Those Cybercrop Challenge LO's

OK so the cyber crop is now over so I can finally post my challenge LO's. I didn't win but did manage a few votes, so at least some other people liked them.

First the pre-crop challenge called 'Hidden Secrets'. This LO had to have something completely hidden, so I created an envelope containing a mini album. The subject is the water features that were at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2006.

Finally, the Gryffindor mystery kit from Jillybeans Scrapyard. The brief for this was to create anything but you could only use the items in this kit with very limited access to other items. I made a LO of the New Orleans skyline taken from across the Mississippi at Old Algiers on my last day in the city. I traced the fleur de lis embellishment and created a tag book containing a set of tags showing items symbolic to New Orleans. I also created a mini accordian book with photos of Voodoofest.

Final LO's

GO GO GRYFFINDOR!!!

Well I've just finished my final LO of the cyber crop. I have ideas for at least 3 of the other classes but I just don't have time to do them as I have to be at work in 20 minutes and it'll take longer than that for me to cut the papers!

Here is the LO that I finished first thing this morning - another picture of Leanne. As ever the photo isn't very good, but it was hard to get the title to show as I used clear plastic letters (perfect for photographing ... NOT!)

And here is the final LO - yep it's Kiefer! I have always done LO's of my favourite man in every cyber crop and I was determined not to miss him out this time. I'm really pleased with the result actually :)

I will post the two challenge LO's later this evening after the cyber crop has finished as voting is still going on for the pre-crop challenge (although tbh I don't have a hope of winning it).

Final CC points accumulated = 205 (not bad considering that I worked both days!)

GO GO GRYFFINDOR!!!

Another Layout

GO GO GRYFFINDOR!!!

I have completed one more LO this evening, and am currently half way through another, but will be stopping for tonight and will complete that one in the morning.

The LO is from the Marauder's Map Challenge - it had to include a map somewhere on the LO, so I chose the place dearest to my heart - the French Quarter in New Orleans. Slightly simpler than some of my other LOs, although I did hand cut the title which took a bit of time.

I am really enjoying the paper scrapping, although my lounge looks like it's been burgled with paper, ribbons and embellishments everywhere (not to mention Christmas presents that arrived today that I haven't yet had a chance to put away). Just wish I had a studio like mum so I could be creative without worrying about having to put the stuff away all the time!

CC points accumulated so far = 165

GO GO GRYFFINDOR!!!

Cybercrop News

GO GO GRYFFINDOR!!!

The cybercrop has now been going for 13 1/2 hours and I have so far completed 2 challenges and 1 class.

The LO below was from the first class - it's been really interesting to do everything properly, rather than digitally, although it's a lot slower! Unfortunately the picture quality isn't great as I don't seem to be able to get a decent photo of my LO's. They look so much better in real life.

I also decorated a ciger tin for the charms challenge:

CC points accumulated so far = 145

GO GO GRYFFINDOR!!!

It's Here ... The Harry Potter Cybercrop Weekend!

GO GO GRYFFINDOR!!!

Yep, the HP CC weekend has started. The first two classes and the first challenge have been posted and the chat has started. I am feeling really pleased with myself as I've already done some scrapping, and not digiscrapping either, the real thing - actually using some of my precious stash.

I completed both the pre-crop challenge (Hidden Secret) and the Gryffindor Mystery Kit and really enjoyed doing both. I am not able to show the LO's yet as they are both in hidden galleries for the time being, but I will be posting pics as soon as the crop is finished because I am very proud of them.

I've also made a digital cybercrop planner:

Better get back and check out the latest class ...

CC points accumulated so far = 105

GO GO GRYFFINDOR!!!

R.I.P. Jack White

When I got to work at the pub last night I heard about the sudden and completely unexpected death of Jack White. Jack had been a regular part of the furniture at the Sherwood Oak for many years (probably as long as it has been a pub) and was certainly a real character. Depending on who you talked to he was either a great guy or a cantankerous old bugger, and although there was no doubt that he couldn't walk properly, he had hearing like a bat, and the ability to listen in to every conversation going on in a 500 yard radius. He certainly inspired liking and loathing - sometimes at the same time!

Always up for a laugh, he was happy to join in with the dancing at many of the pub's discos and often requested particular tracks on the jukebox to get the dancing going. Remember Hey Ya! anyone?

It was really weird seeing his last pint still in the fridge where he'd left it from the previous day, and even stranger that he didn't come into the pub by 10pm for that last final drink. It was amazing how many people didn't believe it was true, we all thought it was some sort of trick - nasty for sure, but it had to be a trick didn't it? Well, no it wasn't.

So Jack is gone and no more will we see his buggy at the pub. I'm sure everyone who knew him will have their own remembrances of him. Rest in peace Jack.

MCR Update

Well I've bought 2 tickets for MCR's show at Wembley on 30th March 2007. I was looking for tickets (seated obviously as I'm not a complete nutter, there's no way I'm going near the mosh pit!) and everywhere only had seats N11 or back, but I found a site which had 4 tickets for S5 so I bought 2 of them.

I'm sure I can persuade someone to come with me by then *LOL*.

I haven’t posted for a while, so thought I’d better have a bit of a catch up. In the last few days I’ve been to an Avon party and a jewellery party (semi-precious gems). Both were interesting, but nothing really caught my eye, although I may have some ideas for Christmas pressies. I have invites to a few more parties but unfortunately I can’t make them as I’m already busy doing other things. I really need to find time to fit in a trip to the cinema though as I want to see ‘The Prestige’ and it's been out for a few weeks now. I also need to find time to do some Christmas shopping as I still have my stocking swap to sort out among other things.

Grrrrrr! My lovely new ipod froze on me on Friday evening on the way home from work. Bloody annoying to say the least - but according to the internet, not an uncommon occurrence amongst ipods. This meant I had to reset it. Luckily I’m not one of those people who changes the settings much so I didn’t lose any custom settings. At least if it happens again I’ll know what to do rather than having to leave it frozen for the best part of 2 hours (and before some wag comments - no it wasn't the ipod reacting to my overplaying of 'The Black Parade').

I really want to go and see MCR at Wembley (end of March) - currently looking for someone to come with me - anyone want to volunteer? Talking of concerts I am absolutely gutted that I have missed the tickets for Gary Numan's mini Telekon tour - he released the tickets while I was in America and it's completely sold out. I could buy from a tout but they are charging over double the original ticket price and with you-know-what so close I can't really justify the expenditure. For the same reason I stopped looking at the New Model Army tickets, although it would be fab to see them again as well. I'm really into going to concerts at the moment after Voodoofest.

Iain is currently still living at the pub. He has launched an appeal against his dismissal, so it appears he’s staying put for the time being (that and the fact he apparently has nowhere else to go). I can’t imagine he has a chance with the appeal, but I just hope it is all sorted soon as I’m eager to see who is coming into the pub so I can decide whether to carry on working there or not. At the moment it’s a close call and the choice of landlord will tip it. Obviously I’d like to get sorted before Christmas, but maybe they can’t do anything until the issue with Iain is resolved and Steve is back from holiday.

I really meant to get on with my cybercrop challenges this weekend. I received the Gryffindor mystery kit from Jillybeans Scrapyard and of course need to do the pre-crop challenge. Unfortunately this means real life scrapping for both challenges this time and I have even more trouble getting going with real life scrapping than I do with digital. Needless to say, the weekend has passed and the kit is still in its box, and the pre-crop isn’t even a plan yet. Can’t remember the deadline for them, but as I’m busy for most of this week it’s going to be a bit of a struggle to get them done I think.

Congratulations to Jo on getting her new car – looks very nice and is very flash with the heated leather seats etc. Very useful with the cold weather coming. I've had to make do with a new coat. Dennis Basso has a full length faux fur coat as a TSV on QVC today at a great price so I got one. Well, actually I got 2 because I couldn't decide whether I like the redwood mink or the white lynx best. I shall decide which one I prefer when they arrive and send the other back (or maybe both if they look horrid on me). Seems a bit extravagant maybe, but I haven't had a new winter coat for about 6 years, my old one is really beginning to look a jaded around the collar where it has been removed so many times for dry cleaning (or at least it would if I could find it - I put my winter stuff away somewhere earlier in the year and haven't managed to find it again yet *LOL*).

Oh yes, I will be posting the next holiday installment shortly.

Scanned Heads CJ

Dolly told me this morning that she'd received her CJ back so I can now post my entry.

The picture is of a real mask that I bought whilst in New Orleans and then wore while I scanned my head. I printed the resulting picture, decoupaged it and then created the page. Unfortunately the scan, printing etc. doesn't show just how beautiful the mask is in real life, or all the glitter that's on it.

This is fab!

I've been searching for video clips of voodoofest to add to my holiday blog and found loads (esp RHCP's) but need to go through them to make sure they are playable. Whilst on the search I came across the original video for Blue October's 'Hate Me'. This is a truly wonderful song and I am the proud owner of a Hate Me T shirt with the lyrics on the back. Watch and enjoy ...

Fiddling About

Just spent my lunch break fiddling with my holiday blog (no I haven't posted anything yet apart from an apology).

I really wanted it to look a bit different from this one, but I just couldn't get it to do the things I wanted it to do so in the end I gave up and switched to this template - boring I guess, but I like the look and at least it all matches.

I will be posting content very soon now - either tonight or tomorrow ... I promise!

Today is a Good Day!

Well, Iain's disciplinary hearing was this morning and he got the sack! I know I shouldn't feel pleased at his misfortune, but considering the way he treated me while he was at the pub I am absolutely ecstatic and think the b*****d got everything he deserved! I just hope we get someone decent as a replacement. Steve is great, but I don't think he has his licence yet. Gary is great too, but is only here as a relief for 2 weeks while Steve is away, and whilst it would be fantastic to get Fred and June back, I am not sure that is a realistically likely prospect. We can only wait and see. The good thing is that Iain is finally gone (although he does have 28 days to actually leave the pub) and despite all the crap, I did what I said I'd do at the beginning and outlasted him!

Spent the early part of the evening trying to sort my crafting stuff. I needed to do my Discworld CJ and also had to find some bits for my cybercrop adoptee (the lovely tree_saw69 who is a RHCP nut). I ended up having to get everything out to find the bits I wanted. Of course this meant the place was a complete mess so decided I needed to get vaguely sorted (some chance) as I don't want to do my back in every time I need to find anything. My lounge is now tidy (although not immaculate - mind you I'd need a skip and to lose everything in the room for that!). And more good news the Discworld CJ is done and posted. The theme was baddies so I chose Mr Pin and Mr Tulip from 'The Truth' (picture below). I really love their characters because they are very much based on the characters Mr Croup and Mr Vandemar from 'Neverwhere' by Neil Gaiman, which is one of my favourite books. Oh yes, I signed up for a new CJ as well - a Harry Potter related one (although I'm now not sure it is HP-related).

Tomorrow night is another England football game. At the moment we are going to the pub to watch it - just hope it's a bit better than the last few games have been. Actually, it's going to be interesting as the darts team are at home tomorrow - bet they won't be pleased about the football being on!

The only grrr is that the MP3 site that I get my music from has changed it's method for visa payments. Not only does it now charge a fee (like all the other payment methods - although it's still so cheap it's worth it) it goes through a third party site, which has 3 times rejected my payment because of errors. I have sent them an e-mail telling them that I'm not happy with their new system.

'Ello

Haven’t posted for a few days as I’ve been busy getting sorted after my holiday. Everything seems manic and I can’t get used to UK time, I feel sleepy at midday and wide wake at midnight (ok that’s always the case but it’s even worse than normal!)

Yesterday I met the Sherwood’s relief landlord, Gary. He seems really nice (mind it’s early days) but Steve told me I’d get on with him and so I think he’ll be fine. He’s going to be running the pub for 2 weeks while Steve is on a well-deserved holiday to Goa. Iain is back from holiday and back into suspension, although I believe he is back at the pub. hard to tell as he's not allowed to go into the bar, so at least I don't have to see him (hopefully never again!). I also met 2 of the new staff (Steve has employed loads of people in the last week so we’re fully staffed for the first time since Fred & June left!). Vicky has come back, although we won’t be working together. Sharon is now working with me at weekends and Tracey is working in the kitchen (that won’t be confusing will it!). The good news is that she can cook! The food takings are already on the increase as word is getting round that the food is edible again. Good news for me too as I can stop cooking again at weekends *LOL*

While I was working I introduced the pub to My Chemical Romance instead of the pap that’s usually playing. I found that the album is now on the jukebox (I was annoyed that when Black Parade was No. 1 it wasn’t in the Top Twenty list) and each track is only 50p. I treated the pub to ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’, ‘Cancer’, ‘Disenchanted’ and ‘Famous Last Words’ as I only had £2. Today they may get the whole album. I'm sure it'll be just as popular with everyone as Radiohead's OK Computer was *LOL*

I have finally completed Dolly’s Scanned Heads CJ. I will post a picture of the layout after I know she’s received it back (posting on Tuesday Dolly). Now I just have to get the latest Discworld one completed and I’ll be ready to get on with the cyber crop challenges. No idea why but I bought the Gryffindor mystery kit so I suppose I’ll have to at least have a go at that and the pre-crop challenge. No swaps though – nowhere near organised enough for that! I have been made a prefect and so I’m also having to think of some house challenges, very hard for a bear of little brain like me … all idea gratefully received!

New Video

If you want to know why I love My Chemical Romance so much check out the new vid at the bottom of the page. If this song doesn't make you feel something then you're dead!

See the new album really is fantastic!!!!

It's Cybercrop Time Again!

Woohoo. UKS is having another cybercrop to be held on 24-26 November 2006. The theme this time is Harry Potter. I have already enrolled and was of course chosen to be in Gryffindor - not really a huge surprise as every HP thing I've ever tried has always put me in Gryffindor (I had assumed that everyone would always get Gryffindor until Jen mentioned that she always gets Slytherin). So far the only other Sinner in my house is Dolly, but hoping for a few more shortly

Annoying things

So I have my brand spanking new 80Gb 5th Gen iPod (in black of course), and I am having a gazillion problems with it. Of course partially it is because I couldn't be bothered to read the manual, but the quickstart guide wasn't really much help. First I couldn't work out how to get the songs from the haunted MP3 to the new one, but Claire kindly stepped in with advice there, before I spent the rest of my life uploading track by track. Still quite a bit of work as there is a lot to transfer but suddenly my iPod has 3000+ tracks (including the fab Black Parade by MCR ... have I mentioned how completely fantastic that album is?). So I then set about converting all those hundreds of CDs I have sitting on my shelves. Of course this is taking up copious amounts of room on my PC - my 120Gb HDD now only has 25Gb of free space left. Having spent about 3 hours converting albums I leave them to copy to the iPod overnight. I have no idea what I did but when I turned it on this morning I now only have the 349 tracks from the CDs that I uploaded last night - all the other stuff has gone (yep including the MCR album *sob*). So now I have to work out how to add stuff WITHOUT losing the stuff already on there. Mrs H3 has given me a suggestion so I'll give that a try tonight and fingers crossed I'll have it sorted ... till the next thing goes wrong *LOL*.

Now of course I've always been hopeless with mobile phones - I can add a number (mostly) and text and that's about it - in fact it was only a couple of weeks ago (after almost a year of having my latest phone) that I worked out that I could add pictures and ringtones to specific people so I know it's them (yep I am that dim). Whilst on holiday I took a load of photos on my phone when I was unable to use my normal camera. I now obviously want to get them off my camera and onto my PC. This is proving to be somewhat vexing. I have connected my phone to the PC via USB and opened the phone file manager. Unfortunately, when I open the folder the photos should be in, the folder is empty - however, the photos are still on my phone. The first time I tried to open the folder I got a Windows error message and I think that must have done something to affect the folder. This seems to have everyone stumped so I've had to e-mail Sony Ericsson and ask them if they know how I can get my pictures off. Annoyingly, the pictures are stored on the phones memory rather than on the memory stick so it's not just a case of taking them out and putting them in a reader. I hope they come back with a workable option soon as it's my Duran Duran pictures which are at stake here!

Revelations

Just a few quick comments about my holiday as I haven't had a chance to update my new blog yet.

• The trip out was truly awful, the trip back was better (but Continental are still the worst airline ever!)
• Voodoofest was awesome. The Chili's were good, Flaming Lips were mega fun, Blue October were fantastic, MCR were better (as far as I could hear) and Duran Duran are arrogants b******s (and their show was still one of the best I've seen)
• America is a weird, weird place
• New Orleans IS the best place in the whole world
• Restuarant August IS the best restaurant in the whole world, although Upperline came a close second for me. Sorry Commander's Palace and Bayona - you just didn't cut it.
• Amazingly I didn't miss being on the internet for the whole week I was out there (although I did miss my friends), but I did have to go on there on Friday (for a couple of minutes only) to try and sort out my bank account
• I met some great new people - hopefully they will continue to be friends
• My phone bill is going to be astronomical - I'm scared about even getting the bill!!!!

Bit of a Catch Up ...

Here's a quick round up of things that happened while I was away (not very much as it turns out) ...

Most important, and the best news - Iain has been suspended! The new area manager (obviously much more effective than the last) arranged a walk-in audit during the week before my holiday (on a day when poor Steve was due a lie in). Needless to say the stock situation was diabolical both for drink and food. Iain was due back at the pub on 27th October and a meeting was arranged for that afternoon at which Iain was to be suspended. I hear he didn't turn up, but the effect is still the same - he's no longer running the pub. So now we have to wait the outcome of a disciplinary hearing. Surely it can't be too long before he gets the boot? Anyway hopefully this means no more Iain in the pub. I hear everyone is hoping Fred and June will come back. I hope so too, but am not holding my breath on that just yet. I understand we have a temporary manager called Gary. I shall find out what he's like when I work tonight.

My sister had a birthday. So a late 'Happy Birthday' Jo - hope the present and card arrived safely and that you had a lovely day, whatever you were doing.

Nicky has returned to work. After the recent worrying news that she had been back in hospital because of liver problems (it got knackered with the chemo), it was wonderful to see her return to work. Considering everything she's been through she looks great. She's easing back into work slowly, which is a good thing. Unfortunately her liver is still poorly, but hopefully she will be on the mend soon.

The weather changed. Blimey it's cold! Not helped of course by the unseasonably warm weather in New Orleans which reached almost 90 degrees on one of the days I was there. Perfect weather with blue skies, not a cloud to be seen, but of course humid, although not as bad as would have been normally. A shock then to come back to damp and frosty (and downright cold) weather. Need to find some time to dig out my winter clothes and pack away the summer ones.

I'm Back!!!

Well I'm back from a frantic whirlwind of a holiday. I have done so much, had so much happen and had so much fun that I can't possibly chronicle it all on here as it would take up far too much space. I have therefore decided to make a mini blog where all my holiday adventures will be placed. It will take a few days to get pictures etc. sorted and will take a little while to write up my notes.

All I can say is I LOVE NEW ORLEANS!

Oh yes - the blog address is: What I Did On My Holidays