School Reports & SAT Results

*blows nose*

I've just got Aarons Year 6 school report and SATs results.

I am just so very proud of him that I want to shout it out from the roof tops !!!

English - Level 5
Maths - Level 5
Science - Level 4A (with a note that he was 1 mark off a Level 5)

He's such a quiet, shy boy who lives in the shadow of his gobby mother. He enjoys life to the full and crams in as many sports as possible - yet still manages to do all his homework and extension work - AND often does more research without complaining.

The comments that his teacher and Head have put in his report have reduced me to tears and I am a jibbering wreck.

I am such a proud mum tonight, and i'm filled with that much love that I think I am going to explode !!!

Layout (above)

The Nooby Boobie (my team on UKS) challenge for July. We had to scrap an achievement using more than one photograph, more than three patterned papers AND had to have a song title as the title.

Cyber Classes

I was asked to produce a Cyber Crop class for Scrapstars using a fab Angel Crafts kit. The kit contained amongst a lot of things, the fab Cosmo Cricket Dutch Girl papers.

The two layouts above and the ATC are three of the things I designed, and I STILL have heaps of the kit left.

Stamping Up

I'm sitting on tenterhooks waiting for the new Fall 2007 Stampin Up catalogue to be launched on their website..... its being launched at Noon ... but I haven't got a clue which time zone !!!

Will provide you with a link once its 'live' !!!

Actually got some crafting done - yay !!

Aaron was out at an all day Paintballing party today, so I had a whole day to myself to craft ! YAY !!!

The card above (for sarah from sarahscards) was made using Stampin Up Very Punny set, Paperamia alphabet set (dontcha just love how cheap they are) BG Lollipop Shoppe (they have just GOT to bring it back), fabby ribbons from Little Silver Hat ... and a couple of Lil Davies heart pins.

Also managed to get a stack of other cards made and 3 layouts. One of my pupils brought in some photographs from a wedding she attended in Pakistan and they were just begging to be scrapped with Rhonna Farrer papers .. HOWEVER .. i've had to keep the layouts pretty plain, because i'm not sure how 'embellished' her mum wants the pages - hence why I've only made up 3 for now until I get a better idea.

Can't wait for tomorrow, as I'll be attending the Warrington Crop and will get even more crafting done ... well inbetween the Costco cookies and pastries .. oh, and pizza hut at lunch time !!

Catcha soon - take care out there xxxxxxxxxxx

Oooops - I forgot my poor blog !!

Thank you to everyone for nagging me to update my Blog !!

Well, I've got heaps of news !

Firstly - we've sold our house - yippee !!! The 'For Sale' sign went up on the Friday, we received a phone call from the Estate Agents on Saturday. The viewers came round on Sunday and they put an offer in on Monday. The buyers Surveyor came round today - so hopefully it will just be a couple of weeks until its done and dusted.

Secondly - I have a new job. Its on top of my normal job, but its an extra 8.5 hours on top which will run through all the holidays as well. The job is basically a Transition Mentor for Key Stage 4 kids - which means that I will be helping selected cohorts through their GCSE exams, and then help them to select specific college/training courses etc.,. It also means that I will be able to follow these cohorts/young adults for a year after leaving school.

For me personally, it means that I can stick with my 'special kids' and not have the stress of worrying what they're up to without me !!

Will add some crafting work shortly !

RIP Denise

My friend Sue from 'home' phoned me on Wednesday night to inform me that yet another of my friends had passed away.

Denise was an alcoholic and had been for years. She was 38 and left two young children of 12 and 7.

In our single days, there used to be about 6 of us who would meet up on a Wednesday, go for a drink and then land at Sue's house and have a take-away. Our weekends would be spent drinking and nightclubbing.

However, once we were all married and/or had our children, we just kept up our Wednesday night 'dates'. Over time though, it was obvious that Denise had a problem. I won't go into details, this isn't the place, and I'm not sure I won't word it right, but I need to get things off my chest. Denise lost a great job, a wonderful husband who tried for years to help her, she lost her home and then she eventually lost her kids. Surely at some point, something would have 'registered' with her that something was wrong??? Surely something more could have been done. As friends we tried to talk to her about it, and she confessed that she knew she had a problem, but that it was under control. Eventually, she would just get nasty if you mentioned it.

The last time I remember seeing her, she looked like a tramp and stank of booze.

I wish to god I had given her a good shake then and tried to make her see sense. Even after being hospitalised on many occasions - she still carried on.

I just can't find a rhyme or reason to it .... I wish I had an answer.

I know now that she is at peace and rid of this wretched illness.

Love to you and yours xx

I've been tagged .... again !!!!

..... by Bev ... so ........ 7 things about me ..... hmmmmmmmmm

1. I always try to see the funny side of things, which can often lead me into trouble.

One of my best mates 'Little Sue' had a fab budgie called Eric. He died. She told me. I was devastated for her because I knew how much Eric meant to her ... what did I do ? laugh .... I think it must be a nervous thing.

Its like when someone tells you bad news .. what do we say "nooooo you're kidding/joking/lying' ... I mean why do we say it ?? We know they're not kidding/joking/lyin ... but still we say it ...... mad or wot ???

2. I hate hate hate those green rubbery things ..... no no no not rubber washing up glovey things ...... what are they called ..erm ... erm ... advocados .. jeez they're 'orrible. They're green and rubber and gross - yeuch yeuch.

3. I appeared on daytime television 3 times. *shuts gob* *says no more*

4. I go to church - only occasionally, but I do go.

5. I talk a lot !!!!!!! Now, who never knew that ????? PML !!

6. I once stole a bus. *says no more*

7. I am a twin.

8..... this is a bonus one ......... I haven't got a clue who I am gonna tag .. but I'll come back and let ya know !

Check out my Guestbook!

What Year Do You Belong In ????

You Belong in 1993

With you anything goes! You're grunge one day, ghetto fabulous the next. It's all good!

What Year Do You Belong In?

More UKS Cybercrop details ....

This is the challenge class that I was asked to design. I made two 'teapots' for the challenge - as you can see, one was painted, and the 'flowerpot' was decorated with blossoms and flowers ... and hundreds of brads !!

Hope you like ! xx

More News .....

I was asked by Rebecca at Rebeccas Scrapbooking Stash to do some altering work for her. These are two of the projects I made.

If the pictures come out ok, then the top photographs will show the altered cigar box made with yummy Dream Street papers, lil david hardware and blossoms .... and the purse underneath was made using Tim Holtz alcohol inks and stazon stamping. I'm going to use the purse to hold Prima's in and clip it to my tote !

I really enjoyed making these projects .. and Aaron has already claimed the cigar box for his teacher when he leaves school in July - although he's requested that it gets stuffed with chocolates .... one had to bite one's tongue to stop myself from telling him to 'get stuffed' !!!

UKS Cybercrop Weekend Win

UKS Cybercrop weekend was last week. I was very fortunate to be in the Clubs team ... and what a team we were, as we went on to win the competition !!! Go girls !!!

Anyway, I also amazingly won one of the Mystery Kit challenges along with three other very talented crafters, and this is what I made. For info (and my cousin Gill xx who reads my blog) you can only use whatever is in the kit and nothing else.

Its called Scrapology and its based on the game of Monopoly. Instead of buying the normal streets, you buy UKS sponsors shops and instead of buying the Utility companies, you can buy UKS forums !! There is a Community Chest and Chance ... and instead of getting sent to Jail you get sent to the Kitchen to do some housework !!

Hope you like the photographs.

Holiday - yay !!!!

YAY !!! Broke up for the holidays on Friday - yippeee yay !!!

I really need this rest - so much has been happening in school. We've had ongoing racial disputes with pupils for a while now, but more recently the tension has been mounting and mounting. There have been fights nearly every day and I was first on the scene to one particular nasty fight and ended up getting a couple of kicks and a punch trying to separate it. Not nice.

Anyway, I've been joining in with the Cyber Crop weekend on Scrapstars this weekend. I only found the site on Friday courtesy of Angela @ Angel Crafts, and I have been really warmly received. Their Cyber Crop has been going on all week and runs into next week again, but the climax was this weekend. The layout above is one of the digi-projects that I took part in - but used stash instead. I don't know what it is about digi-scrapping, but I can't do it, and I just don't think I could get my ahead around not being able to sniff and stroke my stash !!!

Well, I'll be heading to Mums at the end of the week. Aaron is at football from Monday to Wednesday, so I reckon Stewart and I could get some serious cleaning done ! I'll just play it by ear and go with the flow tho ....

Stamping Up !

YAY !!! My first lot of Stamping Up stamps arrived yesterday from Canada. These two first sets I've managed to get are sets that I've been after for some time. Paris in Spring and Alphabet Soup. The cards above are three of the cards I've made today whilst I've been having a play.

I've got another two sets coming any day now .... and I'm therefore busy stalking the postman !!

There's a whisper that SU are coming to the UK in 2008, which will be fab news. They don't only sell stamps and rollerstamps, but also cardstock, amazing ink pads, patterned papers and heaps of embellishments - all of which co-ordinate with each other. Cardstock to match inkpads - I mean how cool is that !!!

Why oh why can't we get British manufacturers to do the same thing :(

Angel Crafts Design Team work

Mad busy ... but ......

This is a commissioned canvas I have done for a colleague at work.

Used: Scenic route papers, maya road chipboard flourishes, AC ribbons from little silver hat and heidi swapp alphas.

Will follow this post with some DT 'offerings' ...........

Sunday 11th March

(This is the layout I mention below where you can't really see the 3-d effect)

Not a lot to report really. I've been busy making more cards for school - Mothers Day and more Birthday cards - don't know why my cards are suddenly starting to sell so well, but i'm not complaining !!

Did a nice layout during the week, but sadly you can't see all the stand-out flowers on them or the doodling. I seriously need to think about buying a decent camera, but other 'needed' things keep being 'needed' :(

Anyway, i've got a mad couple of weeks coming up at school - loads going on. Kids need to take their ROAs home tomorrow (Record of Achievements) and I need to double check that everything is inside them that should be so that their parents can read them and comment upon them at Parents Evening.

Tuesday is Interform, where the whole Year group competes against each class - In two years my class has only won one category - the boys hockey !!

Parents evening on Wednesday (can't wait as I really need to have serious talks with some parents and I am going to be brutally honest instead of trying to keep the discussion about their child 'positive') . There's a limit to how many times a child can get away with saying "Shurrup ya gay or Shurrup ya slag" without me wanting to turn em over and slap their backsides.

I believe that the positive approach with kids does work, and I also believe that inclusion works. However, as is always the case, there are the exceptions to the rule. I seem to have all the 'exceptions' in my class tho !! Sometimes the heavy handed approach works better (and I don't mean physically), but it has to come from both school AND the parents. What's the point of phoning home and having parents come into school when the same child goes home, walks up to their room and starts playing on their playstations, listening to their Ipods and watching TV via their DVDs ......

If I were ever called into Aaron's school - then I'm afraid all he'd be left with in his bedroom would be a mattress and covers .. and a book. End of. We used to get the threat of the ruler at school and/or cane depending on the severity of the punishment and at home, I used to have the threat of my mothers wooden scholl. Neither did me any harm, and I do feel that it gave me a good grounding.

Grrrrrrrr - sorry, just needed to let off steam there ....

I digress, Thursday will be getting the school ready for Red Nose Day which will be on Friday. We have male teachers being waxed, female teachers 'colouring' their hair for the day, some forms are having PJ parties ... and one Key Stage Manager is going to be dunked and savagely attacked by soft tomatoes - gross !!!

Anyway, inbetween all this, I hope to have some free evenings to be able to relax by crafting. I would hate to think how high my BP would be if I didn't have this wonderful activity to help me relax.

Hope you all have a fabulous week xxxxxxxxx

Back ... sorry for the delay

Above is the fab Calendar Book we made with Emily Adams using the equally fab Rock Star Imagination Gin-X papers that Emily designed - cool or wot !!!!! You get heaps on the chipboard sheets so well worth buying !

Above are the fab tags we made with Tim Holtz - if you would like the instructions of each technique used, please feel free to email me.

Away with the Fairies Retreat

Wow - i've been so busy this week its been unbelievable ... anyway ... the Away with the Fairies Retreat.

OMG - it was fab ......

Arrived Friday in Oxford and went to a local shopping mall to do some shopping (obviosuly) !!! The hotel was only 10 mins away, but there had been an accident, and it took us over an hour to get to the hotel .... We had to sign in at 7pm and then instructed to go straight to class ... well it was only a class by the incredible Emily Adams from Imagination Gin-X .... OMG she was fabulous. So easy to talk to and get along with ... i think she thought we were all mad .. but anyway, here's a video on HER blog ... with us lot on it ... we're the last table she came to ..

Here (look for Teaching at Away with the Fairies)

Guess who else was there ..... Tim !!!!!!!!!!! OMG he was standing in front of me ... and I tried to play it cool, but I was actually physically shaking. I couldn't breathe, couldn't speak .. nothing ... then I pulled myself together ... got a photo took with him, and got on with Emily's class. I'd been looking at their new papers from CHA and thinking I could do a fab journal with the Rock Star ones .. and lo and behold the class was with the Rock Star papers - freaky or wot !

Saturday morning came ... and my first class was with Tim Holtz ... we made the most beautiful necklace made using a watch fob, diamond crown and silver wings, oh and the inside is a miniature collage (below)...... The second class was all about techniques using the new Adirondak Acrylic Paint Dabbers/Daubers .... wow ..... wow ... wow.... He really teaches in such a laid back manner .. and nothing is too much trouble ... anyway, above is the tag book we made using the techniques Tim taught us.

I'll upload class 3 tomorrow ............ phew !

I'm Away .......

with the fairies .... at the Away with the Fairies retreat - back on Monday ....

Oh, and did I mention I get to meet 'Sir Tim' ??? Boy, I can't wait.

Catch ya soon one an all xxxxxxxxxxx

Wow - that went quick ....

My weeks holiday from school that is - swoosh .... its gone ....

Anyway, a week from today, I will be at the Away with the Fairies Retreat ... I just soooo cannot wait for it. In honour of the event, I have been doing some stamping and a bit of collaging ... and a bit of experimenting. I used to really love stamping, and then sort of went off it a bit. Sold a heap of my stamps on ebay for a pittance and I now find myself looking for stamps that have gone :(

Anyway, above (or wherever it ends up) is a card I made by bleach stamping. I used to love using this technique because it turns out different every time - Edited: altered it slightly so that it would comply with the sketch challenge on Card Positioning Systems (CPS) a new card sketch challenge blog - pop over and have a look !

Have a fabby weekend everyone - Heaps of hugs - me xxxxxxxx

Most Excellent News - and Happy Valentines !

I have been selected to join the Angel Crafts Design Team !!!

I truly didn't think I would make the team especially looking at the galleries of everyone else who has been selected, but YAY !!! I did !!

Valentines Day

Well, here was me thinking that Stewart and I had agreed to not buy each other anything, and lo and behold this morning he presents me with a hoooge box of my fave Lindt chocolates AND ... a bottle of my fave champagne !! I was sooooooo chuffed ! Bless, i'll let him off doing no housework today ... and I'll even forgive him for not even doing the breakfast dishes !

Lianne and I toddled off to one of the many Retail Centre's in Manchester today with Sophie and Aaron. I couldn't believe it, but I managed to get some of the place/order holders to clip my happy flowers onto. I'll take a picture later and load them up ! Anyway, whilst we were there, Lianne decided to look for some 'wee' trainers for Sophiekins ..... As we were waiting for the Assistant to bring us some trainers, we spotted these humongous trainers - and I mean humongous !! They were absolute whoppers ! They looked like canoes ..... well we laughed and giggled at the size of them ... the Assistant came back, and he nearly died when I said to him "is it true what they say about big feet because if it is, I bet fellas who were these shoes have their 'doodahs' strapped to their legs ! Said Assistant howled with laughter and was still giggling as we were leaving ... but honestly - you have never seen a pair of shoes in your life as big as what these ones were ........... again, i'll load a picture of them later !

Anyway - love and kisses to you all on this most wonderful-lest of Valentines Days xxxxxxx

Blog hopping and Away with the Fairies !

I have been blog hopping this afternoon - and came upon the most fantastic blog ... wait until you see these creations - OMG - utterly fab fab fab ... here's the link to Lea Lawson's blog .. please just spend a minute looking, you won't be disappointed !

Anyway, I can't believe its less than two weeks until we all trek down to Oxford for the Away with the Fairies retreat.

Lianne and I were chatting about it tonight, and I was talking about how I will react when I actually get to meet one of my heroes Sir Tim - anyway, just i'm starting to buzz about Sir Tim, the phone goes and its Orlando !!! I had forgotten to send in my meal order for at the Hotel ... anyway, we chatted for ages about the retreat, and I was nearly peeing my pants - oh boy, I just cannot wait another 10 sleeps until I get there .......... well I will have to, but I really don't want to wait .... anyway, I'm sure I'll pee my pants by the time I get to meet the 'man' himself .... I have a feeling I will faint if he even says hello to me.

This really is a dream come true for me ... i've followed him for years and years (not stalking following, but following following if you know what i mean) .... never once thinking that I would ever get to take a class with him .... and here I am, little old me .... going to not only meet him but take a class with him - i'm gobsmacked. Honestly !!!!!!!!

Well, the layout above was made tonight while Lianne was here - for once we actually got some scrapping done instead of scoffing, drinking pop and laughing !

Take care everyone and don't forget to follow your dreams because you never know, one day they might come true. xx

My my ... loads to catch up on ......

School

We've had the school production of Oliver this week, and I always get roped in to doing the make up for the kids. This year we involved 18 primary school kids from surrounding schools, and they were absolutely fantastic !!! I haven't posted a picture of them for obvious reasons, but the kids at my school (and parents) have given the ok for theirs to be posted ... so here/there/wherever ... are a few of our kids in all their glory !!!

Thank goodness its all over tho. The show was on for 3 nights, and I had to be back in school for 5.30 every night .... I really do feel a bit knackered today ... but it really was well worth it !!!

Other News

So much going on at the moment that I'm meeting myself trying to catch up !!! Had a bit of a health scare last week when I got carted off by ambulance with a suspected heart attack - it turned out to be IBS and my fault because I haven't been taking the tablets properly ... 3 a day I'm supposed to be taking NOT one when I feel unwell !!! Ooops ! Week before that, my BP soared and my heart was racing so Doc has put me on Beta Blockers - I feel really fab on them ... so thanks to Dr Majunder - he has a lot to put up with from me !!!

Scrapping wise I haven't done a lot, as I've been busy making Valentine cards and other commissioned cards - god knows why i've got a run on cards at the moment. I must get some scrapping done tho as I have a load of photos to get printed off and scrapped !

Joke

Our Four Sons

Four guys went golfing; one went in the clubhouse to pay while the others waited at the first tee. One of the guys says, “I'm so proud of my son. He is a stock broker and he's made enought that he just gave away a huge portfolio.” The next guy said, “I'm so proud of my son. He's a car dealer and he's doing so well, he just gave away a Ferrari.” The third guy says, “I'm so proud of my son. He's got enough money that he just gave away a million-dollar home.” Just as the third guy fininshes talking, the fourth guy joins them and asks, “What are you guys talking about?'“Just about how good our sons are doing,” the three men replied. “Well, my son is doing very well,” says the fourth man, “He's a male stripper and just last week he got a huge portfolio, a Ferrari and a million-dollar home.”

Have you seen ........

......... the new Blog by Fairies with Tude ? ..... well, I made this chipbox after accidentally stumbling into their Blog .... cool or what ? It can be used for sooooo many things ... an address book, a card reminder, send gifts in ..... absolutely allsorts ... I am soooo chuffed with this !!!

I made mine using American Crafts papers and heaps of ribbons from Little Silver Hat

Catching up ...... (and I've been tagged again)

Oops - I seem to have been a tad remisce in posting on my blog ... anyway ...

I've had a bit of a heart scare (again). BP very high and my heart was racing, so doc has added a beta blocker to the mound of tablets that I'm already taking. Funnily enough, I only had a banging thumping headache that wouldn't shift .. but other than that, I felt ok in myself - ho hum. I'm feeling fine now, but stressing myself stupid about dying ... I need to get the thought out of my head, and stop being stupid so someone please give me a kick up the posterior.

Anyway, my latest round layouts, should be somewhere in this post .... again, where they turn up is anyone's bet !!!

While I've been off school, i've also made a start on Valentines cards - the kids at school always ask me to make a 'special' card for them, so in preparation i've made a start. I got some fab lushy lush ribbons from Lianne (www.littlesilverhat.co.uk) and i'm on a role .... isn't it funny that a single ribbon/piece of paper/embellishment can set you off on a role ... but a role I am on anyway !!

Swimming

Aaron started swimming lessons at the new baths tonight. He has no confidence in the water whatsoever even at 11, and although i'm not a pushy mother, I really have been pushy over this swimming malarky. He was previously having lessons at the main pool in Rochdale, but because of the confidence issues, they put him in a class with the toddlers !!! I could have cried for him ..... anyway, the class he is now with are kids his own age or just slightly older and he feels so much more happier about it now .... Well he must be happier because he swam a whole length on his back without floats and he's never done that before - rock on Aaron !!!!

Besides which, my brother who is now a [sea] Captain was exactly the same and hated the water until he was about 14 - ironic or wot ??

Tagged again .... by Hosiemosie

1. grab the book closest to you

2. open to page 123, go down to the fourth sentence

3. post the text of the following three sentences on your blog

4. name of the author and book

5. tag three people of you own

"When Sergeant Player arrived at the committee headquaters, a requisitioned building in the Place de la Madeleine, he took his place in line waiting to receive a folder of information about what was expected of him, while he was on Allied territory - how to locate the Eiffel Tower, which clubs and restaurants were within his price range, how to avoid catching VD. It looked as if this advice was being dispensed by a group of middle aged ladies who couldn't possibly have seen the inside of a nightclub for the past twenty years".

Jeffrey Archer - The Fourth Estate

Tagging - Debbie Duck, Chrissie and Roz

(will add links tomorrow)

Crop and latest 'round' Layout ...........

Had a fab crop today at the Manchester crop - Sam had bought the obligatory danishes and the most delicous butter scones that I've ever tasted - yum, yum pigs bum !

Anyway, I took my delicious-es-es-es-es Basic Grey Blush .... started the next round layout, and what happened .................. I only went and knocked a whole cup of tea all over it .... I could have cried. The photograph I had used was an original and was the first one of my mum holding Aaron at four days old. He was so damaged and jaundiced after giving birth to him,that I was the only one allowed to touch him. So the photograph is just sooo special to me.

Thankfully everyone around me jumped up as I'm in a state of frozen panic - and people came from nowhere with tissues and kitchen roll. June snatched the layout, ripped off the photograph and dabbed it quick - and thank heavens it was ok ...... I then borrowed Pauls (Olbas Paul) heat gun and dried out the layout ..... I couldn't believe it when it turned out distressed !!!! It was fabby !! So thank you to everyone for saving the day !!

Anyway, here/above/at the side .... wherever it bloody turns up once i've posted it - is the 'distressed' BG Blush layout !!!!

Joke (for those who have missed them)

A man is strolling past a lunatic asylum when he hears a loud chanting.

"thirteen thirteen thirteen!" goes the noise from the mental hospital wards.

The mans curiosity gets the better of him and he searches for a hole in the security fence. Its not long before he finds a small crack, so he leans forward and peers in. Instantly, someone jabs him in the eye. As he reels back in agony,the chanting continues ................

"fourteen fourteen fourteen!"

Ok - hands up all of those who would have peeked through the hole !!!!!!!!!!

First layout 2007

I spotted a round layout on PageMaps, and thought what a fab idea it would be to do a whole album of round layouts as a BOM (book of me) .... so, this is my first !!

Just need to make an album to contain the layouts now, but I'm looking forward to the challenge !!

I've also decided to do a lot more stamping this year ... i've sort of got a bit despondent about my talents with stamping and have decided that to get better I need to practice. I'm going to try and do a bit of stamping on each layout .... she says - famous last words !!

So ...... what skills/techniques are you going to try and master this year ???

Happy New Year ... and Interesting Reading !!

Happy New Year to all my friends old and new.

2006 has been a funny old year for me. It started off so well .. and then I had the mini-strokes at Easter and life changed. I've always been 'flippant' ab0ut life. I have always expected to grow old very disgracefully, but the mini-strokes sort of brought me up to a halt. I have changed my life gradually, although I often 'slip' at times .... but I have decided that 2007 is the year that I will do something about my lifestyle.

I have lost three very dear friends this year. Lynne, Joanne Ward and over Christmas an old friend from school Andrew Duncan passed away. Joanne could do nothing to change her untimely passing. Nothing she could have done would have saved her. Lynne and Andy had they have known, could have taken steps to ensure a longer life - which sort of puts things into perspective for me.

On a lighter note I have had so many highs this year.

At school, I have made massive headways to win over 'challenging' students and in some cases, to make real friendships with them.

I have been accepted for three design teams - what a boost that has given me !

And lastly, through the wonderful art of scrapbooking I have made many lifelong friendships. You are all so very special and dear to me. You enhance my life and without you all I wouldn't be the person I am - so thank you xx

Write a list!

Just saw this on Debbie Ducks blog who found it on Chrissie's blog.

Those in red I have done, and if I tell you about them then I'd have to kill you !!!

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with wild dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said “I love you’ and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest (pregnant nun)
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert” (three times)
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Had a one-night stand
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children (or…raising children)
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking (I'm always doing it)
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds (cumulatively, if you count pregnancy! lol!)
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi (BLEUGH)
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes ... yum!
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care (dad)
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Lubberly Night Out .... desertion ... :( ...... and YAY .... and Joke !

A gang of us went out last night to celebrate both Lianne's Birthday and Joanne's love of sour cream. Apparently, on a trip to Holland to see Anita, Jo fell in love with sour cream (according to Dutch rumours ... she ate a bucket full) .... so we dedicated a trip to Chilli Jacks in Warrington to Joanne and it shows how meant to be it was ... that it fell on Lianne's Birthday !!

It was a truly lovely night. Good friends and excellent food and I know Joanne would have loved it as well.

I say we count our blessings for all the wonderful friends we have made through scrapping - you're a rare and special breed !!! xxxxxxxxxx

Desertion !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lianne has deserted me.

Gone.

:(

Its awful :(

I went to call round to her house at lunchtime and then remembered that she'd 'gone dowen sowf' :(

*insert woe is me smiley*

I truly feel as if my left arm has been cut off. I feel bereft :(

*insert another woe is me smiley*

Isn't it funny how you don't need to live in one anothers pockets, but still miss someone so much ?? I don't know how she wangled her way into my heart, but she did and she has ... and I miss not being able to 'pop' round or pick up the phone.

I feel bereft :(

*hopes someone takes pity on me*

YAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have broken up from school - i can lie in ..... as such ... Aaron is still at school for two days but at least I don't have to rush about with my head between my tails as I do most mornings !!!

YAY !!!!!!

Joke

A man walks into a doctor's office. He has a cucumber up his nose, a carrot in his left ear and a banana in his right ear. "What's the matter with me?" he asks the doctor. The doctor replies, "You're not eating properly."

Manchester Crop ... Celebrity Stalking and more !!!

Well, we had a truly fabulous day at the Manchester Crop yesterday. I managed to get the last of the ordered Star Books done - the picture of it is above !!!

Sam had left little gifts, christmas crackers and candy cane for everyone at their desks and I was so touched that she'd gone to so much effort, it was lovely. I received so many beautiful handmade cards that I could have cried at the effort people went to - thank you all, they mean so much to me xx

Anyway ... lets get to the gossip and the celebrity stalker ... JulieM (UKS) .......

Well, Anita (Mundt) attended our crop (It was actually Anita's first UK crop) ... I mean how cool is that ?!!!! BUT .. and here it comes ... our little celebrity stalker friend JulieM totally monopolised Anitas time. She sat elbow to elbow with poor Anita the WHOLE day ... she kept going and making ANITA cups of tea, bringing her plates of grub from the buffet, laughing at her jokes ...looking dreamily into Anita's eyes ... get the picture ???

Did WE ... her friends get so much as a cup of tea - NO

Did WE .... other crafters get to speak to Anita ... well yes, but with Julie in tow

Did WE .... even get to sit near Anita - NO ... because JulieM was too bloody scared to shift her backside in case someone sat by Anita !!! She sat there glued to her flipping chair the whole day !

Now those who attend the Manchester crop know that this is not Julie - she's always fussing about, always making cups of tea ... always encouraging us to do our work etc., etc., ..... but not on this occasion .. oh no ! The celebrity stalker that IS JulieM sat on her posterior and didn't budge ... NOT ONCE !!!

......... and there is worse to come ............ her long standing friend, the lovely, wonderful cook that is JOOLS ... was dumped/ditched/fired off/ignored .... Julie sat that far away from Jools you'd have thought Jools had the lurgy ! My heart goes out to Jools who has supported and befriended 'she who cannot be named' for over 14 years !!!!

*insert sobbing smiley for Jools*

Due to the upset that this all caused ... I felt it my duty ... no ... my right to have to say something to 'she who cannot be named' .... I mean ... poor Jools ...... So of course, once something was said .... that was it .....

We laughed and laughed and laughed .. I haven't laughed so much in such a very long time !!!! I'm not sure if Anita caught on at first that we were all winding Julie up ... but quickly she realised what was going on and just 'went with the flow' !!! PML - I really don't think Anita will ever forget her first UK crop - not ever !!

I suppose you needed to be there - but OMG we are NOT gonna let JulieM live it down - EVER !!

EDITED: Forgot to mention that 'she who cannot be named' has demanded aka wants us all to curtsey to her ... me ? curtsy ? Oooooooooooh I just don't fink sooooo ....

Thanks to everyone who was there - it really was a fabulous fabulous day xx

Chrimble Tree

Its done !!!! YAY !!!! It doesn't look as bushy or full as in real life - but it is lovely honest !!!

Updates ... flying .... news ... goss ...

Haha I just luuuuuuuurv this new beta blog - soooooo much faster !

Anyway, updates .... Secret Santa Dave is a hit ... literally .. He came to see me first thing Monday morning to ask when his next stage performance will be !!! He gave me a huuuuuge kiss on the cheek, lifted me up (which isn't easy believe me) and swung me round .... bless ! I couldn't believe it, but the girls were queuing up to speak to him and they were all giving me dirty looks ... ME ... dirty looks !!! I wonder if I should give up teaching and just become Davids manager ???

Book of Me

As promised after reading Anita's beautiful eulogy to Joanne on UK, I've started my BOM - yay !!! First page describes me to a 't' ... but hey, I can live with that ... I'll pop it on here somewhere ... as I never know exactly WHERE the photos are gonna pop up !!!

Does anyone else find it difficult scrapping themselves or putting thoughts about yourself down on paper ??? I don't like admitting I have faults (and I only have a couple - honest) !!

Flylady

Ok, so after all my protestations about the woman, I decided (after reading her somewhat hefty website) that I did MOST of the routines that she does - so I've gone for it .... must say, the house is looking decidedly tidy and I feel great for making it decidedly tidy ... although it must be said I really enjoyed making it very untidy ... IYKWIM !

General House news

Aaron is off poorly from school today, hence my catch-up on my blog and upgrade to BETA blog ... anyway, his face looks like the elephant man you know the boggy eyes and swollen face - bless ! Surprise surprise tho, he's feeling much better (happened at exactly 9.01am) and after a visit from the postman with Xmas cards for him with heaps of dosh inside .... dya think i'd get away with slipping out a few of the fivers and making them disappear in scrap shops ???

I still need to put the tree up and decorate, but as this means the start of the

'squabble season' its not really enticing me to start .... last year I checked and double checked all the lights .... put them on the tree, switched them on .... rearranged them (because they have to be just so) .... sent hubby for more lights ... put them on ... switched on .... rearranged them .... switched on (yet again) .... and phut ! Two sets blew ... just like that !!! So I de-stripped (if there is such a word) the tree of all its lights ... sent hubby out for more lights .... beautifully arranged the lights again ... and yay they worked ...... for 2 days ... and then another 2 sets blew !!! I blurdy hate lights - but I just can't imagine a tree without them ........ so .... let the squabbles begin ........... tonight ... or tomorrow ... but then I am going to my mums for Xmas so dya think i'd get away without a tree this year ????

Nahhhhhh didn't think I could ... what a bummer !

*stomps off to find lights* >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

<<<<<<<<<<<<< *stomps back with a joke*

Excuse Notes ....

These are actual excuse notes teachers have received, spelling mistakes included.

My son is under a doctor's care and should not take P.E. today. Please execute him.

Please excuse Lisa for being absent. She was sick and I had her shot.

Dear School: Please ekscuse John being absent on Jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and also 33.Please excuse Gloria from Jim today. She is administrating.

Please excuse Roland from P.E. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.

John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.

Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part.

Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.

Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.

Please excuse Ray Friday from school. He has very loose vowels.

Please excuse Tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea and his boots leak.

Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.

Please excuse Jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.

I kept Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping because I don't know what size she wear.

Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it Monday, we thought it was Sunday.

Sally won't be in school a week from Friday. We have to attend her funeral.

My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She spent a weekend with the Marines.

Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.

Please excuse Mary for being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps.

Please excuse Burma, she has been sick and under the doctor.

Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho !!!!

I've moved !!!!!

......... to the new Beta Blogger ..... i'm hoping now that I can leave posts on other people's Blogs ... Debbie and Roz ... I haven't been ignoring your blogs, I just haven't been able to post :(

Will go and see if I can now >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Xmas Factor Results (and gossip) ....................

Ok ... to start with ... I nearly had a duck egg ... sorry deb !

My secret santa surprise (David - Year 11) got stage fright !!! OMG, he's the gobbiest teenager that has ever walked this planet ... full of bravado ... and gives me so much hassle its unbelievable ... Anyway, his bottle went at rehearsal tonight and was on his way through the door and going home !! I practically had to sit him to get him to stay and I bribed him with every bribe known to man ... anyway, after I paid him a million compliments and told him that I was gonna make him a star .. he stayed.

So with that traumatic event over on we went for the 'real, live' event ....

We three judges took our places behind the screen and the X-Factor music started .... the next two hours just flew by ..... we judges had our fights .. we were booooooed one minute and then cheered the next ... We introduced our acts and then waved em off !!!

Poor Chris when he got up was shaking from top to toe ... the mic shook, his legs shook and his feet wouldn't stay still ... my heart was pounding for him - anyway thankfully he came across with the goods and was a star !

Bev then came on ..... with my secret santa .... OMG ... David only went and stole the flipping show !!!!!!!! At the end people were standing up cheering him ! He wasn't part of the act, just an 'extra' ... and he stole the show ... the kids from school were chanting his name and the wolf whistles nearly brought the house down !!! I could have cried for him !!! BUT ......... then I couldn't get him OFF the stage - he flipping loved it !!!! With my famous 'dirty looks' going into over-drive, I eventually 'eye' hounded him off !

Next came Hayley my Year 7 and her first solo performance EVER - wow, she was breathtaking. She remembered every line, remembered every 'move' ... and absolutely stole the show ..... hence she won !!!!!!! YAY !!!!!!!!!

My act won the show !!!!!!!!!!!! Hayley has won a trip to a recording studio where she will cut her own disc, a makeover and a photo shoot ... and she will be taken everywhere by limousine !

The three teacher acts all went down a storm - and Steve our Deputy Head couldn't stop laughing when the snow machine went into over drive and completely covered him in snow !!!! It was sooooooo funny - I literally peed my pants laughing !!!

All in all the show was fantastic - everyone commented how professional it was - AND most importantly we raised over £500 for the local hospice !!

Now thats what I call a successful night !!!

Thanks for everyone's good wishes it meant a lot to me xxxxxxxxxxxx

Xmas Factor ... and more !!!

Xmas Factor

Remember my soloist who didn't know the song he was supposed to be singing tomorrow night ..... well he phoned me up tonight, and he knows it .... flipping heck, I am soooooooooooooo relieved !!

Its going to be such a long day tomorrow. Apart from all the covers I am doing in school, we've also got a rehearsal at 2.30 which will probably finish about 4.30 and the show starts at 6.30, so I may as well stay in school finish off a few things and get ready there .... I am sure I am gonna fall asleep sitting on the stage !!!!

Wish me good luck for tomorrow folks - and lets pray that one of MY acts wins the fabby prize thats up for offer - will post about it after tomorrow, just in case one of the kids from school 'happens' to wander into my blog !!!!

Joke of the day - couldn't resist !!!

This Year's First Christmas Joke

Three men died on Christmas Eve and were met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates. "In honor of this holy season" Saint Peter said, "You must each possess
something that symbolizes Christmas to get into heaven."

The first man fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it on. "It represents a candle", he said.

"You may pass through the pearly gates" Saint Peter said.

The second man reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He shook
them and said, "They're bells."

Saint Peter said "You may pass through the pearly gates".

The third man started searching desperately through his pockets and finally pulled out a pair of women's panties.

St. Peter looked at the man with a raised eyebrow and asked,"And just what do those symbolize?

The man replied," "These are Carols."

Carole's - get it ???? ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

And So The Holiday Season Begins....

Sarahscards Retreat !!

Wow, I almost .... please note I said almost ... forgot to post about it !!!

Well, what a day !

Lianne and I arrived to be greeted by the most adorable church hall. It was all beautifully laid out with the first kit all ready at each place, a goody bag on each chair, a mug for drinks and a bottle of water for as and when we needed a drink. The place just looked amazing !

On to the first class, which was a stunning canvas book being taught by JulieM. I couldn't believe it, but she had even die-cut all the tiny little pieces ready for us and the major pieces of card had been cut down ready for scoring/cutting etc., The class lasted two hours and the end result was a truly stunning book. I'd never made one before, but having experienced Julie's expert tuition, I know I'll be making many more of them - well I know I will because I've already received an order for one !!!

We then broke for lunch ... OMG ... the food was delicious - homemade potato and leek soup with huge chunks of crusty bread ... followed by chilli, baked spud and heaps of salad. After this, I couldn't move and I could not have eaten another thing if my life depended on it ... BUT ... for dessert there was the most amazing selection of homemade cakes with tea and coffee - gorgeous !!

The second class was an exploding box which was taught by Kirsty. She used the most fabulous bright Crate papers and matching bazzill cardstock for the class. The instructions were fabulous and we were soon whizzing through the project. Again, the outcome was a stunning exploding box ... which I've already had requests to make for people in school.

The third and last class was a star book which was taught by JaniD. Again, the kit was ready and Jan had cut out most of the pieces for us to save us assembling time. Again, under fantastic tuition we managed to complete the most delightful Christmas star book ever !!! and .... yet again, i've already received two requests from teachers in school for them !!!

I'll be crafting every night until Chritmas now !!!

Anyway, following Jan's class there was time for some shopping !!! I managed to pick up Lianne's Biffday present (18th Dec - she'll go mad for me telling ya but who cares) .... and some other bits and pieces.

I truly went home a happy bunny that night - I'd met so many people that I'd been dying to meet - Roz especially because she's on a couple of design teams with me ... and the bonus was in meeting Heather as well. I couldn't believe it, but Pauline (Keltikween) was brought up in the same road as my Aunt and Uncle in Scotland - what a bloody small world eh ?!!!

Anyway, to those lucky enough to be going to Sarah's next retreat - you will have a ball !!! Oh, and a word of advice .... don't eat for at least 3 days before you go !!!

Thanks to Sarah and her team for a fabulous, well-organised retreat - it was cool !!!!!

Goodbyes and Hellos ..... and more !

Goodbyes

Yesterday I said goodbye to Joanne. I think i'd worked myself up into a state all last week because I hadn't felt that I'd said goodbye and paid my respects.

Well, what a funeral ! We laughed, we cried, we laughed again ... it was exactly as Jo would have wanted, and it WAS what she wanted - as she had planned it all herself - except for the slide show which Anita had organised .... honestly, I'll never forget Jo's swimming cap, I'm still chucklin' now !!!

So now I've said my goodbye and I feel the burden of that has been lifted. So long my lovely friend ... until we meet again xxx

Hellos

Now ......... onto the hello's !

Since Jo passed away, I have realised just how many true friends I have made through crafting. So many people have entered my life ... all from different walks of life, and from different parts of the world ... isn't it just absolutely bloody amazing ??

The amount of friends I have made via UKS has been astounding. It really is like a family on there. Ok, there can be friction at times and I'm not saying its all rosy and glowy (if there is such a word - if not, i've made a new word, and I own the copyright) ... BUT ... when someone is in the shit, or is upset or something tragic to them has happened - then the whole UKS community unites ... and THAT is what makes UKS such a special place.

More

Well, I pre-empted the heating situation a tad ... the day after I posted that it was up and running etc., the sodding thing broke down ... anyway, today the heating engineer came back, and we're up and running and cosy and warm again !!

Xmas Factor

Had a rehearsal this afternoon with two of my three contenders. WOW WOW WOW !!! My lovely year 7 Hayley is singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and she sounds fantastic !! I just had to get her to move around a little bit, because our stage at school is gigantic, and she would have looked a bit daft just standing there pounding out this fab song .... she was a bit uncomfortable at first with it all, but once I sung it and 'moved' a bit to show her what I wanted - she was fine !!!

Then Beverley - who is singing Santa Baby ... well WOW WOW WOW x 100. The girl is gifted and has talent ... and blurdy hell ... can the girl move !!! Wait until she sees the blow up Santa i've ordered for her performance ... I'm sure she's gonna end up pole dancing around him !!!!

We have a full dress rehearsal tomorrow night, so I'll let you all know how it goes !

JOKE - sorry i've not posted one for ages

A man walked into a pub with an Ostrich and a Pussy Cat.

He walked up the the bar and said "Beer for me, beer for the ostrich, whisky for the cat".

They found a table, sat down and drank their drinks.

Next it was the ostrichs round. He walked up to the bar and said "Beer for me, beer for the man, whisky for the cat".

He took the drinks back to the table and they drank them.

When it was the Cat's turn to buy, he told them to "Fuck off!"

So the man went back to the bar and said "Beer for me, beer for the ostrich and whisky for the cat".

The Barman was curious about this and said "I notice that you and the ostrich have both bought a round but the cat hasn't. Why is this?". The man replied, "I helped a little old lady across the road, and she turned out to be my Fairy Godmother. She granted me one wish"."What did you wish for?" said the Barman.

"I wished for a long legged bird with a tight pussy!"