I've been busy

This class of Shimelle's has done what I hoped it would do - get me back scrapbooking again.

After coffee at Cafe Nero's with Mum, Emily, Kay, Theresa and Tyler yesterday morning, and then doing a bit of shopping, when we got home I wanted to start putting together a layout I'd been thinking about for a couple of days. It's to remember Emily's first entry in the Race for Life - I am so proud of her for completing it. Life interupted before I had finished, so the layout lay as it was overnight and I finished it off this morning. Very simple but that's the way I like them.

Sorry, this photo makes the layout look quite squiff!

Journaling reads: Emily, Race for Life was held at the Ardingly Showgrounds on the 29th June - Kayley, Emily, Fleur and you had decided to take part. It was the first time you had done anything like this and you were looking forward to it but also a bit nervous. There was a warm up session before the race started, which you all joined in, and before long it was time to take your places. I saw you come through the start line and round the first bend, then you were out on the course. I waited near the finish line to get a photo of you crossing it and was so proud when I saw you come through. You all did so well and completed the course in 59 minutes. What an achievement, definitely somehting you should be proud of too. Now we'll have to think about next year :) Love you loads, Mum xxx

Time to start on the next layout :)
xx

3 in 1

Seeing as I haven't done my blog prompts for the last couple of days, I decided I would catch up on all three in one post.

Today’s blog prompt: Share a story with your readers about one moment when you felt independent and in control.

I guess for this one I would have to say that it was when I flew to Britain from South Africa on my own in 1984. I had saved up for the trip and it was the first time I had flown overseas on my own. I did phone Mum 5 months later and ask her to pay for me to change my ticket so I could go home early though :o)

Thursday's blog prompt: What do you do when don’t feel very creative or feel like you’ve hit a creative block? Share a few tips that help you get back to yourself.

If I don't feel very creative, I don't do anything but if I do feel creative and have a block then I would normally look at my scrapbook magazines/books or go to a few of the blogs of people whose work I like.

Wednesday's blog prompt: Who was your personal favourite teeny-bopper pin-up? Share a story about that dreamboat or another happy teenage memory with your readers.

Living in South Africa we didn't really hear that much about the UK pop bands or singers. However, my sisters used to get Jackie comic and we would see the various artists in there. I think David Essex was probably my first pin up. I thought he was gorgeous.

There weren't many South African bands but during my teenage years there was a band called Rabbitt. They were a big hit in SA and my friend, Caroline & I went to see them a couple of times at Durban Town Hall.

Wow, that brings back memories!!

xx

A little catch up

I realise that I haven't posted for a couple of days. I knew that would happen when the girls went on holiday - everything slows down and there's no rush for anything ;o).

So, what have we been doing. On Wednesday Emily went to Mum & Dad's while Claire and I took Hugh into Crawley to sit his Drivers Theory Test (again). He passed (100% for his multiple choice questions) so he's very happy! Next step to get some final driving lessons and then go for the practical. It also means he now needs to get his car taxed and back on the road.

Emily made ginger snap biscuits again yesterday. Claire went to Prezzos for dinner with Graham and I got to finish my book!

Today I decided I was in the mood for scrapbooking and I had an idea for a page with Emily's last day at Estcots photos. It's quite simple but I'm happy with the way it's turned out.

Jon has been busy in the garden over the last couple of months and it's really starting to look good. We replanted the Heavenly Bamboo into a bigger pot and it's much happier. Yesterday when I was hanging out the washing I noticed the flowers it now has, they are so delicate and pretty I decided to take a couple of photos.

Till next time

xx

Books

Today’s blog prompt: What’s your favourite reading material? Like the kind of favourite that you would take it to read if you had to cut off the rest of the world for years and years?

I love to read, doesn't always mean I've got a book on the go but that's because when I do have I don't want to put it down and nothing else gets done. My mother was the chief librarian at our local library in South Africa and I used to love going in when she had a book exchange, so many new books to look through and choose from. In those days I used to read different types of books, whatever took my fancy. However, since having children, I have to admit that I'm a feel good chic lit lover! They're quick and easy to read and 9 times out of 10 I'll finish it with a smile on my face.

Favourite authors at the moment include : Cathy Kelly, Jill Mansell, Marian Keyes, Katie Fford,

Sheila O'Flannigan, Cecilia Ahern, Patricia Scanlan and Catherine Alliott. Colin Forbes is another author I enjoy - don't think I could include him in the chic lit category though :)

Other books I might want to have if I were cut off from the rest of the world would be my photography books - so long as I had my camera with me as well.

What books would you have?

xx