Guess what? ...

... it's not happening - AGAIN! What? My blooming balloon flight!

Once again it's too windy and the forecast, last week, when this one was booked was ideal. Trouble is, it's changed as the days have moved on. Generally nice weather but just too breezy for the balloon to take off. Just done a count up and, unless I've missed any (which is possible because of the odd phone calls I got last year inviting me on flights at last minute) today was (at least) the 13th booking I've made for this flight so #13 has been unlucky for me. It's the 6th booking this year and, bearing in mind that I haven't had a booking in May or June because of hip ... I'm beginning to think that it will be going into next year before I get this flight. I told them last year I seemed to be a jinx - now they're coming to the same conclusion but when fate declares it's the right time for me - it will happen! Got to keep telling myself that else I'd scream! Anyone else ever waited so long for a Christmas present? It's now 20 months since I was given it ....

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Friday was ...

... a funny day. Funny odd, that is. It started badly finding out that our Chalky had died but, until then, it was a day I had been looking forward to.

Car had been booked in for it's annual service and MOT. The garage I use is just off of the road that my good friend Cally lives in so, as has become the norm over the years, I book it in for a day when Cally's available and we have a 'playday' - *LOL* I drop car off, walk to hers, play and chat then walk back to garage to collect car when ready, later in day. Well, that's the theory and has worked well until this year - 'cos I can't walk the silly little distance from garage to hers without ending up being laid up for a few days after! This year I called at hers first, dropped off my toys and she followed me to garage in her car to drive me back to hers! Took less than 5 minutes from garage to hers by car. Would probably have taken me an hour, or more, on shanks' pony - if I made it at all *LOL*

Had a lovely day playing, chatting and generally putting the world to rights ... remembering Chalky and the sense of relief when it emerged that he hadn't been poisoned (you can't believe how upset and angry I was thinking some 'really nice person' had ended his life that way) then the call came from garage! Needed a bit of work but time was running out. Unlike other years they wanted to keep it until the morning *doh!* Quick travel arrangements made so not a problem.

Now I'm a couple of hundred+ quid lighter and still got the Road Fund licence to get but would I give the car up for public transport? No way, José - I couldn't afford to, either financially, convenience or timewise - *lol!!* I sooo wonder how I managed without a car when the lads were little. They were doing their own thing by the time I learnt to drive!

The results of our playday - or at least, my results - are on a separate post. I'm sure Cally will be posting hers on her blog in the fullness of time. She managed a couple more than I did!

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Christmas Play Day

I had a day of craftiness with my good, and long time friend Cally on Friday. She chose the theme of the day (well, she was the hostess) - CHRISTMAS (bah humbug!). Deliberately chosen, I have to say, as I don't usually make Christmas cards so she decided that I would make at least a few this year. I have a 'thing' for buying Christmas crafty stuff but, as with a lot of what I buy, it just never gets used. Lovely day and I made 4 cards and have 'bits' to play with at home. Like what I did but don't look too closely as there are bits on all cards that I don't like because of the mistakes made however, I'm sure the recipients (if there are any) will like them no matter what - *lol*

Three of a kind ...
Inspiration for these was taken from an imag-e-nationer who made something similar last year and, I have a strong feeling that it was Karen. Simple but effective but more so when there are no errors. My fave has to be the first one made, before I started playing to 'ring the changes' - the red one! The green one would have been fine if I'd managed to punch all the corners properly and the turquoise if I'd rounded the 4 outer corners of the tree to match the matt. Still, something learnt ...

Ingredients:
Card: White linen - Papermill. Green & red mirri - Tesco's Creative in Kids Crafts section. Turquoise mirri from Cally.
Embossing: Cuttlebug folder - Lace tree.
Greeting: Kanban sticky ribbon.
Embellishments: - Snowflake & star brads, poinsettia flower shapes - Papermania. Stickles glitter glues - Diamond and lime green. Ribbon/bows from stash (Cally's)

Something different ...
Not sure about this one although it does look better in the 'flesh'! Used chalks to add a bit of colour without being too heavy but blinged it up a bit with good old glitter. Bow added to add depth to the colour as it looked a little bland without.

Ingredients:
Card: Black base - no idea as it was Cally's but bought as card blank & envelope pack in the US. Matting and layering - cream hammered card, Papermill and mirri card as above (Tesco)
Embossing: Both picture and greeting Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folders - Christmas Set.
Embellishment: Chalks - Plaid All Night Media Blending Chalks, Earth Tones. Stickles glitter glue - Diamond and Orange Peel. Ribbon - from Cally's stash. Brilliance ink Galaxy Gold (edged greeting plaque)
Matting: Spellbinders oval nestibilities.

You will notice that the ribbon I've used was all from Cally's stash. Those that know me will know about my legendary collection of ribbon and I did take some with me - in traditional Christmas colours but ..... Cally had such a nice selection it would have been rude not to use some of hers - *lol*
Enjoy!!

Rainbow Bridge ...

... has another resident. Our Chalky died overnight.

He wasn't 'officially' ours but we were part of his extended family. He was rescued, as an older pup, by youngest son and daughter-in-law back in 2001 and then became the pet of eldest son and his family with me being the 'resident' doggy sitter when needed to cover holidays. There'll be no more crafting holidays for him and me *sob*

He was just 8 years old but he was prone to fits. Not regular enough to medicate and no apparent reason for them. Last night he suffered one fit too many and it killed him, although initially it was thought he'd been poisoned. It's a relief to know that he died from natural causes and he wouldn't have been aware of what was happening, rather than an awful painful death.

R.I.P. Chalky ... you were a joy and will be sadly missed *mwah*

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I was hoping ...

... that I'd have a lot of photo's to post tonight. My balloon flight had been rebooked from the no-go last week and it was due today. Not bad weather overall but - it was too windy! Didn't even leave the house today - well, not for the flight anyway. Oh well, here's to the next time but for now here's a photo of my hibiscus shrub in the front garden. A couple of years ago it was chopped right down to the ground ...

Had a phone call from Dad's morning carer on Monday morning. He ran out of pain relief over the weekend. Seemed odd to me 'cos he'd had his normal monthly prescription and that usually lasts. Then a light went on! Dad used to self-medicate and he took the pain relief as he needed, which wasn't all the time, so they lasted him. Since the carers have started medicating him they have been doing so by the med label which states 1 or 2 a time, up to 4 times a day. They'd been giving him 2, 4 times daily without checking whether he actually needed them - because there's nothing on the label relating to a 'need' basis. Anyway, called on Dad yesterday and took some paracetamol with me to tide him over until I could talk to his doc. Asked him if he wanted a couple of the pills, thinking he'd need them if he'd had no pain relief since Saturday and he said he'd have them to 'be on the safe side'. Further conversation told me he didn't need them and that he'd not actually had any pain. Seems, because he's no longer moving around as he used to, his pain isn't as great. In fact, it seems pretty non-existant, which means he really doesn't need the heavy duties with all the added side effects! I have to say I thought he was a lot brighter than of late and he seemed more aware and little more 'with it'. Today I managed to speak to his doc and she's changing his script to lighter pain relief, to be given only when needed and, she says that we might see a bit of a difference in him. Not only do the heavy duties cause constipation and the probs that go along with that but they can cause, or increase, confusion! After seeing him so much more alert yesterday perhaps there's something in what she said.

We had an appointment with somebody from the local Day Centre with a view to him going once a week or so. Trouble is, they didn't turn up. Seems they thought he wasn't interested. Don't know how they got that idea because nobody has spoken to them, as far as I know, since they made the appointment. It's rescheduled now for next week. He's said he'd give it a try so I hope he doesn't change his mind after the meeting. It will give him something to look forward to each week. Different things to do and people to talk to. We'll find out more when we have the meeting ...

Photo of Dad taken on camera phone last week, so not a good photo but then he wasn't looking good either! He's lost so much weight (although they tell me he's eating well and he says he's not hungry) that his glasses fall off when he nods off - bless! He looked better this week :O))

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She said ...

... that she lived in the middle of nowhere and Boris wasn't about to make her into a liar - *LOL*! Who said? Jackie! I've just spent a weekend with her and what a fun weekend it's been but then, I knew it would be! A couple of hours drive away - to the far reaches of Kent .... nearly as far as you can go east of the UK. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly our countryside can change from manic motorway/trunk roads into a landscape where another car is difficult to find. Boris directed me off of the major trunk road into a world of little B roads unclassified roads, whilst showing me I was about 20 minutes away from my destination. That would have been 20 minutes away if I hadn't kept stopping to take photos of the landscape he was taking me across - *hehe*!

He did make one mistake - he dropped me in the middle of nowhere, telling me I'd "reached my destination" in the middle of road, surrounded by trees and nothing else. Mmmmmmm - don't think so! I knew J's house was on open land with a field in front. Just one time I was thankful for my mobile. I was actually less than a minute away from her but without local knowledge ....

View to Ramsgate (in far distance across the bay) from Jackie's house

I wasn't the only visitor she had but I've not taken up permanent residence - although neither has her other one if J has her way - *LOL*!
It, or they ('cos I'm sure there's more than one) aren't even fazed by Muggi or Xev!

Anyway, good company, good food, good wine and a brilliant weekend - even allowing for a 6 hour powercut just after I arrived which meant that the liquid refreshment had to come from a bottle instead of the tap and kettle - oooops!

Thanks for dropping by .....


Footnote: Boris is my satnav. Named Boris 'cos it's a German make called Becker, so what else was I supposed to call it - *LOL*?

Got the closest ...

... to date! Balloon flight - that is.

Didn't expect it to happen as the weather forecast for today was not good - well not for the time that the flight was going to be due. Phoned to check as required and it was a goer - *yay*. Have to say that the weather was ideal at home but the flight meeting place is 20 miles away and the weather can be totally different at the top part of our village to home, let alone 20 miles away *LOL* Duly left with plenty of time to allow for hold-ups and arrived with loadsa time to spare. Balloon and crew arrive, full complement of passengers and looking good but ...... the weather was not quite as good!

Meeting point - Buxted Park

We got soooooooooo close. Balloon nearly fully inflated and just as burners would have been bought into play there was a few spots of rain and a phone call. Oh no! Disappointment - big time *sob*. Flight cancelled. Bad weather just 15 minutes away. Balloon deflated (not before the inside was given a thorough inspection by the potential passengers) and packed away.

Preparation ...






It's on the up!


As good as it gets - *sob*


So that's what it's like on the inside!


Perhaps next time ...


... and away home!

We had the champers, due for the end of the flight, as a celebration of not getting wet. Within ½ hour the heavens had opened and it's been raining hard ever since. Right decision but can't help feeling a bit deflated .... a real anti-climax!

Still, I now know how an hot air balloon is inflated and I know what's expected to get in the basket and what the landing procedure is so ...... here's to the next time! I just hope I don't end up going into a third year before I get my flight. Eldest son says it's a 'rollover present' - funny, huh? LOL!!

Thanks for dropping by .....

Busy day ...

... and I'm aching like mad. Don't know what to do with my leg or back at the moment and it's still not finished 'cos we're waiting for a grocery delivery. Can't say as I'm that keen about doing the grocery shop online but it's come in very useful over the past few months with my limited mobility. I've done a couple of 'top-up' shops during that period and I've really suffered afterwards. Reckon not going to the store does save money though - but it's not the same as going and picking your own fruit and veg and checking out the 'use by' dates yourself. Meals also tend to get a bit samey when you don't actually walk the aisles - LOL!

Today has been a laundry day. Put first load of washing on and decided it was about time I caught up with some ironing. Spent 5 hours ironing, with a couple of breaks. Watched some stuff I'd got recorded from Create & Craft while doing it so that was a bonus. Still not finished - ironing that is, although I am - but will pick it up again next week. I really must do what I keep intending to do and actually do the ironing following each wash. Would only take ½ an hour instead of several hours where it's built up over months. Obviously have too many clothes - *LOL*!

Weather today has been beautiful. Warm, sunny and not a breath of wind. The ideal balloon flying weather. Only problem is the weather forecast for tomorrow. I've been hoping that the weather today was set to continue but .... we've now been issued with a severe weather warning for this area, with heavy, thundery rain forecast to arrive around 4pm. Time of the balloon flight meet? 5:30pm! Reckon it'll be a no-go ... again. I just hope I get this flight before my hip finally decides there is no way it will happen. Still, forecasts have been wrong before - it should have tipped it down today and it has been the exact opposite so hopefully it will be wrong tomorrow. Balloon company has to decide by 2:30pm whether the flight will go ahead or not .....

We've got some lovely green tomatoes growing though ............... *hehe*! We've also had some more beautiful waterlilies on the pond. We're only getting one at a time and each one is different but they're all beautiful. Hopefully there will be more next year and, with the plants better established I'm hoping that we'll get more than one lily at the same time - *LOL*


Thanks for dropping by .....

Funny sort of ...

... weekend! I don't feel as though I've done anything but I actually have - just doesn't feel like it. Spent time sorting through a load of craft stuff but the bonus to that was - I found things I'd been looking for, for over a week. Now, when I go to Cally's for our 'crafty day' I can actually take what I wanted 'cos I found it all .... *yay!*

I've also been playing with my different colouring mediums and using hubby as a sounding block. Or, at least, trying to but it's a bit like pulling teeth! "Well, I like them all" ... "I don't really have a favourite" ... "They've all got something to like about them" .... for heaven's sake, there must be one that you like better than the others! "Well, I guess it's that one" Hooooo-blooming-ray! I think my colouring is getting better in all mediums but have to say I'm leaning towards the Prismas and Sansodor (for colour intensity) with pastel pencils a close second. Watercolouring - well, still not sure but will keep practising *lol* I've been enjoying playing though and have found it quite relaxing.

I've given up on my nights. They seem to be getting better in as much as I'm not waking quite so early, it's getting to be around 4am now instead of 2:30am which is some sort of improvement and the odd nights I actually manage all night (with a 'comfort' break mid-way through). I'll mention it to the doc next time I go but I seem to be getting enough as I'm not wanting to nod off through the day.

Called to see the littlies yesterday. Emma's lost one of her front teeth and she took delight in showing me how wobbly the other one was - bless! She has a big gap between her 2 top front teeth (inherited from Great-Grandma) so the gap's even bigger now.

Amy was her normal 'scarey' self. She's an adorable little thing and a real comedienne but you never know what she's going to say next and that's what's scarey *LOL*



Little Zac was happily making his way around the furniture and even managed to stand for a couple of minutes unaided - until he realised and then he sat down. A lovely controlled sit-down instead of a fall down. Not an hour after I'd left them he decided he was going to walk properly. Now why didn't he decide to do it while I was there????? He'll be 11 months old on the 9th August.

He's a tiny bit later than the girls were to walk. Emma was just 3 days past 10 months and Amy was only 9 months old when she walked but then he's not really had a need to as the girls are proper little mother hens *LOL* Mind you, they might not be so keen now he's found his feet properly......

Thanks for dropping by .....

FREEBIE - Pebble beach

Here's the first freebie for this month. I was browsing Nicky's photo albums on Facebook, just after she'd uploaded some of her holiday photos and fell in love with a few. She kindly gave permission for me to use what I wanted so I hope she likes what I've done. Greetings are a new thing for me and I'm not sure about them, if I'm honest. I think they may be too big and that's a problem in not printing them out myself before I post. Let me know if they are too big and I'll see about making smaller greetings on future sheets.

Please note:
These sheets are copyright to me and the original photograph to Nicky Lovett. 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!!