Today!!!

Today isn't even half way through yet and it's been weird!!! I woke at 6.15am and came downstairs to sort out the washing for ironing. Decided to have a cup of Rooibos tea and thought I'd read for a little while. Ended up reading till I finished the book! So, still sitting around in my pj's at 9.20am when the phone rings. It was the dog parlour reminding me that the dogs were due in at 8.45am!! I had totally forgotten - even though I'd told the girls yesterday that I had to take them today. Jumped into some clothes and off we went. Got home and decided to have my shower before I did anything else. Poured shampoo into my hand and then proceeded to wash my face ... with the shampoo!!! I couldn't believe it! I'd wondered why my face was lathering up so well (hehe!!). Things calmed down a bit after that though a phone call from Hugh did mean that my hair was virtually dry by the time I'd finished - not good! - so I had to blowdry it quickly before it went totally flat. Once make up was done and the washing was on I went to finish off a layout I'd started. It's the pre-class assignment for Cathy Zielske's class which I'm going to be taking (starts beginning of October). Looking forward to that one, I love her work - her layouts are simple but stunning. My type of scrapbooking. Seeing as I don't have any other photos to share, I'll show you the layout I've done.

I just realised about 20 minutes ago that I hadn't had breakfast yet. However, seeing as it was 11.30am, I had an apple and will wait for lunch.

Really hoping this afternoon is better than this morning.

xx

PS> Stayed the same at Weight Watchers last night, I know why and it's going to happen every 4 weeks so I'll have to live with it. Hoping for a good loss next week.

PPS> Playing with the background for my blog. What do you think, this one for a change or did you find the old one easier to read?

Let's get rid of the garage photos!!!

We've finally done something where I've taken some photos so I can post and move the garage photos from the top of the blog :o)

This morning I was quite proud of myself - I learnt two new things ;o). First of all, Photoshop Elements keeps telling me I should back up my photos and I keep telling it to remind me next time because I didn't know how to do it. Today I decided it was time for me to learn!! I've always just asked Jon to do a back up for me and not bothered with what's involved. However, with my new computer (well 3 months old!) it basically does it all for me. All I had to do was put in the DVDs (yes, it took 4 DVDs to get all my photos backed up!), verify that they'd been done properly and then insert the next one for it to continue. Fantastic!!! However, I then realised I needed to put what was on them on the DVD and I couldn't find a permanent pen. So .... I learnt how to print labels on my printer. I have a Canon Pixma IP4500 (which I think is great!) which has a special tray to put the DVDs on and then prints directly on to them. I was so bad I didn't even know for sure where the tray was supposed to go. However, with a bit of research on the net, I found out all I needed to know and managed to print them out. I love it when I learn something new that makes my life easier!! :oD

To prove the above, here's a photo

For lunch, the girls and I met up with my "Thursday coffee morning" friends. We try to go out for a lunch with the children once during the holidays and we like to go to Prezzos. The food is delicious and today was no exception - though I had wondered if I would feel like I was missing out because I was watching my points, but I didn't. I had Spaghetti Napoletana and it was lovely. I had my camera with me and took a few photos. They haven't turned out brilliantly because I had to use the flash inside.

Lesley, Carol and Carol Sarah, Cathy and Karen

Pam Emma and Claire

Emily and me

I didn't get a photo of the boys table but Elliott, Michael, Stuart and Andrew were all there as well.

A quick trip round the shops after lunch and then home to drop Claire off before heading to the park to meet Carol, Elliott, Emma, Emma's boyfriend Anthony, Jake and Leah (Carol had been to pick Jake and Leah up from Alison's). Not long after we got to the park, Emily's friend Rebecca arrived and I think she was quite pleased to have a girl her own age there. More photos.

Emily, Rebecca and ElliottJake Rebecca and Emily Leah was about ready to go home by now

After Carol left with Leah, Emma and Anthony; Jake, Emily and Elliott had their own little game of cricket until we at around 6pm. A busier, more fun filled day than we've had recently. I hope the long post will make up for the lack of posts the past few days ;o) and if you're still reading, well done, thanks for persevering!!

xx

What we've been up to today

I wasn't expecting today to be quite as busy as it was! I got up this morning having decided to get all the ironing done. This took me a couple of hours so I finished just before lunch time. We had lunch and then Jon said he was going to make a start on going through the boxes in the garage. This is what the garage had looked like in February this year and Jon had managed to sort it out a bit so we had a little patch of clear floor in the centre (to make it easier to get to the boxes around the sides).

Anyway, he started pulling boxes out and then asked me to come and check through and see what we wanted to keep and what we should take to a charity shop or throw out. We stuck at it all afternoon and have accumulated a pile of boxes to go to the tip... Piles of scrapbooking and sewing stuff that I wanted to bring into the house (though I have absolutely no idea where it's all going to go!) ... More piles including CDs, books, more material, Jon's badges from marathons/fun runs he ran in South Africa, videos of the children when they were younger which we need to get put onto DVDs ... And for a short while, the garage was looking like this!

It does have a few more boxes around the sides again but not nearly as many as there were to begin with. We've been in this house just over 8 months but today it felt like we could have just moved in - unpacking boxes is not my favourite pass time. I think tomorrow I may have to make a start on trying to organise my scrapbooking stuff again (and finding a bit more space somewhere?????)

We worked out how often we've moved since we married 21 years ago - 17 times!! I honestly hope this is our last one for a long time!!!!!! I also think I should do a scrapbook page listing all the places we've stayed! Hope you are all enjoying your weekend! xx

Preparing

Today was another day of heavy showers and sunshine. I spent the morning getting the washing up to date but then had to hang it on the airer to dry. Hanging it outside wasn't an option, unless I was going to be constantly watching the weather for rain. This afternoon, Emily and I went to Sackville to get her new school uniform. When we arrived at the uniform shop it was packed!! Fortunately the others had been there since the shop opened half an hour before so they soon left and Emily and I were able to get what she needed. We decided to go straight into town afterwards to get her school shoes and a new school bag. A break at Cafe Neros, for hot chocolate and cappaccino (decaf, soya milk, regular), was needed half way through. When we got home Emily put on her uniform for Jon to see. Another three weeks and she'll be starting at Sackville! The holidays are going too quickly!!

Just back from shopping In her new uniform I had been hoping to go somewhere tomorrow but have just remembered that Hugh is using my car for his driving lesson tomorrow - which happens to be from 11 - 1, sort of cuts into the day a bit! Guess I may have to do the ironing instead.

xx