Emily

Yesterday, Emily turned 12! Only one more year and my "baby" will be a teenager!! What I can't believe is that I didn't take many photographs.

It was a busy day, up at 6 as usual, present opening at 6.45am before Jon left for work. The usual pre school rushing around and making sure Emily had sweets to give her friends, etc. While she was at school I went grocery shopping with Mum; back home to unpack it; out to Ali's to pick up Emily's present and have a cup of tea; into town for a few bits; pick up Jon's prescription and go to the vet's to get Tom's special diet food. Had an hour or so at home before Emily got back and then family arrived for afternoon tea and cakes. I had set up the table outside but, unfortunately, the wind came up and we had to move inside again. By the time every one had left we had about an hour of quiet before we headed out for dinner at Prezzo's (one of our favourite restaurants). I didn't even take one photo while we were out - my camera sat in my bag untouched! Sorry Emily!!

Here are a few of the photos that I did take.

xx

Sunday

Another glorious day here in West Sussex and I've even had the chance to sit out in the sun for a while to have my lunch. I do love these late sunny days!

Going back to yesterday, as I mentioned, it was good to meet up some of the family again. At the Wake we sat at a table with Nicola and her girls; Sophie, Chloe and Lauren. Nicky is Jon's eldest brother, Mike's daughter, who lives in Staffordshire. For one reason or another, it's been a number of years since we last saw her and it was great to be able to catch up again. As I've said on one of my layouts (to be posted at the end of this post) we really should make more effort to keep in touch with family, for the children's sakes - as well as our own - so that they know who their cousins are. Growing up in South Africa, we didn't have family around us and although I didn't really miss it at the time, with hindsight, I do wish I had known my cousins and had a closer bond with them. I feel I now need to try and give that to our children so they have the opportunity to form a bond for future years. So, here are a few photos of Nicky and her girls.

Mike and Nicola

Sophie ChloeLauren

Mike with his grandaughters doing their little "happy dance" :o)Emily and Claire with their uncle, cousin and 2nd cousins

Finally to finish off today, two layouts for Shimelle's Learn Something New Everyday class which will be coming to an end at the end of September. I've had a great time doing the layouts and it's one of the few classes where I've actually kept up to date - yippee!!!

Sketch 26

Sketch 27 Hope you've had a good weekend wherever you are.

xx

Family

We have just got back from Aunt Bar's funeral where we had the chance to catch up with some of Jon's extended family. While the reason for meeting up again was a sad one, Jon hadn't seen some of his relatives for about 30 years. I do think perhaps it's time for a family reunion to be arranged, a time when all the younger generation can get to meet each other as well. Claire and Emily came with us this morning and they really enjoyed getting to see Sophie, Chloe and Lauren again (Jon's neice's children), it's been too long!! Let's not leave it as long again in future.

I'm posting a few of the photos taken today. The lighting wasn't brilliant and the photos aren't great but I'd rather have not so great photos than none at all.

These first photos were taken at the Crematorium. We arrived early and had some time to wander around the grounds before the others arrived. What a beautiful setting and what a glorious morning it was.

The next photos were taken at the hotel after the service.

Cousins l-r: Jenny (Mavis's daughter), Colette (Bar's daughter), Jon, Mike & Debbie (Dorothy's children) and Mark (Victor's son)

Jenny and her husband, Bob

Morris, Bar's husband

Mike talking to Colette

L-r: Back: Claire, Emily, Sophie, Lauren

Front: Mike, Nicky and Chloe

I'll leave it at that for now. Have a good weekend. xx

Much quieter

Today has been much quieter. I've had a chance to catch up with the layouts again and it feels good. I've actually managed to keep up with the class and there are only 4 days left to go. I shall miss it and the prompts each day but it'll be time to start CZ's class next - looking forward to that too. This morning Hugh wanted to drive into town to pick up a new game and I needed to get a top for Emily for the funeral tomorrow. While we were in town Hugh suggested we go for lunch - and then surprised me by telling me it would be his treat! He may act all tough but he's still my "boy" - I love him to bits and wouldn't change him for the world! (I guess I'd better hope he doesn't read this ;oD ) I took some photos of him this afternoon and he wouldn't be Hugh if he didn't pull some faces! Layouts made today:

Sketch 20

Sketch 23

Sketch 24

Sketch 25I'm the first to admit that a lot of these sketches are out of my comfort zone but it's been interesting trying to do them and make them work. I've stuck pretty much to the sketches Shimelle posts and I will look back on them in the future and see which ones I may use again.

It's Friday and time for another weekend - looks like the weather should be good too, so I hope you all have a good one.

xx

It's the 25th!

Time to "Scrap Your Day" - a peek into the everyday life, a reminder of the day to day things we do. I thought this month I'd share some of my photos with you. First up, Wickenden's Sweet Shop - a traditional sweet shop we have in East Grinstead, sweets in jars on shelves, huge choices to be made ;o) Every Saturday we come to Wickendens to get sweets to have while watching Saturday night TV/DVD's. Our little tradition. I got to walk into town with this little man. Our next door neighbours are moving tomorrow so William and I took a little walk into town and left his Mum & Dad to carry on packing up. We'll be really sorry to see them go. We popped in to see Hugh at work and managed to get a couple of photos, one with his co-worker, Julie. Thursday is the Farmer's Market in town. I went to the fruit and veg stall to buy some vegetables to make soup.

Said soup! I just put whatever I had in it. In this case it was tomatoes (home grown), onions, leeks, red pepper, butternut and carrots with some vegetable stock. Tasted good!! We got to watch Made of Honour tonight. It was fun - Patrick Dempsey's in it, I'd watch it just for that ;o) My scrapbooking supplies - still on the table as I do my daily layouts for Shimelle's class (I still need to finish off another couple) Still managing to get washing on the line. Sun was out again today and the washing did dry before I brought it in - even the towels.

Random photo of some of our homegrown tomatoes on top of the wine rack with other bits and bobs. The van moving off from next door and the Sold sign outside their house. We'll keep in touch and they've invited us to go and visit - I've never been to Cambridge! Emily has guitar lessons on a Thursday afternoon - photo taken as she went in. And finally, I had my Rooibos tea out of this mug tonight - isn't it CUTE!!!! When I took Dad to the hospital for his appointment yesterday I popped into the hospital shop to get some throat sweets and spotted this!! I couldn't leave it sitting there, had to have it. LOVE polka dots!!!! No photos of old/new glasses because I'm too vain. I have a stinking cold at the moment and my nose looks puffy and red from all the blowing. I don't need those sort of photos on my blog (hehe!) - I'll get photos taken and posted when I look more human!

Hope you've all had a good 25th of the month.

Heading off to bed shortly, have a good evening!

xx