minutes on the lowest resistance but I up the resistance on the bike bit and finish my 4-5 minutes on that.  I'm finding I put in roughly 6 sessions a day this way and I'm feeling a difference.  I plan on keeping it going.  It's easier with the machine permanently available.

Had a bit of stress over one of my sales last night.  The bow buyer raised a dispute with eBay saying that it's not in the condition stated in my listing.  He raised the dispute before even contacting me.  It was listed as used and had 6 photos, some of which actually showing where there were small paint chips on the riser.  Not sure what this guy was expecting for his money but worse, he won't tell me how it's not in the condition stated in my listing.  He keeps giving excuses as to why he can't tell me yet but says he'll be posting it back on Monday.  He also bought a brand new arrow rest that I listed and he's saying that's not in the condition I listed either.  It's brand new, in a sealed box, for heavens sake!  How can it not be?  More like he bought it as a spare for the bow, as I had it, and as he's decided he doesn't want the bow then neither does he want the rest.  Personally I think he bought the bow for himself and has found it's not suitable.  He sniped the auction at the last minute and hadn't asked any questions, although all the info he would have needed was within the listing so I'm at a loss.  I think he's trying to find a reason to return it that pushes it onto  me and not himself.  It's not that it's been damaged in transit either as I would have thought he'd have said.  There was a lot of correspondence going back and forth last night and every time I asked for more specific information which wasn't forthcoming.  The last message I sent pointed out that we were on eBay's time scale as he'd raised a dispute and that if he didn't answer the questions I was asking he'd probably have to answer similar to eBay if the dispute escalated.  This morning he had closed the dispute as 'I'd requested him to'!  I hadn't asked him to at all and our correspondence will confirm that.  Pity, in a way, as I feel pretty confident that eBay would have found in my favour just by looking at my feedback .... just as described, well described, excellent eBayer .... and not just for the items I've sold recently but over time.  Anyway, he can return it and I'll refund what he paid for the bow and I'll either do a 2nd chance offer to the person he sniped (who did ask questions beforehand) or list it again.  He won't be getting his postage back though and he'll be in for a surprise when he finds out how much it's gonna cost him to return it.

I've been doing some investigating.  Coming back from my exercise class yesterday I found a visitor trying to get in the front door.  It nearly made it as well, until I found something to move it further away.  I found this .....

It was humungous!

  Very pretty in it's colouring but huuuuuuuuuggggggggggggge! (see my left hand digit finger?)

Apparently it's a privet hawk moth caterpillar.  It was probably looking for somewhere to bury itself so that it could pupate,  Not a lot of luck in our front garden as it's laid to gravel with membrane underneath it.  It would find somewhere eventually as we've a few plants so there are spaces in the membrane.  It digs deep to pupate and in June/July next year will emerge as one of these .....

Britain's largest moth.  As large as the one I saw in Cyprus 2 years ago (pictured in my Cyprus photo book [page 39] and also a hawk moth)

We've no privet in our garden, which is it's primary food source, and there's none near so the only place I can think it came from was our lilac bush as that is one of it's food sources.  It's only privet, lilac and ash and lilac is the only thing close.  If the daft thing had gone down to the base of the bush it may have been able to bury itself there.  Anyway, there's no sign of it now.  Perhaps I should have kept it and given it a pot of soil to bury itself in.  I might have got to see the moth next year ....

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Bank balance ...

... has increased quite healthily.  Perhaps not quite as much as I'd have liked, overall, but it's increased and that's the main thing.  Archery stuff was looked on favourably and all bar 4 items sold.   I got silly money for some of it.  Way over what the item could be bought for new in some cases.  Things I thought would command a really good price didn't get quite as much as I'd hoped for but other items got a lot more than I would ever have thought.  Even my quiver, although good quality leather and not a cheap item when bought, sold for more than I was expecting.  Really surprised me as I was going to throw it out but thought I'd put it on for 99p and see what happened.  Surprised me 'cos it had my name on it.  I'm hoping the person who bought it really did realise that as her name was Jo.  She's either bought it as a present or she didn't notice, despite pointing it out in the heading and the description.   Still, her problem if she didn't - lol!  Anyway, it's either all on it's way to new owners, received by new owners, or waiting to be collected by new owners.  It's been a busy few days trying to find suitable packing, trips to the post office, arranging couriers and making appointments.  I'm acting as sales manager for hubby who has some items for sale relating to air target shooting.  He's never sold on eBay himself and it's looking likely he'll not be doing it any time soon himself.  I'm having to answer questions, Best Offers and the like.  He's now found some more 'stuff' he tells me!  I think he needs a lesson in listing and selling - lol!

Photo books have been received and to say I'm pleased with them is an understatement.  I've now got another Christmas present - granddaughter's prom record - and a photographic record of 2012.  I've started cleaning out the files for 2013.  Italian holiday photos have been sorted and uploaded to the relevant site, so I've a smaller selection for that book.  I've also cleaned the files for 2012 ready to go on disc.  Unfortunately the discs I want (archival ones) are out of stock at the moment so they'll have to wait.  Think this photo business is going to be a life time's work as I'm trying to get them in order, clear out the rubbish ones and put them to disc in years.  A lot of work just from the digi photo side without those that go back pre digi and need scanning and sorting.

Not sure what pics to add to this post - there's just so many ...

Last June our next door 'forever' neighbours moved.  They were living next door when we moved here in 1988.  How long before that I don't know.  They were left a property in a flatter part of the area so they had it modernised and moved there ... they are both well into their 70s and one has knee problems the other, hips.  It made sense.  Property was bought by a guy for his daughter, who subsequently moved in 3 weeks later, after it had been modernised.  The new occupant is a young, unmarried Mum with a toddler (and now another on the way).  A few days later we met another of the new occupants and who has become a very regular visitor.  Not always welcome, I have to say.  Not when she finds the open fanlight window in our bedroom and visits at 1 o'clock in the morning!  I think she thinks she has 2 homes.  The one where she can come for a cuddle and peace and quiet and the one where she gets fed.  She doesn't here as we've tried not to encourage her but that may change come November as we've now been asked if we'll feed her while the neighbour goes on holiday ... as she visits us anyway - lol!

Honey ... making herself comfie on hubby's wheelchair.  A British Blue - I think.

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Boring couple of days ...

... and a headache!  I blame that on the OH.  Yesterday he mentioned that I'd been really good with headaches of late and I had been - until last night and one started.  I went to bed with it and I got up with it.  It's been ..... can't remember how long, since I last had one.  If he'd kept quiet perhaps I'd not have this one now.  It's not bad but annoying, none-the-less :(

Yesterday we took a trip to Farnborough, about 1½ hours away from home.  OH had some new wheels for his wheelchair, ordered from Germany and they needed fitting.  They're super duper, bells and whistles all singing and dancing and I'm hoping they'll get him out from under my feet a couple of days a week.  I'm hoping they get him back to his shooting which hasn't happened for 4 years or so now. Not since the problem started with his thumb back in 2009 and has been ongoing with his left arm, in one way or another, since.  These wheels each have a motor in the hub that assists with mobility - it aids him pushing himself by taking some of the strain and is, supposedly, particularly helpful over rough ground.   They have their own axle and that is what had to be fitted and he had to have instruction on how to use them.  

I should have stayed at home or taken my Kindle!  It was boring, snoring. We were just round the corner from the Art of Craft craft shop so I took a stroll there when I went to get us some lunch.  Got there and then couldn't be bothered to go in, just looked in the cheap bins outside and didn't see anything that took my fancy in them.

The one thing of note from the trip?  I recognised one of the guys sitting at a computer when we arrived but didn't know why.  Just a very familiar face to me.  While we were there a young guy came in and he was measured for a wheelchair ... a tennis wheelchair and 'ding' a light bulb went off.  The guy I recognised was a Paralympian and not just any old Paralympian.  It was our top medal winning wheelchair tennis player, Peter Norfolk, OBE - and the guy who was our flag bearer, leading the British team, at the opening ceremony of the Paralympics London 2012.  He's retired since the games but the business we visited is his.

Anyway, there I was in the company of 3 Paralympians ... my OH (Atlanta 1996), Peter (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012) and Nathan Milgate (Beijing 2008, London 2012)  long time friend of OH's and who we've known since he was a lad needing his parents to ferry him around.  He was the one who was dealing with OH and his wheels.  Anyway, axle fitted, wheels tested and day (manual) wheels adapted to new axle and home we went.

In my 'brief' catch up post last October I mentioned eldest grandson had got married in September.  He's not long celebrated his first wedding anniversary.  It was a reason for another photo book. Completed this one a few months ago now and I did 2 versions.  One was a copy for both sons - grandson's Dad and bridesmaid's Dad.  Neither wanted photos of the other families involved (ex daughter-in-law's or bride's side) so I did one without them but I've also done one with them using the some of the professional photos and snagged ones from Facebook.  They said they were going to give me copies of discs others gave them but they weren't forthcoming so I did the best I could with what I found and this is the result ....

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Not a lot ...

... going on at the moment so not much to blog about with up-to-date stuff.  Normal everyday business.  Grocery shopping (hate it!), chiropodist and general bits and pieces.  Archery stuff on eBay has a lot of interest ... thankfully ... so I'll be packing and posting soon.  Hope it all goes but over half already has bids and there's still over 4 days to go.  Strangest thing is that I listed my quiver and it's got 3 bids with numerous watching.  It is a quality quiver but ... it's personalised!  I had it made to my design way back.  The 'decoration' is as asked for, including my name.  Yep, it has PAM scribed on it in quite large letters.  Now it could be a name but I guess it could equally be initials.  Whatever, it was one of the first things I got a bid on.  On started it at 99p because I didn't think it was worth anything to anyone other than somebody called Pam so a very limited market.  It's currently at £7.50 and I've been asked how much to take it off auction and do a Buy it Now.  I won't do that because it has bids but more because there are so many watchers.  I'll let it find it's own price and be happy with that as it nearly got dumped :)

Think I'll continue the bathroom story ... as much as I can.

Bathroom was finished and we were using it well, despite not being happy with the finish (photos could show but we'll leave that bit now)  In February I thought it about time I got on with sorting the study out.  Other things had come along and put a stop to it over a few months.  Was progressing well when I took something off of a book shelf and found this ....

Blue 'dust'

Pulled the shelf out and moved stuff on the shelf below and saw this ...

More ... and down to the ground

I emptied the book case completely and started cleaning the mould away.  From the top it wiped off the wall quite well, then wallpaper started coming away with it and I realised the wall was wet.  On checking I found the edge of the carpet was wet and the bottom of the bookcase a CD tower next to it was also damp.  Wondering where this had all come from I suddenly realised that the other side of the wall was the wet room basin!   LEAK!  Went into the wet room and a quick check proved there was a leak but ... we couldn't turn the water off other than at the mains as I couldn't locate the isolator valves.  More to the point - I couldn't get to the pipework at all other than the top few inches.  The pipework had been boxed in with no access made to them.  Called plumber and asked him to come as an emergency.

Back to study and further investigation showed that the mould was behind a double wardrobe as well - and had transferred some to the back of the wardrobe.  The mould extended over a metre long and a metre high.  For the amount of mould we'd obvioulsy had the leak since the new basin and tap had been installed back in September/October.

Behind the wardrobe

Pulling the wardrobe away dragged some of the back off :(

The mould extended to where the dark spot is above the yard stick.
From there to where the paper is stripped it 'dusted' off.

Plumber arrived and, long story short ... this is how he left us.

Note how wet the boarding is under the basin ... and along the bottom!

This was after he'd had the basin off the wall.  It transpired that the isolator valves for the basin were behind the boxing in but in the bottom left corner and totally inaccessible.  This part of the room had to deconstructed to get to the pipework and with a view to putting in an access panel and new isolator valves.  It was then left open to help dry the wall.  This was February.  In May, after nearly 3 months and several attempts to cure the leak, unsuccessfully, we sacked the guy and contacted somebody else.  They found other problems that needed to be dealt with and problems that the guy, as a supposed heating engineer, should not have left us with.

The wet room, and the other problems, were finally sorted out and finished at the end of August ... nearly a year after the room was started.  We're finally leak free and have an access panel so our wet room now looks like this ...

Not a huge change but at least we're now dry and have access if ever needed again and .... the study wall is finally dry and has been cleaned up.  The paper is lifting and the room needs decorating but it's all clean and hidden and the rest can follow in time.  The saga is not yet finished though.  The original guy guaranteed his work.  He has had a bill sent and we're prepared to take it to law ....

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Mission accomplished ...

... well, one of them - no 2, I guess.  I've been working on one project for months now, the other just a few days.  The one I've been working on for months?  My 2012 year book.  I've only ever done one year book before but many photo books.  A lot to record from last year, hence it taking so long but the order went in for printing today so I can call it done!  Mind you, got the online version and noticed an error on page 5.  Fortunately they'd not started printing it so I rang them and pulled it.  They stopped the process and sent me a credit so I could correct the error and reorder.  All done now and the process continues.  They updated the online version and sent me the link so here it is *grin*

The other project finished today?  A Christmas present.  A photo book for eldest granddaughter who left High School this year and had her prom on 4th July.  There were professional photos taken of her and (I believe I may have mentioned before) she wanted a photo book of the pics.  Also said before .... student, no money so Nana Pam & Grandpa had a Christmas present solved.  Just as well I like doing photo books *LOL*  I'll post the online version of that at a later date but I'm really pleased with the end result.  Different to what I usually do but was thinking it needed to be for a 16/17 year old.  I just hope she likes it.

Rest of the day?  Not a lot and don't feel like doing much now so will make this short and save 'stories' for another time ... including the rest of the bathroom saga up to now *grrrr!*

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Busy couple of ...

... days, or so it's seemed.  Spent most of the day yesterday listing 'stuff' on eBay.  Archery stuff mainly.  I accepted I'll never shoot again some time ago but it's been hard making the decision to get rid of the equipment. Well, you never know, do you?  If I hung on to it then I could at least pretend that one day ....

Anyway, decision made so it's been offered for sale and within 15 minutes of being listed I had a bid on one of the items.  I've now 8 11 items with bids on (it's gone up 3 since I started this post *happy face* and everything is being 'watched').  I know that doesn't necessarily equate to bids arriving but the bow has had 118 views and has 23 watchers so I'm quite confident that will go, especially as I've had somebody ask if I'll ship to Italy - and it's now one of the items that has a bid on - YAY!.  It is a good bow, arguably one of the best ever made and it's no longer available.

Once I'd done that, hubby decided he wanted to try some of his target air rifle accessories.  He's not really shot target air rifle since around 1996 following an injury he picked up in the Atlanta Paralympics.  Trouble with OH is that he's no idea how eBay works for selling so it was a frustrating afternoon for me trying to explain and him not listening.  Suffice to say that if he sells any of what he has listed (courtesy of moi) he'll be blooming lucky!

I'm trying a new slow cooker recipe I found on Pinterest.  It smells good but may be a tad salty.  I always follow new recipes to the letter - unless I've not got all the ingredients but if I've got close I use that.  For this one I had them all.  We'll see what it's like come dinner time :)  After we've tried it as given I then make adjustments subsequently to suit our taste.  Watch this space - *LOL*

Washing machine is busy.  Guess the ironing board needs to be next :(  Bed was stripped yesterday and linen washed. Today it's the day to day stuff - aka, clothes!

I've also got a letter ready to go in the post tomorrow regarding our bathroom makeover.  Story goes - and I'll keep it as brief as possible ......

Spur of moment decision to have it done, bought on by OH's elbow problem (another story for another time) last year.  We had a plumber/heating engineer already doing odd jobs and he had good references on CheckaTrade.  Disabled bathroom/wet rooms were on his website as within his capabilities and tiling was one of his skills.  Oh ... how wrong all that was, as it turned out.  Anyways, quote given and accepted and work started.  3 weeks work he said.  Started well.  Room gutted, old tiles removed and walls all plastered by the first weekend.  2nd week started with the floor being prepped for the drainage and tiles started to be put into place and that was when we realised that perhaps he was a little short on the truth regarding his skills.  Every day, after he'd gone, I was finding tiles that weren't satisfactorily installed.  Every day he was having to remove some tiles and redo them.  It ended up that he was spending ½ the day putting right work he'd done the day before and the initial 3 week timescale started to get longer.  Eventually the room was finished (?) 7 weeks later.  Have to say that the finish was appalling.  We ended up with grout on the window frame which won't come off, even now.  To get it off we would ruin the frame.  Mind you, it's ruined with it on there.  We had tiles where he'd not even bothered to cut them round pipes and we had spaces between tiles that varied from nearly nothing to ¼ inch (spacers varied from proper plastic spacers to strips of cardboard of varying thickness).  There were holes in the grouting and .... I could go on but it gets boring!

I'd gone out the last morning.  I returned to be told that it was all finished but the shower didn't work?  WHAT???  Seems that he knew it was unlikely to work as he'd blown the fuse the very first day he was here but thought he'd fix it later.  He'd not isolated the electrics to the shower (which was being reused as it was newish, but moved) before he started taking the tiles off the wall or doing any of the 'demolition'.  In the end he had to call out an electrician friend (he couldn't find the fuse in the fuse box) who found the fuse and went to buy a new one.  Everyone left.  I went round with a notebook and post-it notes to label the 'snags'.  He came back to sort it all out .... not!  He did what he could that was possible.  The rest wasn't.  He got paid but less the cost of the door and his charge for fitting it.  Brand new door ruined when he cut it to fit - but it's only a little bit, was what he said when pointed out.  Not good enough, no pay :)

And that, as they say, was it .... or was it???

From this ...

To this ...

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Oh dear!

It's been practically a year since I did any sort of blogging other than trying to do something about all the spam I'd suddenly started getting.  Well it wasn't sudden but it started creeping up in volume until it got silly.  I've now stopped anonymous commenters and it's stopped the spam so guess that was the solution.  Shame if there's any genuine anonymous commenters that now can't but, as I'm not overly worried about whether any readers out there comment or not I shall apologise but leave it as is.  I do this blog for myself primarily - or did it for myself - and that won't change.  Readers are a bonus along the way but I certainly don't worry about not having many followers or commenters.  Anyway, where had I got to ... ?

I last posted anything of any worth, back in October last year.  We were in the middle of a bathroom makeover and I was in the middle of a pulmonary rehab course.  The pulmonary rehab was successful.  The bathroom makeover, as it turned out, not so much.  There is a long story which is ongoing nearly a year later and will probably continue for a while yet but that's a story for another day :)

Pulmonary rehab - 2, 2 hour sessions a week for 8 weeks.  Started beginning of October and ended last week in November.  An hour of circuit training and an hour of instruction/information etc etc relating to the condition so we gained a better understanding of how to live with it.  The condition?  COPD.  Lung disease.  Debilitating.  In my case, probably my own fault although Consultant totally denied it.  Anyway, circuit training ..... 2 minutes an exercise with 5 rotations over an hour, after warm up and before cool down.  Step, exercise bike, wall push ups, resistance bands, walking, arm curls with weights, lunges and a couple of others.  Quite exhausting when you have probs breathing doing anything the least energetic.  I was probably the healthiest there!  The others made me feel a bit of a fraud however, I know how it affects me and I want to delay it getting any worse for as long as possible.  One poor guy, on ambulatory oxygen, couldn't do it.  He had to drop out in the 3rd week.  Anyway, course finished and I needed to find something to replace it.  Finally found something in May, after deciding a Zumba class I went to watch just wouldn't hack it for me *LOL* and I've been going ever since.  Think I'm probably the youngest, bar one, that goes to this class but hey, it works for me so I'm not worried.   Wish I could afford to go more than once a week but now thinking of 'treating myself' (is that the right phrase?) to a cross trainer with seat for bike work - when I've found a place to put it :) 

It's been a busy-ish day for me today.  Not necessarily energetic but I've been busy.  Bad night.  Up for 3 hours.  Went back at 5:30am and woke with a start at 9am.  Suddenly realised it was Friday and exercise class day.  Found that hard going today and had to sit out for a while but she's happy with that as long as we keep something of our body moving .... feet are the easiest - lol!  Back home, lunch and on to try to complete a Christmas present.  

Eldest granddaughter left high school in July and had her prom.  She had some professional photos taken and wanted them in a photo book,  Student, no money!  I suggested, as there was nothing I could think of for Christmas, that I put one together.  Happy granddaughter and a pressie solved.  Book is now complete unless she tells me that there are photos she wants in and photos she doesn't and I've used them, or not!  She called to collect her laptop this afternoon (guess that's another story but long, short - new lappy, rubbish downloaded, Nana Pam cleaned it up, downloaded useful programs, uninstalled useless ones) and then Nana Taxi took her to her next destination .... maternity for her to meet her new cousin, once removed.  Not sure how this Nana Taxi business started but Mum Taxi never did :)

Back home and been collapsed since although I've photographed 'stuff' for OH who has things he wants to sell on eBay - so that's my next job then.  Free listing this weekend!

How about a photo?   Our little great-granddaughter popped in with Aunty yesterday.  She is growing into such a pretty little girl.

Our first granddaughter and our first great grandchild - together

Tulisa - 20 months old

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I've sort of ...

... promised!  I've sort of promised that I'm going to pick up blogging again.  I sort of promised Clair of Valentines that I would - sort of.  I've followed her blog for a long time now but only just started going to her workshop on a Thursday morning, with my mate Cally.  Only done 2 so far but it's good and we'll be continuing.  Anyway, not sure whether to try 'catch up' or ignore what's happened over the whole of ... how many months?  Will have to have a think on that one.  I guess I could combine current stuff with a catch up.  Hmmmm - what to do.  The one thing I do know is that it will continue to be my 'diary' so it's still going to be a mix and not entirely craft related.  In fact, there's likely to be little craft in it at all as I'm not really making anything at the moment unless I go somewhere specifically to make 'stuff'!  I guess there could be a peppering of what I have done over the past .... how many months?

For now I'll do a sort of catch up.  Crafter's House Party (check out the label in the side panel).   Started back in 2008 and this year saw it's 5th anniversary.  It's been going from strength to strength, even if there have been fewer attendees of late and next year it's being extended for the 2nd time.  It's gone from 3 nights the first year to 4 subsequently.  Next year it's going to be a full week for those that can.  For those that can't it's still 4 nights.

Over the years there's been a fair few photos taken by myself and others.  It wasn't until the past 3 years that I've had access to other's photos, well, not easily anyway.  3 years ago I opened a Photobox account where we could all upload our photos so that any of the attendees could post their offerings for others to access.  Obviously, only those they were happy to let anyone have were uploaded but I snagged a fair few as I had an idea *scary*.  Over a few years now I've been posting links to photo books I've produced,  Today is no exception 'cos I'm posting a link to a book it's taken over a year to put together because I was waiting for the 5th year to be completed .... and, trying to reduce photos down a number small enough to get into a 120 page book, spanning 5 years, is no easy matter - *LOL*

Here it is, in all it's glory - (click on title for larger view) 
5 Years of Crafter's House Parties ....

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Google Reader and ...

... also Google Friends Connect (Following) are being made obsolete from July.  I use Reader daily to keep up with the blogs I follow.  I've been looking for an alternative and have discovered, through Krista of Saturated Canary, what I think will be a viable alternative .... Bloglovin :)

If you want to find out more about it take a look here.  It seems they're gearing up to take Google Reader users so all power to them.  I've posted a button on my sidebar to take over from the Google Followers bit so, if any of you on there want to continue to follow me, for what it's worth, then why not give Bloglovin a try?
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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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