Wow - three days in a row........

Today would have been my parents 49th Wedding Anniversary. Thinking of my much missed dad today.

I think Christmas is also time to remember others we have sadly lost over the years........all of my Grandparents, much loved sister in law and father in law, and the little ones......Jamie and Tony.

Thinking of you all today

xxxxxxxxx

Hi Fellow Bloggers

A quick post today to say we are safe in Plymouth, after all the ice and slippy weather this morning. It was a scarey drive into work. Have had to send Debbie home as she is so poorly with FLU, poor girl, she tried to work until the Christmas Break, but she need to rest and get well for Christmas and the New Year. I am still suffering with the chest infection and what now appears to be a cold starting. Gary is also down with the same thing, so a healthy bunch here.

I will post again for Christmas.

Awarded:

I am chuffed to have been chosen by Jill to receive an award.

Thanks a lot to Jill for this honour, I know I don't write my Blog as often as I should, but life has been so hectic these past few months, but I hope that my friends and family enjoy it when I do.

As part of the award I have to tell you 5 things that I like (this took a bit of thinking about).

1. A cold, wet and windy walk along the beach
2. Teddy Bears (I am an avid collector)
3. My new cupcake stamps
4. My Audi TT, it was always my dream car, and now its a reality
5. Edible Glitter - strange one I know, but I have seen it used on several Christmassy programs recently, and have just bought some for the Mince Pies and Rocky Road I am going to make.

Afternoon Bloggers

I have been off work today, as I have a chest infection, causing problems with my breathing, so need a couple of days taking it easy. The doctor has given me some tablets to help. He wants to see me again after Christmas for check up and see how the asthma is going. Its only ever a problem if I get a cough or a cold. I am my own worst enemy, as I won't listen to my body until its too late. He told me off and said I should have done something a few days ago.

Have had a little sleep and then a couple of hours watching craft on the telly, so I have been good and done as I was told.

Fingers crossed I will feel better tommorow and be able to go into work.

I thought it was about time I put a couple of photos of recent cards on here. I am really into these cupcake stamps - and have great fun in finding different ways of using them. The 'Footprints' stamp I also purchased recently, its such a beautiful sentiment abd needs very little else to make a lovely card.

How are the Christmas preparations going ? Luckily I have had a couple of days off work recently and the 'To Do List' is getting smaller, all of our presents are now bought, packed and wrapped, the cards are made, written and posted (my apologies if you receive a shop bought one - but time is limited). Most of the food shopping apart from the fresh stuff is also done. So despite having two weeks to go, I am just about finished.

This coming weekend I am going to Linda's Plymouth Craft Group, for a whole 12 hours - 10am til 10pm, so will be taking several things to do, including, knitting, beads for making jewellery, cardmaking and maybe even some scrapbooking stuff too. We are having jacket potatoes for lunch, and the usual Christmas Cake etc for tea, so it should be a good day all around.

Gary will be staying at home, hopefully getting the decorations down from the loft and maybe even putting them up for me. He is shattered though after being on shift for ages and doing 12 hour days, so I expect he will have a nice lay on in the morning, and relax watching the sport on Sky during the afternoon.

Have been watching Kirsties Crafty Christmas on C4 for the past few nights, and have got a few ideas, maybe too late for this year, but next year certainly, the edible glitter to go on the top of Mince Pies etc was my favourite.

Flippin eck, who has pinched most of November ??

I can't believe that we are already on the 19th, only 5 weeks till Christmas. I have started today, to buy a few presents, my cards are made, and I have made a start on writing them.
It used to be an enjoyable afternoon, sat with some Christmassy music on, maybe a drink (or two) depending on how long it took, writing letters to put in with the cards, but it now feels like a chore. Is that just me I wonder ??

Last Friday (13th) I managed to have an accident in my car, luckily I was OK, but the car isn't too good, goes in for repair next Monday for about a week. The weather was terrible, wet, windy, with bad visibility. Oh well, never mind.

Well what else is new in the Blake Household.......ummmm nothing very much, the usual work, and busy lives.

Where does the time go ? ............ I can't believe it is now November, so much has happened these past few weeks. So here goes with all my news.

Firstly we had a fabulous break in South West Wales, staying in a Lodge in St Clears just outside of Carmarthen. We visited lots of local castles (and there are loads believe me), even more beaches, took hundreds of photos, which are still on the cameras, I really must get around to downloading them and put some on here.

The clocks have changed, so darker evenings, and lighter mornings, but with all this grey, damp and miserable weather, it doesn't appear to have changed that much does it.

Last weekend I celebrated my birthday, had a fabulous day, Gary had bought me a Radley Handbag,Flowers, Jelly Beans, and a bracelet, and with money that MIL had given me, I bought a Radley purse too, and was lucky enough to receive loads of cards from my family and friends, despite the postal strikes. So a huge Thank You goes out to everyone who made my day special.

I also visited a craft shop at Kelly Bray, which was not the easiest place to find, but well worth a visit and they run quite a few different workshops including scrapbooking, which they were doing on the weekend. Its a monthly crop and the next one is at the end of the month.

My friend Anne, paid me a surprise visit too - because I had said previously that I didn't expect any 'surprises' on my birthday. It was dark, and someone rang my doorbell, I checked the window and could see it was only one person, was a little concerned about opening the door, as I was alone, but went to the door and could see a small light, when I opened the door there was Anne complete with a cupcake and lighted candle, singing Happy Birthday and then saying 'Surprise', such a lovely gesture - Thank you Anne, we had a lovely evening.

My birthday is tinged with sadness, as my beloved Dad died on my 11th birthday, although that was many years ago now, I still miss him.