Ho Sodding Ho

And that's me being polite ;)

Not one speck of tinsel has found it's way out of the Christmas decorations box yet. Small people have neither queried or requested it so I'm wondering just how long we can go without it all before it becomes silly and folk start to think I've really been reading those WatchTowers.

I've managed to scrabble together most of one child's presents from Santa, a wee pile for another child and barely a bulge in a carrier bag for the third one. Why does no one know what they want this year?!?

Where is my Christmas spirit? Well the bottled kind that had been languishing at the back of my cupboards for cough cough some time were shoved into a homemade hamper that I put together back in October for Mother to take back down the road with her for my brother and sister-in-law. How organised was I! Yeah ok I guess using the word shoved does imply that it was more a hasty thought of ooh let me quickly put something together for them and save myself a gazzillion pounds in postage.

I spent the equivalent of a small countries debt on sheets of stamps the other day in the hope that it would motivate me to actually write the Christmas cards. Not worked so far. Why do we have to send Christmas cards, am I the only one that finds writing them a chore? If you haven't spoken to someone all year why do you feel obliged to send them a card with snow on the front of it just because it's Christmas? You're probably not going to speak to them again all of next year.

I do however have our Christmas day meat sorted. I expect that says more about me than I'd want a psychologist to know but it was on offer and we really wanted to try one last year but they were all sold out. It's one of those 3 bird roasts thingys and its taking up a huge chunk of my freezer space as we speak. It better be good!

I think I need to sit down with my small people and make the hundreds of snowflakes we do every year and if that doesn't put some sparkle in my baubles then I must be a lost cause and there's no hope for me.

This post was brought to you under the advisement of dear bloggy friends who tell me to just write something/anything.....well you asked for it so how was it? :D

Only in Scotland

Yes I did post about winter conditions and yes there really was snow, infact there still is snow lying on the ground in piles by the side of the road where the snow plough has shoved it. But Mother Nature has decided that we do actually deserve a bit of sun and while the rest of the country seems to be sodden and wet the sun has well and truly got his hat on.

So to make the most of a lovely sunny day we went out for a drive and ended up in a local wee fishing village.


I love the no mooring ropes on the light sign, can you imagine how many lamposts were bent out of shape before they put that up? LOL

Obligatory arty lobster pot shots.

Looking at this I could almost pretend I was at some little Greek fishing village. Ok ok I know too much of stretch, the houses would have to be at least white and the sun would be a whole lot brighter and the sea blue instead of the North Sea grey it is. :)

This is a barometer built into a granite pillar that is a Victorian memorial to the seafaring men of the town and there is a plaque to the memory of a local lad who was killed serving in the Royal Navy aged 27 and his ship sank in the China Sea. I couldn't get a better shot as there was a car parked right in front of it. :/

A clear shot of the harbour walls. Romantic or gloomy...you decide.

On the way home wee one said she would like to do some crafting so we got out the beads and she made some earrings.

She made herself and one of her best friends a pair then carried on and one.

The plan is now that she's going to take them to school and see if she can sell some to her friends. My little entrepreneur. She'll be on Dragon's Den soon looking for backing to start her own Etsy/Folksy shop LOL



And of course to finish the afternoon off nicely you have to have a bit of cake.


It's carrot cake so that's one of my five a day covered. :)

Did anyone build an ark yet?

I can't believe it's a month since I last posted and it's still flipping raining! It's terrible seeing all the devastion that the excess water has brought and the sad loss of life. We've been pretty fortunate where I live but nearby areas have been affected. The smalls and I did have an adventure a couple of weeks back having to drive through what would appear to be a lake but was actually the dual carraigeway on our way home from shopping. Boy were we glad to get home that night.

Other things to report to excuse my month long absence. Well I did go and see this lush individual.

Mr Izzard is one of the few men that I do like to see with a bit of eye liner on and after spending time in his company (with several hundred other fans) I come away feeling educated. T'was a brilliant night and oh how we laughed.

I did a table top sale last week which was a bit of a wash out in more ways that one, yes it was raining but that didn't seem to stop everyone going to the coffee morning that was also on in the village that day. Unfortunately only 26 people came through the doors so it was a very long morning sat in a cold village hall I can tell you. Luckily I covered the cost of my table and made a few bob in profit but I do so not enjoy having to pack it all away again at the end. Most of the bits and bobs I had on sale were things that may yet find their way onto my blog shop but I did actually make things too. Yes Tazzy scrapped together enough crafting mojo to make something! I made flannel cupcakes and chocolate logs and some magic reindeer food. Yes I know hardly a stall of Tazzy goodies but it was a start and I did sell a few :)

Well I see the Coke advert has started to the official countdown to Xmas has begun, guess I really should start thinking about doing something about it then. Gulp!

Well...

it would seem that I managed to let my 2nd blogiversary slip by with no notice at all. So I have to rectify that so I'm doing a giveaway to celebrate 2 years of having somewhere to let my brain splurge, to celebrate the lovely friends I've made along the way and to celebrate the fact that we are now officially into Spring. So if you would like to enter my giveaway please leave me a comment about anything you like really. But I warn you now the prize will consist of at least one of my stencilled shirts (plus other things I find to throw in the bag) so you will have to tell me your shirt size. I will however not expect you to announce that in the general comments section, only the winner will need to let me know. ;)

Just a few examples of things I've stencilled before...







I am also extremely happy to share with you all the lovely things I received from the lovely Steph over at MadMummy I have to say a big huge THANK YOU to Steph, she has some amazing sewing skills and really gave me some gorgeous things. Also a heartfelt THANK YOU to the lovely Catherine at MollyCupcakes for organising the Heart Swap.

Ok with out any further to do here are the lovely lovely things that are now all mine.

Look how pretty everything was wrapped.



WOW! Steph said she'd read about my tattoos on my blog so thought this material would be appropriate. Is it ever!! :D


Pretty pretty things...


My package to her has arrived but numpty that I am I didn't remember to take pictures of everything before I sent it. :( Hopefully Steph will though. :)
We are also partners in Fairie Nuff's Spring Swap so I'm cracking on with that now.

Right still no word from the big job interview so keep your fingers crossed for that no news is good news. This weekend has been a long one especially as I was working Saturday night at a wedding function so that change in the clocks was NOT any fun I can tell you.

Oh I just have to share with you my latest favourite joke.

Q. How do you make Lady Gaga cry?
A. Pokerface (poke her face)

Well ok my 8 year old likes it.

Post birthday but not blue

Well despite still being poorly for my actual birthday I can't complain on the presents front. I was totally spoiled or is that spoilt...anyway. Him indoors finally heard my pleas and I got the gorgeous purple ghds that came complete with travel hairdryer and case. It all came in a beautiful purple box which as most people who know me know feeds my box fetish too.


I also received Kylie's Sweet Darling perfume and the gorgeous Diesel Fuel for Life perfume. Guess I'll smell ok from now on ;)



The girls bought me a Pandora bracelet (latest charm bracelt craze in case you haven't heard of it)
This is the wee chicken licken charm that wee one chose for me. I guess I really do have to stick to my resolution to get chickens now then eh?

I also got a lovely glass bead but can't find a single picture of it online and can't take a decent up close shot of it to save my life.

I also had book vouchers, 3 gorgeous bouquets of flowers, chocolates and money. Yep definately a lucky girl.
I did manage to go out for something to eat with the kids on the evening of my birthday but that was a bit of a disaster. Well not so much a disaster as the fact that the kids spent most of the meal laughing like crazy. I just couldn't eat anything that had a sauce on it as it smelt and tasted really and I mean really bad to me. Unfortunately I didn't realise this till halfway through the starter when I suddenly caught a hint of the bbq sauce wee one was dipping her chicken into. And guess what I had ordered for my main course? Oh yes you got it. Chicken smothered in bbq sauce. But I didn't starve big one very kindly shared her lasagna with me and as I've not been eating much over the last few days that was more than enough for my poor tummy.

Today we met up with my friend from work for lunch. Well I could hardly say no as I'd already had to cancel our night out for my birthday. Luckily I was able to order something that had no sauce on or near it :)

I'm amazed at the number of people entering my birthday giveaway. Thank you everyone for taking the time to join in the fun. Not long now and I'll be putting the names in a hat.
Speaking of giveaways I had the pleasure of discovering today that I am one of the winners on Jellybelly*Jellybrain's fabric giveaway. What a great way to finish off my birthday weekend.

Tomorrow unfortunately will see me attempting to make a dent on my to do list. It's a very very long list, what with me being ill all week and as my energy levels are still very low it might take me sometime.....

Alien gingerbread men and online shopping

Am I the only playing the title game?
Ah well...anyway alien gingerbread men, well you can't beat a bit of festive fun with a sick child. As we made snowflakes I needed to think of something else that would be fun for her to do which wouldn't tax her too much or be too complicated that her poor poorly attention span couldn't cope. So i sat and drew round our gingerbread cutter, cut them all out, filled the coffee table with sharpies and glitter and stick on eyes etc and we had great fun. The one's she made as aliens with only one eye on their forehead were definately the winners of the day. Of course Mummy then dutifully sat threading them all together and then hung them up in the the hallway. As I said over on jellybellyjellybrain's blog we haven't been able to decorate properly for Xmas yet as the living room has bits of fireplace all over it and the hall is full of chairs and sofa ready for freecycle collection. Still at least we've got our snowflakes and gingerbread men :D

Wee one if feeling much better this evening so we think she'll manage school tomorrow, she is still disappointed that she missed out on the Xmas dinner school lunch but at least today she managed to eat more than one packet of wotsits.
Had big one to the Drs this morning,she's had a sore throat for over a week and coughing for weeks, he's given her some antibiotics so we shall see if that shifts it. Last night she finally decided what dress she would like for her school xmas dance so ordered that at some ungodly hour hence why I am filling you in on Tuesday and Wednesday's goings on in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Uuuuggh work tomorrow and I am so not feeling the love for it at the moment. Boss can be a bit moody sometimes (yeah I know we all can) and she had been a bit funny with me this last week or so. I am seriously considering jacking it in after Xmas and going back to being a full time mum and part time student. I only have one more course to complete with the OU and I'll have my degree but I've been putting it off for..for..well years now. Stupid really I know.

Anyway great thing happening tomorrow him indoors is coming home and he will be home with us for Xmas and New Year. Woohoo! First time in years and years and years that he's been home for both celebrations, we only usually get him for one or the other. Best go get his Xmas presents hidden so he doesn't come across them when he gets home and I'm still out at work.

Did someone mention credit crunch? Is that a new topping?

Yep did the weekly shop today and him indoors nearly choked on the receipt, you can who does the shopping on their own usually can't you? But oddly enough he didn't look phased at all when we were pricing up fireplaces, hearths and grates this morning, and that was definately a lot more than a weeks shopping! This is the hole in the wall that we currently have


attractive eh? Actually the whole thing was hidden behind plaster board, wood panelling, a 1970's gas fire and surround until recently. Now we've had the original (very very old) wall repointed and we're on the search for something nice and chunky and that will look just right.

Craftily before his lordship dragged himself and the shopping trolley round the supermarket I got him to agree to buy this first and take it out to the car. Can you imagine...I'd probably have had to pick him up off the floor if it had been added on to the food bill :D

My last food processor lasted me 12 years but then I didn't actually use it for the first 2 so I guess I should say lasted me 10 years. Anyway as they don't make things like they use to I guess I should think myself lucky if this one keeps going past it's guarantee date. God I sound so old!

Tomorrow is the birthday of my friend (who I also work with) and my old next door neighbours eldest girl. So this evening I made these, hopefully they like them. Big one says they're cool so I guess that's a good thing, for something to impress a teenager must be ok eh?

You can't teach old dogs new tricks

For a second time I in my infinite wisdom decided to stay for a pint after work last night. I finished at 6pm and I had money behind the bar for one drink. Simple I thought 1 pint, a quick blether and then I'm away home....
I got home at 11.30pm :o Oooops This is the second time I've stayed for one drink and ended up staying out far too late hence the title of the post :D
On a good note though I woke up this morning with no hangover and I got to go to wee one's school Enterprise day. They've been busy for weeks making things to sell to raise funds to buy playground equipment. So I came away with a cool caterpillar bookmark, a pencil with a cool sheep topper, a marigold plant, a bag of malteaser tray bake and some books. Wee one came home with armfuls of stuff she'd bought herself LOL
Got my friend's birthday present all finished wrapped and will post it tomorrow after spending this evening making a card with big one. Pictures to follow ;)
Need to parcel up my Owl stuff for my Craftster swap and that'll be me up to date with my post.
I'm next in line for bumbershootska PIF so I'm excited about that.
Ok it's 2am and I've got to go shopping for birthday presents for 7 year old male twins tomorrow for a party that's on tomorrow that wee one has only just brought home the invite for! Aaahhh!