Good Mail Day!

On Monday morning I found one of the few  things that EVER excite me in our mailbox.......the slip of paper telling me there's a parcel to collect from our tiny Post Office..... which, as some of you already know, only opens for one hour every weekday! 


I knew I hadn't ordered anything online...well, nothing that would be here so quickly ....I HAD just put in a little(ish) order to  SARAH'S CARDS...and though they are fairly quick, they're not THAT quick... and it didn't say that it was from 'Traffico', which would have meant DH had a speeding ticket from the previous weekend's trip to Barcelona (we had a spate of these last year!)....no, I really had no idea of what I was going to pick up.


At the allotted time, off I went ...and was delighted to discover some 'Happy Mail' !

Not only was there  the fab MAIL ART envelope itself to enjoy, and a very pretty card and word plaque from Ruth AKA ,FURRYPIG...but also 

this book, which is part of SIAN'S 'Pass the Book' series.  Thank you Ruth!

I have to say that this may be one of the books I look at the pretty, awe-inspiring pictures in and will not actually produce anything...though oddly enough an idea has just flashed through my mind- watch this space!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

P.S. I managed a whole dance last night at Line Dancing, without bumping into anyone!! YAY!

LSNED-Days 2&3 and Pass the Book

We have had a busy, but good weekend. Both DH and DD were here, as it was DH's birthday yesterday. We went out for lunch, and then last night went to the Cinema to see 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' (which, I have to confess, I cried at!)


Lesson 3


I learned that when Craig is home, I yearn for us to have a 'normal' life again!...it feels good to walk into the living room and see him in his 'usual' spot, with his laptop on his knee!

Lesson 4

I learned that I hate cruelty of any kind.....even to fictional animals in a fictional  movie!!

Pass the Book

DD chose the lucky number again...and the book goes to DEB of 'Deb's World'! Congratulations Deb...if you send me your address to: alison290atlivedotcodotuk Iwill get it on it's way to you!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

Storytelling Sundays - The 'Girls' (or 'A Story of Friendship')

Wednesday this week sees the arrival of the 'girls' ......five days of fun, laughter and ridiculous conversations.


The 'girls' are my oldest friends. I have known Morag almost all of my life...our mums  met in a park  when we were in our prams...and they remained lifelong friends, till Morag's mum died of cancer just over twenty years ago. We really became friends though, when both families moved to the same town just before our ninth (or was it tenth?) birthdays. and ended up at the same school and in the same class. 


When we went to High School, we  met up with Anne and Lyn, who walked the same route as us to school ( imagine, we actually walked to school !) every day. We soon became friends, and 'hung out' after school and at weekends. We all  had Part-time jobs in Safeway , so saw each other at weekends, even after we left school...those were good times!! 


When we got into 'serious' relationships we saw less of each other, but still tried to meet up at least once a week.  


I got married first, and shortly after that met Anna, through work. By this time we were meeting up fairly regularly, and Anna started coming out with us. After the children started arriving, it was easier to meet up in one of our homes....it became the norm for Thursday nights to be the girls' night....and during the 'baby and toddler' years, it was our lifeline- we always knew we had Thursday night to look forward too. 


Thursday nights brought the promise of 'nibbles', wine, food and (apart from whoever's 'turn' it was) a child-free, adults only night! We could be honest with each other...the way you can only be with those with whom you have shared the joys and sorrows of your youth- by that time you know all the important stuff anyway, you've lived through it with them.We complained about our OHs , the sleepless nights and generally set the world to rights in these few hours , and went away feeling like ourselves again....'girls'- not mums, wives and all the other things that are associated with early marriage and raising children!


And 40+ years later we are still the 'girls' .....our families talk about 'the girls' and we never have to think about who they are talking about! Even though I've been away for many years now, when I go back to  East Kilbride we try to arrange a meal out, but I love it when it works out that I'm there for a 'Thursday night'! It has become a monthly occasion, but the others still get together ,and always on a Thursday night.


And for the first time in a couple of years, all four of them are managing to get over for a five day break...the last couple of times one-or-other  of them haven't been able to make it. We will just pick up conversations, as if we had seen each other last Thursday...and laugh, gossip,eat, drink and generally have a good time in each other's company! Can you tell I'm looking forward to it?!

If you go over to Sian's blog you will find lots of stories to enjoy today.

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

P.S....remember you have till midnight tonight(GMT) to leave a comment at the end of  this post to be entered into the draw for 'Good Mail Day'! 

Passing the Book.....

Early last week, I  received some 'Happy Mail' from the lovely Melissa

I wasn't at all sure about even putting my name in the draw for this book...'art' isn't my thing at all....but after reading Melissa's review before she passed it on, and because I wanted to take part in  Ginger's Mail Art Exchange #2, I thought I'd try my luck. And I was lucky...I was the 'chosen one'!

The book is a feast for the eyes, but I was glad to discover that Mail Art can be as simple - or as intricate- as you want it to be! I was probably more worried about the strange looks I might get on trying to post an item, but, on actually creating a piece (and forgetting to photograph it before it went!) and taking it to be posted, not an eye was batted!

If you would like a chance to be the next recipient (the only 'rule' is that it must be passed on via your Blog to another interested party), please leave a comment at the bottom of this post. I will draw a winner on Monday morning from all the names I have by midnight(GMT) on Sunday...and I'm happy to post to whichever part of the blogosphere you live in. For more info on 'Pass The Book' , please see Sian's Blog.

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx