Done! ...

... at least, it had better be!  Replacement ordered for the Christmas present that I ordered in October and that hasn't arrived.  I've heard from the company I had the order with.  They've accepted the cancellation (not that they had much choice, to be honest) and will be crediting me. Not sure how this credit will show yet but it's looking as though they credit my account and then I have to apply for an actual refund.  I asked for a refund from the outset but I'm sure the card company will ensure that's what I get.

I've sold more unwanted bits and yesterday there was an offer too good to refuse on a new machine.  The Xcut Xpress, which has ticked all my boxes with just one reservation, was on offer for one day only at a price I'd have been mad to let go, so I ordered it.  The good thing is that it's actually cost me nothing as I've used the money from my sales of unwanted crafty stuff to buy it.  Money previously spent so it's not draining my current bank balance - lol!  MInd you, I spent a lot more than I'm selling for and, bearing in mind it's all brand new, unused ... just old and mostly discontinued/retired ... I'm practically giving it away.

All mailings that needed mailing are either done or ready to go to the post office so I've only the present wrapping to do, relevant bags filled and I can call it finished until the day.  Got quite a busy time between now and then though so perhaps it's just as well I'm quite well organised this year.

Hubby took me to pick up a new satnav yesterday.  My old one wore itself out some while ago and it's replacement - hubby's old one - wasn't much better.  It didn't seem to like the south.  Worked fine north of Watford and did well in Wales.  Wasn't so keen on getting us out of Wales ... or out of my own area - lol!  Anyways, got a brand spanking new one care of Tesco Boost.  First one was named Boris, 2nd one never worked well enough for me to bother about naming.  Wonder what this one'll be called?

Now for another couple of cards from the Christmas workshop day (still got 2 to make - lol!) ....

Imagination snowflake mask
Hobbycraft sentiment stamp
Gems

White card
Stampin' Up Lovely as a Tree stamp
White embossing powder
Stampin' Up sentiment stamp
Acetate window

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Christmas 2009 ...

... a little late but catching up. No christmas photo's (first time ... ever) of the eldest grandchildren but there are a couple of eldest's new partners oldest 2 (phew!)... both boys and into card towers - *lol* It would be easier to call them our new step-grandchildren except they're not 'cos eldest hasn't remarried. Mind you, he can't yet anyway. Not until he receives his absolute, which is in the pipeline but not sure he intends to marry again. Have to chuckle 'cos neither did I but it's 25 years on the 2nd one for me (3rd for hubby) this year - *LOL*

Here's a medley of some of the photos I have got, until I can get more to add to them. Need to become a nagging Mum, methinks - especially as the eldest's entourage (as it's become) bought me a digital photo frame for Christmas. Need some new stuff, as well as old, to display - *hehe* There's a mix of photos from old camera and my new one.

click on any pic to be taken to an album for larger stills or a better slideshow

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Well, the weather ...

... outside is still frightful but there hasn't been any more snow and it seems as though a slow thaw may have started. Made the effort, even though still feeling kack, to go clear car this morning. Thought I'd try 'thinning' snow behind it (it was over a foot deep), throwing some salt on to it and leave that to do the work with a view to trying to get out tomorrow. Kindly neighbour 2 doors away was out with his shovel and took pity. Within 10 minutes he'd cleared the snow behind my car and had started on the public bit ... pavement, crossover and road. A neighbour that faces us from over the road, must have felt guilty and came to help (he watched hubby struggling in his wheelchair the other day). Result - half hour later I could get car out. Managed to get over to Dad's but couldn't believe the state of the main roads. The village looked like a giant car park! Abandoned cars littered the main street and reduced it down to a single lane in places. I don't think I've ever seen the like before and I've lived in the village for 55 years! Further into town, nearer Dad and I could understand why the buses hadn't really started back on proper routes. Hoping that the thaw continues but it's not going to be quick, that's for sure.

I've been going through the photos I've taken since just before Christmas so here's the start of a photo roundup of the past few weeks ....

Just before Christmas ... saw them going down, here they're coming back, then saw them in the field behind the trees viewed from the rear of our house. Not sure if they were having a party or if it was just a dress up for the season but they looked as though they were having fun - *lol*

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♫♪♪♫ Oh, the weather ...

... outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! ♫♪♪♫

Well, I wish I didn't have anywhere to go and I actually wish I felt well enough to even try but I do and I don't so I'm staying put! The snow we had before Christmas eventually cleared but it snowed again in this area on Wednesday and I'm stuck! Have to say that it's not just the weather that has made me stuck but health as well 'cos, on top of the norm, I've now caught a cold from OH and feel really poo! I told him he shouldn't have been so generous - *LOL*

It's been an age since I've updated and really no reason other than I've just not been in the right frame of mind and don't see the point unless I am. There's been a bit going on so my 'journal' is a bit behind now as well.

Didn't see the little ones on Christmas day as originally planned as they all went down with the winter sickness bug. It started for them a couple of days before Christmas and, as one recovered another went down with it. Trying to steer clear of all bugs so hubby stayed bug free ready for his op on New Year's Eve, it was thought best to keep away. Dad came to us for the day and hadn't been here more than ½ hour when he decided he could stay the night by sleeping on our sofa. Mmmmmmmm, a 2-seater sofa that isn't a sofa bed? I don't think so! Eldest son and his family - new and our grandkids - called in Christmas afternoon and we had a house full. 5 kids - well, 18,16,13,12 and 8 - and 5 adults, including us, do not make for the quietest of times. We had fun but think Dad decided that it was all too much for him. He took his hearing aids out and not long after they'd left he decided it was time to go home - *lol*

We managed to have our time with the littlies on the Monday after Christmas. Santa had left a lot of stuff at our house for them and to see the excitement on their faces was wonderful. Little Zac was a bit bemused by it all and decided our kitchen was a good place to test out what his voice sounded like - at full scream! It was a happy, play scream but a scream, none-the-less .... *bless!*

Hospital confirmed, on the Wednesday, for hubby's op but he woke up on the Thursday full of cold. Rang the hospital to find out whether he should still go but anaethetist said 'no' due to tubes down throat so op was cancelled on the morning he should have had it. Talk about disappointed! He is so desperate for this op but everything seems to be conspiring against him having it. He's now got another date for 5th February. Not soon enough really but surgeon is off on a skiing jolly sometime in January and his list was full.

I've been shopping for the holiday. Not easy finding beachwear in the middle of winter when most of the country is covered in snow! Have managed though, which was just as well as I went shopping on Tuesday and the snow came back overnight Tuesday/Wednesday and I've been nowhere since! I've also done some online shopping (clothes, shoes, lotions, potions, meds and craft) and had emails from all the places I've bought from telling me they've all been despatched. Only problem is - the last post we received was on Tuesday. We've had no mail deliveries since then, of any sort - Royal Mail or courier - so it'll be like Christmas when it all starts getting through - *woohoo!*

On the subject of holiday ... that's changed twice in the last week. Firstly it seems that Zanzibar had a power failure before Christmas and the place has no electricity. We've been told it could be March by the time it's fixed and now it's affecting sanitation so plans changed and we're no longer going there so no Spice Trail but ..... we're going on safari instead! Now, am I disappointed? In one way yes but mainly, NO!!! Check out here. It's where we're going for a 3 night stay. Since that change the dates have changed as well. We're no longer flying out on the 2nd February. It's been delayed and we now go on 14th February but we're going for a couple of days longer. We're also gonna be doing the safari at the start and not the end and there's a possibility that we'll stay an extra night in Dar-es-salem. Of course, this could all change again before we go so, Magical Mystery Tour .... here we come! I'm now all jabbed out and have nothing more to have but one of my online shops are my anti-malarials which have been despatched but not yet arrived!

In the meantime it's still snowing and we've the worst to come if the forecast is anything to go by so looks as though I'm not going anywhere fast, any time soon! I've craft classes booked for Thursday, with Paula Pascual at the Glitterpot but whether I get there or not remains to be seen - assuming they're not cancelled anyway!

People complain that this country comes to a standstill when we have snow and to a certain extent that is true but - it is very rare for us to get a lot of snow so there is no real reason why we should be geared up to deal with it. If it was a given every year, as it is in other countries, we might have more reason to complain but as it's not I think we have to accept things as they are. It just wouldn't make economic sense to be geared up to deal with, what to us, are freak conditions. If it starts to become more the norm then that's a different matter but in the meantime ....

Well, think that's caught up with all the 'happenings'. Need to sort out photos now. Been playing a bit 'cos hubby bought me a new camera for Christmas especially for my holiday - and that was before we knew a safari was gonna be involved! Only problem is - I didn't get any photos of the eldest grandkids this Christmas. The first Christmas ever that I've missed getting any. I got a couple of the 'new' ones (or at least 2 of them) but with the confusion that was reigning they'd gone before I realised. Hoping eldest son has got some that I can add to my collection but not holding breath at getting any, even if he has. Trying to get photos from either of my boys is like pulling teeth - *LOL*

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Wishing everybody ...

... a Very Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous





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♪♪♫♪ Let meeee ♫♪♪♫ ...

♪♫♪♫♫... entertain introduce yooouuuuuu ♫♪♫♪♪ to Trevor!
Well, in a while I will - but first - I've done the decorations *lol* Actually, I put the tree up nearly 2 weeks ago. We've had some very rude comments about our tree and hubby has become very defensive of it. ☺ I saw it and couldn't resist. I thought it about time we had a change from our 12inch pre-decorated one that I've got out of it's box for the last couple of years so I threw caution to the wind and bought this new one ......

It's very 'green' (and I don't mean it's branches) as it uses no electricity. It's lights, yes, it does have lights - LED ones - run off of 2 AA batteries (OK, so they're not particularly 'green') and it takes up little room. I've not measured it but it's probably about 9 inches high in it's pot. It's a cute little tree and I can't see why anybody would want to be rude about it *LOLOL*

The remainder of the decorations were done on Sunday. Took about 5 minutes to do. It's a hard job arranging cards to fill spaces so they can all be seen.

Now Trevor .... I saw him as we browsed the Christmas section of the garden centre after Breakfast with Santa and it was love at first sight! He, and several of his friends, were so desperate for love and a good home that they'd been reduced by 50% (good job 'cos at original price he'd have stayed where he was - I wasn't that much in love - *lol*). I resisted for all of 2 minutes but found that he'd attached himself to me. He's tall and slim so what more could a girl want? He actually made a pretty good walking stick as well! Introducing Trevor ..... ↓

He reminded me of Jar Jar Binks and I love Jar Jar so why wouldn't I have found Trevor attractive? He is actually about 4 foot tall and made of metal and wood. I think the idea of him is brilliant and the workmanship is wonderful. He's been difficult to find a place for and I've no idea how I shall store him when Christmas is over but I'm sure I'll find some way ...

Anyways, that's my decorations for 2009 finished, unless we receive more cards and then they'll increase *LOL*


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Breakfast with Santa .... 2009

This has become an annual tradition now, started by Mum - Breakfast with Santa at our local garden centre restaurant. We had the 2nd sitting on Saturday morning this year and bearing in mind the weather, we were glad we did! By the look of things there were some people didn't make it. The table next to us remained empty despite being laid and a reservation name on it. This is such a good deal and the presents that the littlies received are really good. The eldest got a rock painting set, the middle one a card game and the youngest a lovely board book. Breakfast - full English for the adults and sausage, egg and beans for the littlies. The very oldest grandchildren don't come now. At 18 and 13 they're 'too old for Santa, Nana Pam' or so I was told at the weekend - *LOL* Not even a comment from me of 'Don't believe, won't receive' managed to change the mind - ☺

Here's some piccies of little ones that do still believe .... so much so the middle one was too excited to eat any breakfast at all so Daddy had a bonus *hehe*

click on any pic to be taken to an album for larger stills or a better slideshow

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It's started ...

... to disappear. The snow, that is. Where there was 4 to 6 inches or more, there are now gaps showing through to the ground, even where the sun doesn't reach. Cars are losing their white blankets as are the tops of bushes. It looked pretty but we can do without it and fortunately, for this area at least, the other forecast snowfalls haven't materialised although other parts of the country have had them - including areas that missed the first lot - *LOL*

Over the past couple of weeks of non-posting there's been a fair bit going on. My left arm has become a pin cushion! On top of the various flu jabs and blood tests I've had 3 travel jabs with still one to come. The last I was daft enough to pay for! Yellow Fever - the one I was most worried about and the one that has been least bother - *lol* The blood test results have meant that I've got to have an Impaired Glucose Tolerance test .... after Christmas now! 2, yes that's TWO, blood tests to be done a couple of hours apart and fasting ones, apart from a glucose drink after the first. Such joy! I've had a change of inhaler as well. Slightly heavier duty and although it's better I still struggle. Guess there's nothing that will give me back the breathing that I'd really like so have to actually accept that I'm now limited with what I can do.

Eldest son has had his 37th birthday and officially moved out to live with his new partner and his decree nisi has been granted. He's moved out but .... his stuff hasn't - *LOL* Not sure how long we've to accommodate that but he may find it gets packed in boxes so I can have the room back. Don't think the fish will be moving anytime soon though and to be honest - I don't really want them to, as I like having them on the patio. However, if they're going to become permanent I'd like to do something with the corner they're in and disguise the pond as it's sitting on the patio and not dug into the ground.

I've had a couple of days of classes at the Glitterpot - my total relaxation days away from home. It's about the only way I can get any crafting done. On top of that the South East imag-e-nationers had their Christmas Party Craft Day. Hosted by Pippa, it saw 21 (I think) of us meet up for a day of banter and crafting followed with a meal to round the day off. Some had driven nearly 3 hours to join us and had the same journey home in horrendous, torrential rain, not arriving back home until nearly 11pm. A long, long day for them. Another couple came up from Cardiff but stayed overnight with Pippa so their day wasn't quite as tiring - *grin* A good time was had by all, even if it was a little 'cosy' - *LOL*

We started with a challenge, followed with an SU make & take by Joanne of Mainly Flowers (and a bit of 'shopping') and finished with a few projects given by Pippa and a quiz. Throughout the day were nibbles and cake and I had a first! My menu selection for the evening meal was red snapper fish. It's the first time I've ever had a stuffing ball with fish! I actually had the full roast turkey dinner (minus the pig on horseback and the yorkshire pud) with the meat substituted for the fish. Bizarre! They could have at least left the pig on horseback and the yorkshire as they gave me the stuffing ball and, because I whinged (in fun, of course), somebody ordered me a yorkshire pud - ☺. The meal was not the best I've ever had but the company was great and we had a real laugh - perhaps because of the meal (and my duff party hat!) and not in spite of it - *hehe*. All my crafty making results are over on 'Bits' but here's a few pics from the rogues gallery ...

click on any pic to be taken to an album for larger stills or a better slideshow

Now it's preparation for Christmas but as I'm very much 'bah-humbug' that's not a lot - *LOL* Haven't had any more than a 12inch pre-decorated Christmas tree and Christmas cards for the last 3 years but this year might be different .... *wink*!


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I've really ...

... felt for my Dad these past couple of days. He came with me to see the littlies yesterday morning and he joined the rest of us for Christmas lunch. Today he's spent the afternoon and evening with me and hubby - well, I've just got back from taking him home as he wanted to be back 'in time for the pirate film'! Yesterday, at lunch, he had 'watery eyes' (his explanation) and then got a bit of a grump on. This morning I spoke to him about his 'upset' yesterday and he admitted he was missing Mum and thinking of how much she would have enjoyed it all with the children. This afternoon his eyes have been 'watering' a fair bit again and he says that he 'never wants another like this one'. I know he's enjoyed himself with what he's done but it seems to have made it harder for him without Mum. Perhaps it would have been better if we had treated the 'holiday' as normal days. This one was always going to be hard but, it's been harder than anticipated ...

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Well ...

... despite me telling everyone that I didn't want anything for Christmas as there was really nothing that I wanted or needed, I did get a couple of pressies and extremely pleased with them I am as well. I've got vouchers for spending at the Glitterpot (and that includes classes - woohoo, hehe!) and vouchers for beauty treatments at a local salon - and boy, do I need them!! I can have facials, massages, reiki, indian head massage, manicures and pedicures, waxing and so on and so forth. Facial and massage is going to win over anything else, then see how much I've got left - LOL!! I also got a beautiful bunch of flowers chosen by Emma.

On top of those I got another pressie from hubby - a USB Speedo! Not sure I'll ever use it - definitely not with lappy anyway as it's quite a large thing and, as I'm not hooked up with a tower unit - and won't be for a while - it can languish in it's box. Not sure it's going to be too accurate anyway as the dial already shows 40 and it's not been out of it's box yet - LOLOL!! It was the traditional 'silly' pressie he somehow finds - lol!

Youngsters had mega loads of pressies and I think they've thoroughly enjoyed themselves and Christmas lunch was scrummy! All the better for being able to leave the mess for somebody else to clear away ......

Plenty more photos taken for the family album .......

Ooooooooooooooh yes, forgot! I gave hubby this card as I'd intended from the day I made it. Eldest son was having a look at it and asked me if I was going to keep the bits & pieces off of it - lol!! He hadn't realised that I'd made it! How good was that?????????? I was soooooo chuffed!

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My favourite ...

... two sites for this time of year .....

1. Norad Santa Tracker (he's extra busy right now - lol!!) and

2. Santa Claus in Lapland Check out the inside webcam during office hours but the whole site is superb!

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Christmas shows ...

... at school and nursery! Even though I don't 'do' Christmas I do enjoy the things that the little ones do and to watch their little faces light up. This year is Emma's last in Primary school but it's Amy's first at Nursery. They both had Christmas shows although I only got to see Emma's because of space restrictions at the nursery. As usual camera was with me although I didn't take many photos 'cos I was too far back from the stage but ............... I took some short video clips. Pictures are rubbish - because of being too far away from the stage - but got some sound which I think is cute - lol!! Watch out for the poser (bless!) in the second clip.

Just in case she's missed here she is in all her glory ...

... and here's our little snowflake, Amy, ready for her show. Apparently she spent the whole time in silence although she sang every time in practice. She said she didn't like all the Mummy's and Daddy's being there ...........!

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Footnote: Seems really strange to me 'cos the school in the video is a school I've been involved with for 53 years-ish. It's the school I went to between the ages of 4 and 11 and it's also where we used to meet weekly for NTC (Nautical Training Corps) cadet nights and band practice for many years. That hall brings back so many memories when I walk into it. Saturday evening fund raising dances, Christmas parties, fancy dress .............

Breakfast with Santa ...

... an early morning but then it was breakfast - lol!! Enjoyable - because of the littlies - but sad at the same time. This had become an annual treat for Mum to her great-grandchildren. We are meeting this Christmas with all of the 'last things Mum did' before her death earlier this year. Breakfast with Santa on Saturday was particularly poignant as it was the last thing she did by way of enjoyment before she became housebound immediately after last Christmas. Anyway, life goes on and she would have loved it, as did our littlies - and Amy didn't cry this year! In fact, she actually spoke to Santa so I guess that's the ice broken for future years - hehe!

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A Christmas Story ...

I had this story sent to me in an email from a friend. I can't credit anyone for it 'cos I don't know who wrote it but it's another of those that tickled my sense of humour.......

When four of Santa's elves got sick the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones and Santa began to feel the pre-Christmas pressure. Then Mrs Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more. When he went to harness the reindeer he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where. Then, when he began to load the sleigh one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered. Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum but, when he went to the cupboard he discovered the elves had drunk all the cider and hidden the liquor. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom. Just then the doorbell rang and an irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree. The angel said very cheerfully, 'Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?'

And so began the tradition of the angel on top of the Christmas tree!

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