Design Your Life Week 5

This class is whizzing by and I'm loving each week as it comes along. This week I am a bit slower getting started on the layouts but here are the first two. Sketch 1

First attempt at Sketch 2 - not that keen, looks too dark So, second attempt at Sketch 2 - much happier with this one and this is what I'll keep.

I still have a few photos from Halloween to post and will try and do that later this afternoon.

xx

Cambridge

Emily and I had a lovely day in Cambridge. Claire wasn't able to come with us in the end because she had an interview on Thursday afternoon (and got the job - yay Claire!!). We arrived before lunch and went straight to Alan and Zaira's house. Had a bite to eat and then made our way into the city. It was fascinating wandering round the city, so many little alley ways, bikes everywhere and beautiful old buildings. Unfortunately the sun wasn't on my side but I still managed to get a few photos.

Things I loved included, the architecture

The sculptures/carvings on the buildings

The bicycles parked all around the city- not so much, the students when they're riding them ;o)

The lanes that branch off in all directions

The little tea rooms and quaint shops. Unfortunately we couldn't get seated in this one and ended up in Starbucks instead. I loved the reflection of the university building in the window though. The daily market with it's variety of produce This clock was quite weird, had an ugly grasshopper type creature at the top which clicked the seconds away. You tell the time by looking at blue lights which shine through the small slits in circles around the edge. It's new and I'm told there are people standing looking at it virtually all day long! Alan pointed out this street sign. Apparently this was the lane that led to the school for the poor children in the city. Hence the name - Free School Lane. After an afternoon of walking, Emily and I were happy to go and book into the hotel and have an hour or so before meeting Alan, Zaira and William for dinner. I attempted to be clever and not use my flash in the restaurant but it didn't work and as a result, I don't have many decent photos of the evening - which was most enjoyable. Lovely to have a chance to sit and chat before calling it a night.

I'd like to thank Alan and Zaira (and William) for inviting us up to visit and for taking the time to show us around. It was lovely to see you all again! Hope to see you again soon.

xx

It's been a few days

I keep thinking I should be blogging but something always seems to get in the way. So, a quick post before Emily and I leave for Cambridge in the morning. We've never been to Cambridge before (and it's not far from here - a couple of hours I'm told) but our neighbours moved there a month ago and invited us to come visit and we're taking them up on it. I've borrowed a SatNav from Kay (thanks Kay!!) and I've also printed out directions so, hopefully, we won't get lost along the way. It's been really chilly here so leaving around 9am sounds good to me. Give any frost/ice on the roads a chance to disappear and there's no big rush. I've no doubt I will take some photos ;o) and that they may even appear on this blog within a few days. We're only away for one night - back in time for halloween - so I'm sure I'll blog again over the weekend. Until then xx Update: Another pound lost this week brings the total to 18.5 pounds released (with pleasure!)

Jon's birthday

Today was Jon's birthday. It was also the day the clocks went back so he got to have a bit of a lie in. When he came downstairs we did the usual present opening. Nothing too exciting this year - more things that he needed rather than wanted. Some new clothes and new shoes

Emily got him The Incredible Hulk DVD - can that be called light relief??

We arranged to go to Wetherspoons for lunch and invited family members to come and join us. I think we had a table of about 21 in the end. The food was good and it was nice to get a chance to see some of the family we don't see as often. (Sorry the photos are so grainy, I bumped the ISO up to 1600 because of the light but unfortunately you can see it. Anyone with tips for shooting dark indoor shots, please let me know!)

Will, Theresa and Tyler were there but Tyler wasn't so keen on having his photo taken today. We think he may be teething!

Looking down the table

The birthday boy! Happy Birthday Jon xxx

Kyle and Emma recently moved into a house together so we'll be going for afternoon tea next week ;o) Also thought you would like to see your eldest son, Norma!

Jon's sister Debbie and her husband, Dave

A rare photo of myself. Anyone who knows me knows I hate having my photo taken but on rare occasions I do give the camera to someone else.

I did get to do some scrapbooking before we went out for lunch but I haven't put the photos on the pages yet or got everyone to write their little bit on their pages. This is also from the DYL class and we're making a mini album to go in the main album. I've done the basic layouts but just need to finish them off. Hoping I might get that done tomorrow.

Hope you've all had a good weekend and are ready to face the new week. Emily's on half term now so I'm looking forward to not having to get up at 6am.

xx