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Just back from ...

... a week away with the OH.  We went on a Haven holiday in Norfolk, staying in a caravan.  Not an area we've visited before and can't say as we've visited much of it now although we did visit a few attractions.  What we've seen of the area has been mainly by getting from a to b.  We did do a day in Great Yarmouth but I'll go into it all in a bit more depth when I've sorted some photos out.  Still managed to take a fair few of them - ROFL!

The day before we went away there was another Clair workshop *grin*  I loved the card we made this time round.  I adapted it slightly from the planned one but not by much.  We did a bit of distressing.  Funny how I never used to like the distressed look and now I love it and doing it.  Clair had designed the card with wide, lime'ish green grosgrain ribbon as an embellishment.  I wasn't so keen on the green as it didn't tie in with anything on the rest of the card.  I was wearing a navy sweater that had hanging ribbon ... well, not for long did it 'cos I cut it off to use on the card *LOL*

The butterfly stamps were a Papermania Urban collection stamp set - 3 butterflies on the stamp, coloured with distress inks and fussy cut.  The script background was a retired Stampin' Up one.  The other stamps were JustRite and dies were matching Spellbinders label dies of various types..  Cardstock was Stampin' Up.  Not obvious in the photos but the butterfly wings were coated in Wink of Stella.

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Excited ...

... much!  2 holidays booked in less than a week.  One for a week in October with the OH and one for a 2 week cruise in August next year with a friend.  

The October one will cover the week that includes our 31st anniversary.  We're going to an area of the UK we've not been to before.  Well, not to investigate anyway.  We've been to take part in an archery tournament (an intercounties one) many years ago but no sightseeing was done.  This time it will be sightseeing all the way.  We're doing a caravan holiday.  We couldn't seem to find an hotel that could accommodate the wheelchair and, even one that said they could then asked us what we meant by wheelchair accessible *shock*.  Didn't give much confidence that their advertised wheelchair accessible rooms would be, even if they hadn't been closed for the week we wanted.  Caravan park couldn't have been more helpful and we've an adapted caravan booked giving us a massive saving to put towards days and eating out.

The August cruise .... a bucket list item being marked off - twice!  First the cruise and second, the destination.  Norway!  Ideally I'd love to do Norwegian fjords in the winter but cruises at that time of year are in short supply and seem to be extra expensive when found.  This one is a bit more than that though in that it crosses the Arctic circle.  We leave from Southampton and cruise, calling in at different ports on the way, up to Honningsvag.  Google it.  It's right round the top of Norway, in the land of the midnight sun and nearly in the Barent Sea.  Looking forward to it immensely.  Just need to decide which excursions we'd like to do - and the other one of the 'we'?  Wendy, my roomie from Florida.  She gave me a couple of brochures to look at last Thursday at workshop.  I opened one and it fell on this page and, for me I didn't need to look any further.  Lucky for me Wendy was up for it as well and Friday she booked it.  Job done *grin!*

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Had a good ...

... day today.  A new craft show was being held at Sussex Uni Sports Hall, just down the road from me.  Not well advertised, unfortunately, and not many stall holders.  It was small but there was a good variety.  Still managed to spend a good amount.  Unfortunately for the stall holders it wasn't very busy but it's good for us buyers/browsers as you get to see things properly without fighting crowds.  I hope it becomes a regular on the craft show calendar but I have my doubts unless it gets a lot of footfall tomorrow.  It would be a shame but they are businesses and, if they lose money you can't blame them if they're not interested in any future shows.

Yesterday I was treated to dinner out by eldest and daughter-in-law.  It was a lovely evening and just what I needed at the moment.  I few glasses of vino, a good meal and a laugh.  Just what the doctor ordered ... although I'm not sure on the results of an attempted photo. We sort of got there in the end but not the most flattering photo in the world - ROFL!

FLORIDA - and the last couple of days.  

Day 9 - Epcot on the penultimate day else we'd not have got there.  As with Magic Kingdom, some decided they didn't want to go after all so they went off to shopping malls for the day (no great surprise there - LOL!) and 4 of us went to Epcot.  Personally I preferred Epcot to Magic Kingdom and I'd like to go back, perhaps taking it in over a few days so that it could be done in more detail.  There was a flower festival on ... lots of topiary and floral displays.  Very clever and very pretty. 

Day 10 - Departure day.  Evening flight so most of the day to kill.  We had to be out of the villa by 10am so we dropped our cases and checked in at Disney Springs.  We decided to try and do the balloon flight - well some did but a couple passed.  This time we managed it.  I guess earlier in the day is better than early evening.  

 After the flight we split up to meet later ready to make our way to the airport.  A couple of us decided to see a movie.  It was very hot and we didn't want to go shopping. My trip to Florida finished with Jungle Book then it was off to the airport and home.

Our last meal together, in the departure lounge of Orlando International Airport

Arrived home around 11am the following day - jet lagged!  Wish I could sleep on planes ....

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More from ...

... Florida.

Day 4 - 4 of us took the morning off to relax and use the pool.  The other 4 went off to a nature reserve for some canoeing.  Unfortunately, as it transpired, that ended up changing the itinerary as the reserve was at capacity and closed so they went to Winter Park instead (which had actually been planned for all of us later in the week) ... followed by shopping.  Shopping was involved for some most every day - lol!  

The evening was spent together at Manny's Chop House .... beautiful steaks but too big for me so I had a 'box' to take away.

Day 5 - Change of plan today.  We'd planned today as the visit to the Magic Kingdom but it was decided that we'd go to Violette's Scrapbooking and Stamp store at Lakeside instead - just in case it was thought a return visit was in order.  Lovely shop for a scrapbooker.  Not so much for card makers although I found a couple of stamp & die sets and a couple of single stamps I liked.  Mostly papers and emphemera which wasn't of much interest to me.  My exploring, picture taking and shopping was done in a little under an hour, I found a little place for a coffee and then sat outside Violettes, watching the world go, while the others did their shopping.  

... Evening and we went to Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney).  We nearly made it on to the balloon ride (can't really call it 'hot air' 'cos there wasn't any - lol!) but it was cancelled as we waited.  We'd paid and were next on but the wind became too strong to 'fly' so they refunded.  We ate at Paradiso 37 and then split up for a while for exploring and ... shopping!  I actually did go into one shop, the Disney Store .... and bought something *shock* ... lots of keyrings ... as little gifts to take back home *wink*  It was the only shop I went into.

Day 6 - Initially, when itinerary was drawn up, we were all going to the Magic Kingdom.  In reality, as the week moved on, several decided, for one reason or another, that they didn't want to go so it ended up just 3 of us going.   2 of us had never been before and the 3rd had, but many years ago.  We had a lovely day.  Very long and very tiring but we enjoyed it.  Everyone else went shopping for the day ... back to MFT and more outlet malls.

Just over half way through and still plenty of time for more shopping sightseeing. ROFL!!!!

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Not a good ...

... month where OH has been concerned.  Got back from 10 nights in Florida to find he'd taken a turn for the worse and he's not really improved since.  He has good days and bad days but the bad days are very bad and his good days are what his bad days used to be.  The cancer has spread into his sacrum and lower spine and there's a mass in his abdomen which they think is connected to the bladder and prostate.  He's now on a daily oral chemo course for 6 months initially, if the side effects aren't too bad.  He's in the hospice ... again!  He's spent more time there this year than at home.

Florida ... 10 nights in May.  Group of 8 from Clair's workshop group.  What can I say?  It was good.  Can now say been there, done that.  Would I go again?  Possibly but in a different way.  Magic Kingdom, Epcot, airboat ride, workshop at MFT (My Favorite Things), Winter Park, Celebration, Disney Springs, Mickey's Backyard BBQ and ...... Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Jo-Ann's, Walmart, Violette's and a shopping mall (just the one was enough for me - lol!)  Clair posted a daily vlog ... check her vids on her YouTube channel for them.

Let's have a few pics from Florida ......
Day 1 - ready to go shopping!  Nothing much else happened on Day 1 - LOL!  

Day 2 - Morning, and breakfast (or brunch, by the time we got it) in Celebration then back to villa via Hobby Lobby

...afternoon - Mickey's Backyard BBQ. A bit of fun. 

Day 3 - MFT (My Favorite Things) workshop in Eustis.  Excellent workshop and a good few tips picked up ... if only I could remember them - LOL!  Lovely shop and where I spent the most money on craft stuff.  Little coffee shop attached with delicious food.

Workshop makes

More piccies to come but won't bore with anywhere near the amount taken.   I've culled them down to just over 1250 from nearly 2000 - OMG!  I'll post a link to the photobook when it's done - ROFL!

Back from Florida a week and then off again on the annual House Party in Appleby Magna.  Very much jinxed this year.  First Jackie dropped out for whatever reason and then I wasn't sure, because of hubby, whether I'd make it or not.  Then Trace falls down the stairs and badly damages her leg just a couple of days before the off so she wasn't able to come.  Susan couldn't commit from the outset due to job uncertainty and then there were 6!  Those 6 all arrived but the hot tub, booked and paid for, hadn't!  Landlady rang hot tub man and it finally arrived but not in time to use that arrival day and poor Kim had changed into her cozzie the moment she'd arrived - ROFL!  Debs wasn't 100% from the start but by Saturday morning she felt so poorly she decided to make her way home which left just 5 of us for the weekend.  No Saturday meal out this year.  There was more than enough food in to make do ... and it needed to be used so we cobbled together a meal, of sorts and thoroughly enjoyed it - LOL!  A first for this year .... I actually managed to get out and about for a bit.  Kim and I visited the National Arboretum, just ½ an hour from the cottages.  Shame it decided to rain most of the time we were there.  There's plenty to go back for though and worth a visit.  Another year completed and yet again, very different from any we've had before.  Every year ... and this was the 8th ... has been different.  Never one the same.

That's the lot for today.  Things to do, places to go ..... get the drift?  

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A brand new year ....

... with family changes afoot.  Early days but we will be one less in a few months.  Not expected but quite welcome, I have to say, although circumstances could be 100% better.  What's the saying, last in first out? In this case it's right *grin*

Last year, apart from the health issues, was pretty much 'normal' - although some health issues, for us, seems to be pretty much 'normal as well *lol*.  No big holiday but the annual Crafter's House Party happened.  A week long now and this year we hired a hot tub for an added bit of luxury.  It was well used by some *LOL*

I took the opportunity of making a card for youngest son's birthday, which was the following month.

We even got our beauty therapist, Faye, making snowflakes

How dead is dead?  Seems even taking it back to the bare bones doesn't kill it.  It's still working like this some 6+ months on and no, it's not mine - *LOL*

It was the week of the baby swallows fledging so they kept some of us amused for a good while.  Plenty of comings and goings.

There was plenty of crafting done, laughter and general fun.  Looking forward to the next one now.

I continued with the fortnightly card workshop held by Clair and joined another one. Monthly this time and very different to Clair's but just as interesting. Vickie keeps us on our toes *wink* Unfortunately I failed badly in keeping my crafty spends to a minimum.  Must try harder on that one *grin*  I'll post some of the projects at some point.  Not all as a year's worth is a lot to catch up with but I'll select my faves to show. 

Still on the crafting ....
My mate Cally & I had our first foray to the 'Crafting at Ally Pally' craft show (formerly called the Big Stamp & Scrapbooking Show).  It was good but not as big as we expected.  I guess, because we've heard a lot about it and we've been to some really big shows we expected similar ... but it wasn't.  Not sure we'd bother again. We only went this time because our friend, Kim had won tickets and couldn't use them.  It was an adventure *grin*.  We went by train and bus - *lol*  Still managed to spend quite well - *rofl* A stunning building.

A Mr Man? .... on the ceiling *lol*

Just one example of the amazing wall art.

A random photo taken from the bus as we were leaving.  Pointed the camera at the window and took a shot.  No idea what to expect but ...

.... once home and uploaded to laptop I zoomed in.  London skyline .... Shard and all!

 And yes, I am that sad *grin*

That's all for today.  I'll see what I can pull out of the 2015 archive another day -*LOL*

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