Deep joy! ...

... well, nearly! I actually managed to sleep last night with only one minor disturbance and even that didn't break it too much 'cos I managed to get straight back off. Went to bed just after midnight, asleep by 12:30, woke an hour later but went straight off again and didn't know anything more until 7:30 this morning. Here's hoping it will continue and my spell of insomnia is over .... pleeeease!

Now I just need to get butt into gear and get a card made for a challenge. Yep, make a card for a challenge but only a little one - *LOL*


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FREEBIE - Black Labrador 3D Pyramid Topper

My first pyramid 3D topper. Not sure I've done it right (as with the others) 'cos I'm playing ..... you are my guinea pigs *LOL*

It is 'off centre' deliberately because I wanted to bring the tongue and nose into relief as it's obviously the closest point of the dog. I have not made it up so I have no idea if it will work therefore, if anyone does make it up and has probs please let me know and conversely, if you do make it up and don't have any probs then I'd love a piccie of what you do for the slideshow on my sidebar ....

The dog is a beautiful female black lab named Bramble and she is the owner of Merv and Bernie - friends of ours. She has been trained as a gundog and has the most beautiful temperament. She is also not quite as manic as some labs I know - *LOL* Not sure who took this photo of her so I've credited both of her slaves (she's not at all spoilt - much!)

Please note:
These sheets are copyright to me and the photograph to Bramble's slaves, Merv & Bernie. You are free to use the sheets in any way you wish for personal use and you may sell anything you make using them but please, do not share them in any way whatsoever but link to my blog for others to download for themselves. Please do not claim them as your own or sell the sheets in any form.








Click on any image for full size version and either print or save to your PC for printing at a later date.

Enjoy!!

It's starting ...

... again! Went to see Dad today and it's not looking good. OK, it's early days and he might still come round but, he's obviously missing the hustle and bustle of rehab. He says he's left some good 'mates' which is how he looks on the staff there. His room was opposite the lounge/dining room/kitchen where all the staff worked from and he saw them coming and going from where he sat. Back at the flat he only sees the carers 4 times a day and for a very limited time, which will only get worse as more residents move in. It seems he's realised that it's not quite the same keeping to your own company, although he's always said he was happy that way. He hasn't watched TV since he went back home and he's not read a page of a book. He's just sitting, doing nothing and getting himself deeper and deeper into depression. He looks so sad but he says he doesn't want to 'give up on it' - 'it' being the flat. I've suggested he has TV on - just as company - but whether he does or not remains to be seen. Worse, he'd had another fall. The way he was telling me and wanting me to check the bedroom I thought it had happened this morning before I arrived. Checking the 'log' it happened Tuesday evening and the paramedics were called again (but I wasn't). He says he's been in great pain since but - he still won't go to hospital to be checked out!

When I arrived he was in the kitchen area. His walking frame was flat on the floor in the lounge and he had his wheeled side table in the kitchen. He was using that as a walking aid but one that could carry his cup and plate - which he can't with the walking frame. He'd also nearly flooded the kitchen trying to make a cup of tea. There was water all over the work surfaces, the floor and the electrics of appliances. He'd managed to turn tap on without the tap actually being over the sink so instead of the water going into the kettle it spread itself everywhere from the back of the sink!

I called the Social Worker when I got home and he's going to try to arrange a couple of days at a day centre for him - to give him some company and to break his week up. It could be just what he needs. It would give him something to look forward to and also help stimulate him - hopefully! Just hope he accepts the chance .... oh and, the SW knew about his fall!

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Well, here's some ...

... photo's of beautiful scenery, none of which is more than 3 miles from my home. Two beautiful village ponds but so different from one another. One set in the middle of a busy little olde worlde village on the coast, the other set in a tranquil little downland village surrounded by farmland - with Sussex University on it's doorstep and a blooming 20k seater football stadium being built just round the corner!

There's a vista over the city of Brighton and Hove from a main road into my own 'village' from the University - with Worthing in the far distance. and finally a view from another road into my home 'village' towards the sea and capturing St Dunstan's on the left of the picture and the world famous Roedean Girls School on the right. Unfortunately the sun didn't shine at the right times so not all as pretty as they could be ....

Rottingdean Pond




St Laurence Church & Falmer Pond


Falmer Pond






Vista from Falmer Road over Brighton to Worthing


St Dunstan's & Roedean School from Warren Road


Maps showing locations of photo subjects

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Did they ...

... work? No idea! I didn't get up but slept fitfully having woken from my first bit of sleep less than an hour after falling asleep. As I never get up straight away (usually lay for at least an hour before I give in and get up) I stayed where I was and nodded off again but it set the pattern for the night. Sleep an hour, wake for half and nod off. Very restless (duvet in big heap this morning) and although not a good sleep at least it was better. Whether the Kalms had anything to do with it I have no idea. It could just be that I was soooo tired I'd have had a similar night without them but - I will take them again for a few nights and then try without to see what happens .....


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Well, I got ...

... Kalms Sleep instead on Nytol (didn't have that). Warning on the box - "May cuse drowsiness"! I surely hope so 'cos that's why I've bought 'em. "Promotes refreshing natural sleep" is the blurb. We'll see! I've just taken the maximum dose so will be wending my way to bed soon. Just hope they do work but I've got a back-up plan for the night if I can't sleep. Prismas, sansodor and stamped images from the House Party weekend that need some colour! I'd really rather these worked than have to go the 'heavy duty' chemical route with the doc....


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Good bits ...

... over the past few days. Don't seem to have been so many as the bad but perhaps that's because the bad have had more of an effect. Hey-ho! Yep, I'm around again having had another couple of hours sleep, which might have been more had the phone not rung at 8:30am. Phone call from the District Nurse re Dad - and so the day starts ....

Sunday evening: Having spent Sunday afternoon watching her Dad shoot in his archery tournament I spent the evening watching a show put on by my eldest grand-daughter's dance school. Yep, another grand-daughter into dance but this time 'street' is her choice. She joined the same dance school as my middle grand-daughter but didn't like it for some reason so she moved to another, based at her school. She's not been going for long but is really enjoying herself. Yet another show where she had a very limited participation and we had to wait to nearly the end of the show to see her. We were allowed to take photo's here and, although I had a pretty good seat and did take some of her, they didn't come out too well.

Tuesday afternoon: After the horrendous morning seeing Dad back home I had an Indian Head Massage booked for the afternoon. Having had one at the House Party weekend I was interested to see how different this one would be and was really looking forward to it. Unfortunately I probably didn't get as much benefit from it as I should have done because of the morning activities and my frame of mind when I got there but .... it was different, seemed more effective and I loved it. I just couldn't relax as much as I should have done, or wanted to do. Will certainly be having one again and hopefully will be able to relax into it much more next time.

The only other things that have been good .... Since last Thursday, while I've been out on my travels I've been stopping at random places and taking photographs - including from the car when in queues of traffic! Sad, I know, but I've started looking at things in such a different way since Mum died and I think I'm finally beginning to appreciate some of the nicer points of the area I live in. There is some beautiful scenery within a mile or 2 of where I live so I've decided to record it when I can. Unfortunately the sun doesn't always shine so some of the piccies don't show it at it's best, necessarily .... to be continued *LOL*


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Daylight is ...

... starting to break and with it my memory! *LOL* I've just remembered what I did on Friday. I visited Dad but, on the way there I had to divert to his flat and, as I'd been meaning to since it came out of loft, I actually remembered to put Grandad's leg in the car to take back from whence it came - 32 years late but hey - better late than never *hehe* The ladies on reception found it quite amusing but they tell me they actually have far older legs in the store - and there's me thinking that it would be going somewhere that could use it ... or it's components. Still, it may end up in a museum one day I guess. At least it's out of our way now. Dad now tells me that Grandad had 2 legs. OK, I know most people have 2 legs but not everyone has got 2 right legs *LOL* The one he had in use when he died was returned but this one must already have been in the loft and forgotten about, in which case it could be a fair bit older than originally thought. Anyway, it's finally found it's way back to where it should be now.

The dawn chorus is starting - or at least the gulls are waking up (there's babies on a dormer roof 2 doors up from us but our roof is clear this year ... the netting has worked) - so perhaps I ought to go back to bed and see if I can at least get another hours sleep before it gets too late and I need to be up anyway ......

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What a lovely, bright ...

... oh no, I must be dreaming! It's not a lovely, bright sunny morning at all. It's still dark! Been awake since 01:05am. Went to bed around 11pm soooooooo tired from so many sleepless nights of late. Still awake at 11:45 when hubby came to bed. Must have slept for an hour and now I've given up trying to sleep again and got up around half an hour ago. I will go back and try again in a while but it's just so frustrating to lay there tossing and turning. My eyes are stinging and feel gritty. I've a really bad taste in my mouth that doesn't seem to go and I seem to be permanently on the brink of tears or bawling my eyes out.

I'm gonna take a trip to the chemist tomorrow ... oops, later today .... and try an herbal sleeping aid - something like Nytol? - and see if that will help. Really, really don't want to go down the route that Mum did with her insomnia - sleeping pills and Prozac and they still didn't help. Looks as though I'm inheriting it - or would it be that I've inherited her husband??? I'm beginning to understand more and more where she was coming from but .......... I'm not married to him! Can't think of any other reason why I'm suffering this bout of insomnia though 'cos it started at the weekend!

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Week of mixed ...

... emotions so far. Bit like the weather's been really. Up one minute and down the next. Starting to lose track of the days ... and the will to live at the same time. Had a good day Thursday but since then - well! Can't remember what happened on Friday so I'm guessing nothing of any note. Saturday weather was rubbish - drizzle to heavy rain all day and eldest was competing in an archery tournament. It was close to home so I popped down in afternoon to watch and support. He's not shot for a few weeks (new girlfriend - *lol*) and it showed. He came third overall but he wasn't happy with his overall performance and he wasn't any happier on Sunday when he was competing again! Weather was better - sunny and warm but it was blowing a gale. Not condusive to high scores. Pleasant afternoon for me though - *lol* Had the mickey taken 'cos I was trying to get a photo of an old diesel train going by ... the railway line ran right alongside the shoot! I did get one though - mickey taking or no *hehe* Also got the news while there that hubby had just become the County Veteran Champion in Double Trap (Clay Target shooting) .... Good one!

Monday. Day was spent doing some shopping and preparing for Dad to return to his little flat on Tuesday. Yep, his week in respite turned into a week in respite and 4 weeks in rehab! Anyway, Monday afternoon was spent at the flat getting it ready (waterproofing bed etc. ... more on that later)

Now, to my mind rehab meant that they would be working with him to get him back doing the things he'd stopped doing when he moved but was quite capable of doing ... at least, before the move. Wrong! Rehab, in this instance, meant them not allowing him to do anything at all. They didn't want him getting up, going to bed, washing, dressing or even going to the loo, without supervision. The only thing they've done is to help him walk with a walking (zimmer) frame when he used to use a walking stick or nothing at all. They assessed his ability in the kitchen by taking him in a wheelchair and asking him to make a cup of coffee - which he did (although he doesn't drink coffee), while sitting in the wheelchair. Then they wheeled him back to his room and noted he was 'able' in the kitchen! Did I miss something here? Dad doesn't use a wheelchair, except where there's a fair bit of walking that he wouldn't manage but then he's pushed, not self propelled. He doesn't sit to make drinks (which I was quite aware he could do) so ..... how does he move said drink/sandwich/food to where he wants to drink/eat it when he's using a walking frame?

Tuesday: He was brought back by the OT and Physio, sat on the sofa then told he didn't need to do anything because it would all be done for him and away they went. The only thing that 'rehab' has done is make him less able and now expecting everything to be done for him. He's become incontinent since he's been away (think it's because he was told he couldn't get out of bed without supervision) and he told me he'd not had a proper bath or shower in all the weeks he's been there, despite the incontinence. Seems it didn't occur to him to ask for one.

First problem arose later that afternoon/early evening. I got a phone call from a carer as he couldn't find Dad's medications. The way they're dispensed has changed since I last dealt with them so I'd left them on the bed in the bag the OT/Physio had brought them in, assuming that there would have been an official handover between the care staff. Got that one wrong! It hadn't happened which meant Dad had been without pain relief all day except for his very first dose of the day. It had been arranged for him to have Meals on Wheels and, if I hadn't been there when his first meal arrived he wouldn't have eaten it. He couldn't get it from the kitchen to where he eats.

Wednesday (today - I think!): 3 phone calls today. One from Estate Manager. He needs paperwork signed by Dad but wanted to know if I was happy for him to deal with it directly with Dad, who said he didn't mind dealing with it if I agreed. Yep, says I, but good luck and ring me if you have any probs. Second phone call - more serious this time! It was the District Nurse telling me she'd tried to gain access to Dad but unsuccessfully. Dad doesn't know how to use the entry system and I'm sure he doesn't hear the buzz as he's never reacted to it when I've been there. Seems there was nobody in the office to let her in either so she went away and phoned me. She's now got the Care Managers phone number. Hopefully they will liaise. Third phone call? The Estate Manager again. This time because Dad refused to deal with the paperwork and wanted me there! He'd forgotten he said he would and Estate Manager asked me if he had a memory problem as he didn't seem to remember him from this morning. Eerrrrr - hellooooo? Just when will somebody actually start to listen to what I've been trying to tell them? More to the point, when will they ask questions as to what type of person he is from those that know him instead of making assumptions on what they see in front of them.

I've got a good few regrets now - that I got Social Services involved, that he moved (despite the fact that this place could be soooo good for him) but most of all, that I became so involved at the outset. Mum always said he could never live on his own if anything happened to her before him. I agreed at the time but after her death he surprised us all and showed real strength of character but it's all disappeared and of late it's been encouraged to disappear completely by the 'caring professions'. In fact it really started to seriously disappear on 26th May 2009 - the day he moved! I'm more worried about him now than I've ever been .... and having more sleepless nights than ever :0(

Any bets on how long it will be before I'm packing up this flat for him to go into residential care? Think it's the only way now but it needs his 'home' carers to say that his needs are too great for them to handle.

Guess that's the 'bad' stuff of the mixed emotions out of the way. There has been some good-ish stuff as well ..... to be continued *LOL*

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Spellbinder's Impressabilities and Nestabilities.

Thursday 9th July and a manic day of classes at the Glitterpot with Paula Pascual. Not the nice relaxing day I was looking forward to as it was a packed couple of classes. To get all projects done was near impossible with my leg problem 'cos queueing really isn't much of an option for me ;0( To ease the pressure in the afternoon I saved one of the projects to finish at home and I actually felt that I was able to put 'quality' time into the other projects. Wish I'd thought to do the same with the morning class but I don't have one of the elements needed to finish them and wasn't impressed enough to want to buy - although I loved the finished effect I didn't like the mess to get it - *LOL* Guess it might not be so messy working at home instead of in a workshop though so, perhaps I'll consider at some point in the future..... especially as, now it's properly dry, it's not messy any more *hehe*

Morning Class - Impressabilities:
I'd bought a couple of these a few weeks ago but not used them. I've read US blogs where they'd been used so was intriqued when I saw this class on the workshop list. Paula has put a new slant on their use. Ink the whole Impressability, pass through the machine and as soon as it's out cover it in ... Pearl-Ex! Paula actually recommended Perfect Pearls over Pearl-Ex but she'd run out. Very, very messy but a beautiful effect.

Ingredients:-
Spellbinders Impressabilities - Snowflake and Flowers
Spellbinders Shapeabilities - Flower Creations
Brilliance Starlight Black ink pad (silver card) and Versafine black (other 2 cards)
Silver & gold Pearl-Ex/Perfect Pearls
Cuttlebug Cut & Emboss 3" x 3" Combo - Ice Crystal
Fiskars Border Punch - Scalloped Lace/Threaded Water
Craftwork Cards - Scalloped squares, Wraps & greetings
Variety of backing papers and card.

Self adhesive gems and a brad/button ... something for the flower centre.


Afternoon class - Nestabilities:
Using nesties to make the card blanks, the flowers and the box with a couple of Craftwork Cards elements thrown in for good measure - *LOL*

Ingredients:-
Spellbinders Nestabilites - Scallop Circle, Scallop Squares, Long Classic Scallop Rectangle.
Spellbinders Shapeabilities - Flower Creations
Craftwork Cards Greetings & Card Candy
Bazzill card and a variety of backing papers.


And to finish ..... a close-up of the gold Pearl-Ex used on the black Versafine to show the beautiful effect of it ...
Click on any image for a larger view.

Enjoy!!

Flippin' Christmas!

The new La Pashe sheets are on their way and I will certainly be adding them to my stash! La Pashe FLIPPIN' CHRISTMAS (a sentiment I agree with 'cos I'm very Bah-Humbug about Christmas *LOL*) are on sale next week. They are soooooooo funny - well, they tickle my sense of humour anyway *hehe* It would be worth keeping an eye on Jak's, Toni's, Jackies's and Karen's blogs as well. That's the designer and her team so I'm looking forward to their take on these sheets .....

Enjoy!!

UPDATE: The sheets are available from http://www.imag-e-nation.com/ - NOW!

Cuttlebug B plate

Here's a B plate with a bend to be proud of *LOL*
Anybody worried about their B plate bending needn't be. This is a B plate that was being used in a day of classes at the Glitterpot yesterday. Have to say it aided cutting beautifully but it seems it may be seeing it's last days - or not! Paula, the tutor, says she's thinking of replacing it but not because of the bend. It's because of the amount of cuts it's had so it's now thinner in the middle and could snap. You wouldn't believe it would you?

Enjoy!!

Oh, it was difficult ...

... NOT! What wasn't? Spending the Glitterpot vouchers that the lovely ladies from the Crafter's House Party weekend gave me. I did a couple of classes there today with Paula Pascual (Crafty Storage/Paula-Paulita blog laydeeee) and she is one mad Spanish female! Really should have just stuck to one class 'cos they were manic and can't say as I totally enjoyed them. Personally I think too much was crammed in so it was all rush (and very little instruction in the afternoon class so I ended up winging it) ..... and I didn't really learn a lot different, which is what I was hoping for. Still, you don't know if you don't go and guess it's better than sitting twiddling thumbs! Just felt that my finished products would have been a lot better with a little more time taken on them.

Anyway, shopping I did and none of it related to the classes 'cos I didn't need to buy anything as I'd got all the stuff already. Think that was a first 'cos I usually come out with a list of some things that I want although ... one Impressability had found it's way into my basket before the classes even started - *hehe*. Have to say, I didn't need the class to shop today .... a couple of Martha Stewart punches, some Dewdrops, embossing powders, Impressability, a little stamp, decent aqua brush, black versafine, some small cards, expandable envelopes of various sizes and some other basics. That and the classes came to just over £90 and all I paid was £41! Thank you ladies - and you shouldn't have but it's really appreciated! Best bit - spending Greta's pennies for her - *LOL*

Here's the more interesting content of my shopping. Haven't put the 'basics' or the envelopes in 'cos they're not really interesting ... although, expandable so really useful for those deeper 3D cards! I only bought white ones 'cos more universal.

Just realised that the dotty Martha Stewart I bought isn't the one I wanted - *doh!* Still, not a bad lot of stash for £40 *LOLOL*

Thanks for dropping by .....


ps. I started this post just before 7pm on Thursday evening and saved it (hence reference to 'today'). It's now 03:55am Friday morning and I'm finishing it. 2nd sleepless night in a row. Guess I've to be grateful for the 1½ hours sleep I have had tonight. Will be trying again soon ....