Noooooooo!

Classes tomorrow are cancelled! They've been postponed to 11th February .... just before I go on my holiday so at least I can still get to do them. This snow has a lot to answer for. Yesterday there was every chance of it going ahead. Today, after more overnight snow there's no chance :0( Need to get my butt into gear and try doing some crafting at home - yeah, right!

Enjoy!!

The thaw ...

... has come to an end! It's snowed overnight and now, where it had been clear, is covered with a fresh 4 inches or so! The little rough snow mountains dotted around from the clearances are now smoothing out again with the fresh fall.  Schools, which had reopened on Monday, have closed again which means my youngest grand-daughter hasn't got her open morning at 'big' school as planned :0( The already very restricted bus service to the village has been stopped completely  (again!) and the buses that service the area that Dad lives in now are also not running (there's not many that were in the city anyway) because the roads are too dangerous. Guess the postal delivery won't happen again for a few days either ....

I'm not hopeful of getting to the Glitterpot tomorrow anymore, although yesterday it looked possible ... but no longer! The forecast is for it to move away but not until early afternoon. Even if temperatures rise to start the thaw again I don't think it's gonna be quick enough - *LOL* Oh well, looks like a few phone calls to be made .....

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Let it snow ...

... or not! Not any more pleeeeaase. This is the second lot we've had this winter and this one snowed us in from last Wednesday until yesterday. Wouldn't have got car out without neighbourly help yesterday though. It's reduced a bit more today but it is colder than yesterday so the thaw is extremely slow. Very pretty but you can have too much of a good thing!

click on any pic to be taken to an album for larger stills or a better slideshow

The 'warming pasta dish' was salmon & leek in a creamy dill & lemon sauce on a bed of pasta with loadsa really strong cheddar grated over .... delish!
The 'craft room' is still a store room so guess it would be more accurate to call it that or my proposed craft room. I did take a pic of it as I left it but will not be posting that on here - *lol*

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Normal service ...

... is being delayed! Off to a craft class on Thursday (if it's not cancelled because of the weather) so hopefully will report on that over the weekend but if you want to know what's been going on the past few weeks then head over to Ramblings, if you don't normally, and take a look at my 'journal' ....

Enjoy!!

I've been ...

... shopping! Online shopping while waiting for the thaw to start - lol! Actually it's been more desperation after getting what little I could, by way of holiday clothes, in M&S last Tuesday. I managed to get a cozzie, some lightweight trousers, a couple of tops and a dress (thought I might get the legs out, except it's ankle length - *lol*). No sarongs ... unless I wanted to pay an arm and a leg for a cover-up ... or slip on, non-post flip flops. Anyways, managed to find some sarongs and flip-flops on eBay, ordered sun & bug lotions from Boots Online and bought the anti-malarials the same way. I'm now starting to get it all arrive.  Dribs and drabs, admittedly but at least it's arriving! Money has been transferred so as far as I'm concerned it's all paid for and just my 'spends' to cover, which I did last week when I was in Tesco.

Does seem very strange though - all these summer clothes that I keep looking at and waiting for when we're minus silly degrees with a foot of snow outside the front door - *grin*!

I'm also waiting on delivery of some crafty bits but that is tending to find itself on the backburner at the moment as holiday, Dad and taxman seems to be taking over everything else right now. Taxman should be happy (or at least I will be when I find out how much he's paying me back) by end of week, or even this evening - *lol* - and looking forward to a day of classes with Paula Pascual on Thursday at the Glitterpot (note to self: look to see if they've got the new owl stamp set Papermania have just released .....!)

Oh yes ... I've also been busy arranging another House Party after the success of last year. Can't wait for that! Will be September this year 'cos a lot have got other commitments earlier in the year - and I've got an African holiday to go on .... did I mention that before??? *RFLMAO*

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Christmas 2009 ...

... a little late but catching up. No christmas photo's (first time ... ever) of the eldest grandchildren but there are a couple of eldest's new partners oldest 2 (phew!)... both boys and into card towers - *lol* It would be easier to call them our new step-grandchildren except they're not 'cos eldest hasn't remarried. Mind you, he can't yet anyway. Not until he receives his absolute, which is in the pipeline but not sure he intends to marry again. Have to chuckle 'cos neither did I but it's 25 years on the 2nd one for me (3rd for hubby) this year - *LOL*

Here's a medley of some of the photos I have got, until I can get more to add to them. Need to become a nagging Mum, methinks - especially as the eldest's entourage (as it's become) bought me a digital photo frame for Christmas. Need some new stuff, as well as old, to display - *hehe* There's a mix of photos from old camera and my new one.

click on any pic to be taken to an album for larger stills or a better slideshow

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Just had a ...

... chuckle. Making a cuppa and while waiting for kettle I had a look out of the kitchen window. OK, it's dark now but there's a street lamp outside the house and it's highlighting all the snow mountains that are now dotted around. Couldn't help but chuckle 'cos I can just see these mountains being there well into next week and longer if the temperatures don't rise. It just looks so funny - all these piles of snow and ice.


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Well, the weather ...

... outside is still frightful but there hasn't been any more snow and it seems as though a slow thaw may have started. Made the effort, even though still feeling kack, to go clear car this morning. Thought I'd try 'thinning' snow behind it (it was over a foot deep), throwing some salt on to it and leave that to do the work with a view to trying to get out tomorrow. Kindly neighbour 2 doors away was out with his shovel and took pity. Within 10 minutes he'd cleared the snow behind my car and had started on the public bit ... pavement, crossover and road. A neighbour that faces us from over the road, must have felt guilty and came to help (he watched hubby struggling in his wheelchair the other day). Result - half hour later I could get car out. Managed to get over to Dad's but couldn't believe the state of the main roads. The village looked like a giant car park! Abandoned cars littered the main street and reduced it down to a single lane in places. I don't think I've ever seen the like before and I've lived in the village for 55 years! Further into town, nearer Dad and I could understand why the buses hadn't really started back on proper routes. Hoping that the thaw continues but it's not going to be quick, that's for sure.

I've been going through the photos I've taken since just before Christmas so here's the start of a photo roundup of the past few weeks ....

Just before Christmas ... saw them going down, here they're coming back, then saw them in the field behind the trees viewed from the rear of our house. Not sure if they were having a party or if it was just a dress up for the season but they looked as though they were having fun - *lol*

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♫♪♪♫ Oh, the weather ...

... outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! ♫♪♪♫

Well, I wish I didn't have anywhere to go and I actually wish I felt well enough to even try but I do and I don't so I'm staying put! The snow we had before Christmas eventually cleared but it snowed again in this area on Wednesday and I'm stuck! Have to say that it's not just the weather that has made me stuck but health as well 'cos, on top of the norm, I've now caught a cold from OH and feel really poo! I told him he shouldn't have been so generous - *LOL*

It's been an age since I've updated and really no reason other than I've just not been in the right frame of mind and don't see the point unless I am. There's been a bit going on so my 'journal' is a bit behind now as well.

Didn't see the little ones on Christmas day as originally planned as they all went down with the winter sickness bug. It started for them a couple of days before Christmas and, as one recovered another went down with it. Trying to steer clear of all bugs so hubby stayed bug free ready for his op on New Year's Eve, it was thought best to keep away. Dad came to us for the day and hadn't been here more than ½ hour when he decided he could stay the night by sleeping on our sofa. Mmmmmmmm, a 2-seater sofa that isn't a sofa bed? I don't think so! Eldest son and his family - new and our grandkids - called in Christmas afternoon and we had a house full. 5 kids - well, 18,16,13,12 and 8 - and 5 adults, including us, do not make for the quietest of times. We had fun but think Dad decided that it was all too much for him. He took his hearing aids out and not long after they'd left he decided it was time to go home - *lol*

We managed to have our time with the littlies on the Monday after Christmas. Santa had left a lot of stuff at our house for them and to see the excitement on their faces was wonderful. Little Zac was a bit bemused by it all and decided our kitchen was a good place to test out what his voice sounded like - at full scream! It was a happy, play scream but a scream, none-the-less .... *bless!*

Hospital confirmed, on the Wednesday, for hubby's op but he woke up on the Thursday full of cold. Rang the hospital to find out whether he should still go but anaethetist said 'no' due to tubes down throat so op was cancelled on the morning he should have had it. Talk about disappointed! He is so desperate for this op but everything seems to be conspiring against him having it. He's now got another date for 5th February. Not soon enough really but surgeon is off on a skiing jolly sometime in January and his list was full.

I've been shopping for the holiday. Not easy finding beachwear in the middle of winter when most of the country is covered in snow! Have managed though, which was just as well as I went shopping on Tuesday and the snow came back overnight Tuesday/Wednesday and I've been nowhere since! I've also done some online shopping (clothes, shoes, lotions, potions, meds and craft) and had emails from all the places I've bought from telling me they've all been despatched. Only problem is - the last post we received was on Tuesday. We've had no mail deliveries since then, of any sort - Royal Mail or courier - so it'll be like Christmas when it all starts getting through - *woohoo!*

On the subject of holiday ... that's changed twice in the last week. Firstly it seems that Zanzibar had a power failure before Christmas and the place has no electricity. We've been told it could be March by the time it's fixed and now it's affecting sanitation so plans changed and we're no longer going there so no Spice Trail but ..... we're going on safari instead! Now, am I disappointed? In one way yes but mainly, NO!!! Check out here. It's where we're going for a 3 night stay. Since that change the dates have changed as well. We're no longer flying out on the 2nd February. It's been delayed and we now go on 14th February but we're going for a couple of days longer. We're also gonna be doing the safari at the start and not the end and there's a possibility that we'll stay an extra night in Dar-es-salem. Of course, this could all change again before we go so, Magical Mystery Tour .... here we come! I'm now all jabbed out and have nothing more to have but one of my online shops are my anti-malarials which have been despatched but not yet arrived!

In the meantime it's still snowing and we've the worst to come if the forecast is anything to go by so looks as though I'm not going anywhere fast, any time soon! I've craft classes booked for Thursday, with Paula Pascual at the Glitterpot but whether I get there or not remains to be seen - assuming they're not cancelled anyway!

People complain that this country comes to a standstill when we have snow and to a certain extent that is true but - it is very rare for us to get a lot of snow so there is no real reason why we should be geared up to deal with it. If it was a given every year, as it is in other countries, we might have more reason to complain but as it's not I think we have to accept things as they are. It just wouldn't make economic sense to be geared up to deal with, what to us, are freak conditions. If it starts to become more the norm then that's a different matter but in the meantime ....

Well, think that's caught up with all the 'happenings'. Need to sort out photos now. Been playing a bit 'cos hubby bought me a new camera for Christmas especially for my holiday - and that was before we knew a safari was gonna be involved! Only problem is - I didn't get any photos of the eldest grandkids this Christmas. The first Christmas ever that I've missed getting any. I got a couple of the 'new' ones (or at least 2 of them) but with the confusion that was reigning they'd gone before I realised. Hoping eldest son has got some that I can add to my collection but not holding breath at getting any, even if he has. Trying to get photos from either of my boys is like pulling teeth - *LOL*

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Normal service ...

... will be resumed soon, hopefully!

Christmas has been and gone and not in the way hoped or planned and New Year came and went much the same way. So much going on and no time to blog, just when I should be blogging to record it all - *LOL*

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Normal service ...

... will be resumed soon - hopefully!
Enjoy!!

Wishing everybody ...

... a Very Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous





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To all my readers and friends ...

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous

You will probably see the following on several blogs if you hop but I saw this on the imag-e-nation forum and couldn't resist reproducing it here. I'm sure it's something we can all relate to. I know I can.

Crafter's Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas,
I’m glued to the tree.
I’m wondering what Santa brought just for me.
Could it be cardstock or ink pads or lace?
Or some stamps, I said, with a smile on my face.
And that’s when I heard him ... “Hi Santa” I said
He replied, “You know ... good girls should be in their beds”.
“I know I should Santa and now I’ve been caught.
But I was just so excited to see what you brought”
“Well, let’s take a look in this room where you work”.
He shook his head quickly, and left with a jerk.
I heard him exclaim as he put it in gear.
“You’ve got enough crap, I’ll see you next year!

Enjoy!!

♪♪♫♪ Let meeee ♫♪♪♫ ...

♪♫♪♫♫... entertain introduce yooouuuuuu ♫♪♫♪♪ to Trevor!
Well, in a while I will - but first - I've done the decorations *lol* Actually, I put the tree up nearly 2 weeks ago. We've had some very rude comments about our tree and hubby has become very defensive of it. ☺ I saw it and couldn't resist. I thought it about time we had a change from our 12inch pre-decorated one that I've got out of it's box for the last couple of years so I threw caution to the wind and bought this new one ......

It's very 'green' (and I don't mean it's branches) as it uses no electricity. It's lights, yes, it does have lights - LED ones - run off of 2 AA batteries (OK, so they're not particularly 'green') and it takes up little room. I've not measured it but it's probably about 9 inches high in it's pot. It's a cute little tree and I can't see why anybody would want to be rude about it *LOLOL*

The remainder of the decorations were done on Sunday. Took about 5 minutes to do. It's a hard job arranging cards to fill spaces so they can all be seen.

Now Trevor .... I saw him as we browsed the Christmas section of the garden centre after Breakfast with Santa and it was love at first sight! He, and several of his friends, were so desperate for love and a good home that they'd been reduced by 50% (good job 'cos at original price he'd have stayed where he was - I wasn't that much in love - *lol*). I resisted for all of 2 minutes but found that he'd attached himself to me. He's tall and slim so what more could a girl want? He actually made a pretty good walking stick as well! Introducing Trevor ..... ↓

He reminded me of Jar Jar Binks and I love Jar Jar so why wouldn't I have found Trevor attractive? He is actually about 4 foot tall and made of metal and wood. I think the idea of him is brilliant and the workmanship is wonderful. He's been difficult to find a place for and I've no idea how I shall store him when Christmas is over but I'm sure I'll find some way ...

Anyways, that's my decorations for 2009 finished, unless we receive more cards and then they'll increase *LOL*


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Breakfast with Santa .... 2009

This has become an annual tradition now, started by Mum - Breakfast with Santa at our local garden centre restaurant. We had the 2nd sitting on Saturday morning this year and bearing in mind the weather, we were glad we did! By the look of things there were some people didn't make it. The table next to us remained empty despite being laid and a reservation name on it. This is such a good deal and the presents that the littlies received are really good. The eldest got a rock painting set, the middle one a card game and the youngest a lovely board book. Breakfast - full English for the adults and sausage, egg and beans for the littlies. The very oldest grandchildren don't come now. At 18 and 13 they're 'too old for Santa, Nana Pam' or so I was told at the weekend - *LOL* Not even a comment from me of 'Don't believe, won't receive' managed to change the mind - ☺

Here's some piccies of little ones that do still believe .... so much so the middle one was too excited to eat any breakfast at all so Daddy had a bonus *hehe*

click on any pic to be taken to an album for larger stills or a better slideshow

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Getting there ...

... with the updates!
Hubby has heard from the hospital and has been given another appointment for his op that was cancelled on Friday. He's now going in on New Years Eve and this time he's been told it'll be overnight. Will probably be confirmed but it's looking as though he's way down the operating list so won't be discharged until New Years Day. Just as well we don't do anything special to see the New Year in but this op is too important to him, even if we did.

Weather update... It's rained in this area today so it's helped to clear away some of the snow. Not all of it but at least it's a bit clearer however, because it's so cold it brings the problem of ice. I managed to get out today to do a bit of shopping but didn't stay out too long as I started to feel ill half way through. Didn't do everything I wanted but not bothered. There's always another time. The food shop has been ordered and is due for delivery tomorrow morning. If there's anything out of stock we'll do without!

Anyway, back to the older updates .... Dad finally decided that he didn't want to go to the Day Centre any more so I rang and cancelled. They seemed really surprised but he's happier now he doesn't have to go again. At least he gave it a try which is all that was asked. I told the member of staff that I spoke to that he'd told me the 'old ladies' made him feel old and she laughed. Seems I was right and they are mostly younger than him, by some way, from what she said. Can't say as I'm surprised to be honest. She also told me that she was 69 herself - *lol* He tells us that he's happy with his own company and the carers that pop in and my visits are enough for him.

He refuses to have anything to do with any of the activities at the flats. There was some evening entertainment a week ago. A choir singing 'Christmas with a twist' and I offered to go over and take him. It was only in the lounge and was to be followed by tea and mince pies. Would he go? Not on your life! I've given up trying to encourage him to take part in things now. I feel as though I'm hitting head against the proverbial brick wall so not going to bother any more. He gets a diary of events so if he wants to go to something then he can ask from now on.

My brother has visited Dad twice now in the past 3 weeks *shock*. Mind you it was 3 months since his last visit - *lol* He's once again said that he'll come through (in the New Year) to take him out for lunch. Dad's still waiting for the lunch trip that was promised in August! Don't yer just love brothers?


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It's started ...

... to disappear. The snow, that is. Where there was 4 to 6 inches or more, there are now gaps showing through to the ground, even where the sun doesn't reach. Cars are losing their white blankets as are the tops of bushes. It looked pretty but we can do without it and fortunately, for this area at least, the other forecast snowfalls haven't materialised although other parts of the country have had them - including areas that missed the first lot - *LOL*

Over the past couple of weeks of non-posting there's been a fair bit going on. My left arm has become a pin cushion! On top of the various flu jabs and blood tests I've had 3 travel jabs with still one to come. The last I was daft enough to pay for! Yellow Fever - the one I was most worried about and the one that has been least bother - *lol* The blood test results have meant that I've got to have an Impaired Glucose Tolerance test .... after Christmas now! 2, yes that's TWO, blood tests to be done a couple of hours apart and fasting ones, apart from a glucose drink after the first. Such joy! I've had a change of inhaler as well. Slightly heavier duty and although it's better I still struggle. Guess there's nothing that will give me back the breathing that I'd really like so have to actually accept that I'm now limited with what I can do.

Eldest son has had his 37th birthday and officially moved out to live with his new partner and his decree nisi has been granted. He's moved out but .... his stuff hasn't - *LOL* Not sure how long we've to accommodate that but he may find it gets packed in boxes so I can have the room back. Don't think the fish will be moving anytime soon though and to be honest - I don't really want them to, as I like having them on the patio. However, if they're going to become permanent I'd like to do something with the corner they're in and disguise the pond as it's sitting on the patio and not dug into the ground.

I've had a couple of days of classes at the Glitterpot - my total relaxation days away from home. It's about the only way I can get any crafting done. On top of that the South East imag-e-nationers had their Christmas Party Craft Day. Hosted by Pippa, it saw 21 (I think) of us meet up for a day of banter and crafting followed with a meal to round the day off. Some had driven nearly 3 hours to join us and had the same journey home in horrendous, torrential rain, not arriving back home until nearly 11pm. A long, long day for them. Another couple came up from Cardiff but stayed overnight with Pippa so their day wasn't quite as tiring - *grin* A good time was had by all, even if it was a little 'cosy' - *LOL*

We started with a challenge, followed with an SU make & take by Joanne of Mainly Flowers (and a bit of 'shopping') and finished with a few projects given by Pippa and a quiz. Throughout the day were nibbles and cake and I had a first! My menu selection for the evening meal was red snapper fish. It's the first time I've ever had a stuffing ball with fish! I actually had the full roast turkey dinner (minus the pig on horseback and the yorkshire pud) with the meat substituted for the fish. Bizarre! They could have at least left the pig on horseback and the yorkshire as they gave me the stuffing ball and, because I whinged (in fun, of course), somebody ordered me a yorkshire pud - ☺. The meal was not the best I've ever had but the company was great and we had a real laugh - perhaps because of the meal (and my duff party hat!) and not in spite of it - *hehe*. All my crafty making results are over on 'Bits' but here's a few pics from the rogues gallery ...

click on any pic to be taken to an album for larger stills or a better slideshow

Now it's preparation for Christmas but as I'm very much 'bah-humbug' that's not a lot - *LOL* Haven't had any more than a 12inch pre-decorated Christmas tree and Christmas cards for the last 3 years but this year might be different .... *wink*!


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It's been an age ...

..well, over 2 weeks but I'm not in hibernation! I've been busy and not felt like blogging when I've had time to relax. Even 'Bits' went by the board for a while but have caught up with that at last *phew!*  Today is a bonus day as what I'd planned hasn't happened.  We had snow overnight and early this morning and, although the main roads were passable this morning (with care) our road wasn't and I couldn't get the car out.  In fact, I didn't even try to move it when I saw the conditions.  Very, very pretty (well, it was when it was all virgin snow) but wish it had waited until next week.  Don't think we'll be having a white Christmas as it's arrived too early.  It'll probably all be gone by this time next week!

Unfortunately the weather has meant that hubby hasn't gone to hospital to have the op on his hand.  I feel so, so sorry for him.  He is in excruciating pain with it and was looking forward to going to get it sorted out.  Now he's going to have to wait until they get another space, which is unlikely to be this side of Christmas :o(  He's considered priority because of being a wheelie and needing his hands for his mobility.  He's actually housebound and has been for some while now and all because he can't transfer from his chair to a car any more as the pain is so great.

I've plenty of 'catch up' to do, including the imag-e-nation SE Christmas meet - with piccies (still got to sort them *doh!*) - but reckon I need to consult the calendar to remind me of what's happened and what I've been doing.

In meantime I've updated my profile photo - taken today, by me, with camera at arms length! First time I've tried that - OK, so I'm waaaaayyyyyyyy behind on that one *lol* - but it seems to have worked OK. I just snapped until I got one I was reasonably happy with. Never totally happy with pics of me now and usually go out of my way to avoid having them taken, 'cos I don't recognise the person that I see. It's not the person I see in my head, which is about 30 years younger and half the size *hehe!*


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