Latest LO

I did this LO for this month's digidreamer and UKS sketch challenges using the Digidreamer August kit Xtreme Teen and a sketch by Jen Caputo. The picture is another of the ones I took during the Saturday night procession at the fiesta. I'm really pleased with the way it's turned out.

Back Home

OK so I'm back in grey old blighty. I spent my last day in Spain in and out of the pool to make sure I kept up my swimming quota, before finally setting off for the airport for my 2215 flight. I am pleased to say that my case was 1.5kg lighter than when I went out, mainly due to leaving half my stuff at Mum and Dads, although I did manage to bring back a litre of bourbon. The flight was on time and I bought a mini lilac Timberland backpack in duty free which will be perfect for toting around New Orleans.

I have to say I was very glad not to be an Easyjet customer when I got to Gatwick. They had been having delays all day and there was a major problem with baggage offloading. The Rome flight had been waiting almost 2 hours for their cases when we arrived, and there was no news as to when their cases were likely to be offloaded. I was glad that we didn't have to wait and get them in order, otherwise it's unlikely I'd have been home much before noon today and Andrew would definitely not have been impressed!

Today has been spent unpacking (no washing needed as I did that before I left) and shopping. The weather has been mainly overcast and humid, although still mild, but depressing after all those weeks of lovely sunshine. Even more depressing is the thought that I have to be up at 5am tomorrow to go back to work, something I am most definitely not looking forward to.

Tonight is going to be spent catching up with the stuff I've missed over the last 3 weeks and hopefully getting a couple of quick digisketch challenges done as they have close deadlines. I also have to dig out and start work on the CJs that I have in my possession - I have 3 now and need to crack on with them. 2 will be quite easy as they are Discworld related, but the last involves me dressing up as a clown and scanning my head - not such an easy prospect (yep I AM completely mad!)

Second to Last Day

Today is my second to last day in Spain. We took Lynne to the airport this morning to get her flight home (which was thankfully on time). I can't believe how quickly the time has gone - it seems like no time at all since I got out here, and already I'm getting my washing done and my packing sorted for tomorrow. The weather is a bit cloudy today (typical as I'm doing washing), but the temperature is still in the 30s so I can't complain.

The picture was taken at a German Restaurant that we visited last night. The food was beautiful, but there was so much of it and it was very filling. I chose the set menu which was ham, cheese & melon, mushrooms in a herb & cream sauce, salad, red deer goulash with pasta and strawberry mousse. The others had the mushrooms or soup salad and German Sausages and fried potatoes.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Just checking in quickly to update on what has been happening in the past few days.

Lynne finally arrived at Alicante airport at 11.20pm, tired and fed up, but glad to be here at last. We have spent the last few days relaxing, swimming, eating, sleeping, drinking and shopping (not necessarily in that order). Mum and Dad came back yesterday after a long drive back from the UK - stopping at Carcassone en-route to have a look round - from the book they brought back it looks lovely, and exactly how I'd pictured it. We bought Mum and Dad some plants for their garden to say thanks for letting us stay - they are now the proud owners of a fig tree (for Jack), a bottlebrush plant and a plant with lovely purple flowers.

Today is Dad's 68th birthday - Jo and I have given him some money to go quad biking, an electronic Suduko game and a Boy's Own book. Tonight we are going for a meal at LaFinca, which is apparently a very nice restaurant.

Finally, just a quick mention for my friend Keili whose mum passed away last week. Today is the funeral so my heart goes out to her and her family.

Sunshine but No Smiles

Last night I went to the fiesta to watch the floats. It was a good evening, lots of music (as Spanish fiestas always have) and loads of people having a great time. It's a shame that Lynne didn't manage to come out earlier as I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more with company, but I still had a good time. The picture is of one of the floats. Every so often they would stop, the pit crew would run out and change the tyres around while the pit boss timed them - brilliant!

I rushed home afterwards with a fab pizza from the new kebab shop in the village and settled down for an early night as I had to be up early to go and get Lynne from the airport.

It was still dark when I woke at 6.30am, and trying not to disturb the dogs I quietly logged onto the computer to check that Lynne's flight had left OK. Unfortunately the news was not good - DELAYED was the message that appeared next to her flight number. Almost immediately, I received a text from her saying that her flight was delayed until at least 10am (she was supposed to have flown at 5.20am). As Manfred (a neighbour) was supposed to be giving me a lift to the airport I had to let him know, and then by that time the dogs were off, so I took them for a walk. Returning back I text Lynne again, feeling so sorry for her that the first day of her holiday was being messed up like this. She said they had now been told the flight wouldn't leave until 5.15pm! They were being taken to a hotel for breakfast and lunch, but understandably she's not very happy. I just hope they actually leave at that time and it isn't delayed any further!

Also just a quick word to wish Paul lots of good luck. He's racing today at Brands Hatch - let's hope he's on the podium again.

More Holiday Musings ...

Last night was the first night of the fiesta in the village which meant free sangria and beer for everyone to go with the entertainment - traditional spanish singing and dancing. Of course it didn't start until late so I missed most of it, having to be home and in bed at a reasonable hour so I can get up and take the dogs out early in the morning, but what I saw of it was good, and it was amazing how many people were there. Tonight was the floral procession where the women of the village walk through the town in traditional costumes bearing flowers which they take to the village church. I'm sure it was lovely but unfortunately I was hit by a migrainey headache (due to the sun I think) earlier today so wasn't feeling up to going. Tomorrow is the float procession which I am hoping to get to with more fun to follow on Sunday and Monday.

I have worked out that Jack always wants to walk the same route because it passes a number of fig trees, although he has now stripped them of any figs - I keep alternating the route, but then he has a tendancy to find half decayed goats legs and things instead.

Today I also had a surprise visit from Andrea's family - it was lovely to see them although they didn't stay too long.

Day 7

Well it's already day 7 of my holiday - my word how times flies!

I have been expecting people to invade every day since Mum & Dad left, but so far no-one has been round, apart from Manfred to discuss my lift to the airport to meet Lynne. I have been out and about a bit, but yesterday I spent all day at home apart from the 2 walks with the dogs and today I ventured over the mountains to Albaterra in search of a bank, but to no avail. Tomorrow I am having another lazy day at home and then off to the village in the evening as the Fiesta starts and it's free beer and wine - well how could I turn that down?

Looking after the dogs has been an interesting experience and made me realise that whilst it would be lovely to own dogs, it's a huge responsibility and one I couldn't and wouldn't (at the moment at least) do. Jack is still moping around, sleeping outside mum & dad's door and looking mournful every so often, he's like a limpet with me - I even have trouble getting into the loo without him. Reba has different attitude, as long as she's being fed she doesn't really care who does it. Walks are a bit of a challenge - Reba gets so excited she bites your feet and ankles and yowls and barks and it's really beginning to annoy me - especially first thing in the morning when I've only been up for 5 minutes. Unfortunately for her I've had 40 years of being stubborn so eventually she will give in and do things the way I want them - I refused to let her off the lead this morning because she was biting and tugging at it. She also appears to hate all other dogs apart from Jack so if I see anyone else (although most people try to avoid us if possible) I have to put her on a lead and she is quite a handful - I just I don't have to really try to restrain her 'cos she's so strong I'm not sure I'd win.

My tan is coming on well considering I am staying out of the sun until after 6pm unless I am in the swimming pool. My back is beginning to peel, a casualty of not being able to put suncream or aftersun there, although today I bought a spray cream so hopefully that will help.

Off to have a late night swim in the pool ...

I'm here!

Well here I am reporting in from sunny Spain.

Arrived safely on late Thursday evening, after a short delay at the airport - only 20 minutes to get through customs, which wasn't bad, and then the plane was delayed by another 20 minutes or so.

The weather is in the late 20s/early 30s and I've already managed to get burnt - my once a day factor 20 cream doesn't seem to be doing the trick - can't cope with the swimming I guess.

Mum and Dad left this morning for the trip to the UK so the dogs have spent the day moping - hopefully they'll be sorted in a day or so.

D Day!

So the time is finally here. In less than 5 hours (hopefully if there's no delays) I'll be on the plane to Spain. The flat is the tidiest it's probably ever been - sparkling and clean thanks to Lynne. She definitely is organised!

I think my case is a little too heavy but as I've stuck to my travelling light (tiniest handbag ever - which I remembered to remove the keyrings from) in the hand luggage department I'll pay excess fares if need be. Not entirely sure why its so heavy - I think the case must be quite heavy anyway, I mean I haven't taken THAT much ... well maybe I have.

Anyway this is me checking out, as I', just about to leave for the airport. More posts to follow from Spain.

Nearly There

Well as I post, the kitchen has been sorted and cleaned, my nails are done, my hair is cut, the rubbish is at the tip (except tonight's), Bluewater visited and almost all my work is complete. I am free of the pub (Iain didn't even bother to wish me a nice holiday, so I guess he's still not talking to me). Only the lounge and bathroom still to sort, and hopefully those won't take too long tomorrow with yet more sterling help from Lynne - she is excellent at getting me organised! Oh of course I still have my case to pack - and flight documentation to print ... had a terrible nightmare last night that I spent an hour in a queue at the airport only to find when I got to check-in that I had forgotten my passport and ticket and there was no time to go back and get it - yep I'm beginning to panic.

Unfortunately the lift to the airport was off due to Andrew suddenly having to go to Stratford on Avon for work (although he has promised me faithfully that he will pick me up - he'd better or something VERY nasty will happen to him!), after a lot of asking around (amazingly everyone I know seems to be busy on Thursday this week) it was looking like a taxi was going to be the order of the day. Fortunately I bumped into my neighbour Russ this afternoon and he just happens to be free on Thursday afternoon so I have got a lift again. Just need to sort out the logistics of whose car we're travelling in as my case is unlikely to fit in his sports car.

Arrrggggghhhhh

I've just remembered something else I haven't done and this should have been a priority. Remember the mini-album I produced for Dad for Father's Day? I was supposed to get the pictures printed off so I could produce a real life album for him. I decided against getting them printed online as I was going to do an 8x8 album and couldn't find a place doing that size at a decent price in the short timeframe I had, so decided to print them myself. I printed one and it came out a bit fuzzy (not sure why) so I was going to touch up and then redo ... of course I completely forgot and now I'm not going to have time to get it done before I go.

Time Out

Just taking a quick time out from the mad rush to update my blog. House cleaning continues apace, although maybe not quite as fast or as well as I'd hoped - I feel I'm sinking fast and I'm definitely running out of time big style. Tomorrow I'm working at home, but have a full day's work to do (got loads to get finished before I go on holiday) plus have to get my hair cut (definitely badly needed after missing the last appointment 'cos of tooth extraction problems), get my nails done, get to Bluewater to return unwanted clothes before the exchange date runs out, clean the fridge, defrost the freezer and sort, tidy & clean the kitchen - oh yes the lounge still needs doing as well, as does cleaning the bathroom. And on top of that I still have to pack properly as well.

One good piece of news is that the security restriction has been lifted on hand luggage. Having got used to the idea of no hand luggage I am sure I can travel light (no really I can!)- although I will probably take a bag now (so what happened to travelling light then?), but wonderfully, it means that I can take my MP3 player. The idea of not having it for this flight, and more especially for the flight to New Orleans later in the year was distressing me considerably. I just hope they don't change the rules again this week, or before I go to the USA.

I'm in a funny situation - desperate to get away to somewhere lovely and warm (temp is in the 30s), especially with the crappy almost wintery weather we have here and really wanting to be finished with work, whilst at the same time wishing there was a bit more time so I can get everything finished that I need to get done. I'll need a holiday to get over all this rushing around!

Unfortunately there had to be casualties with this lack of time and that's my ATCs and a CJ that should have been posted tomorrow. Fortunately, the CJ belongs to my friend Dolly, so she is cool about it being late - good news really as I have no time to dress up as a clown and scan my head before I go away! Not so good on the ATC front though. I missed last month's batch as I was too busy with work and life to get round to them and missing a second month when I had only done 1 batch out of 3 previously is unlikely to go down well. I think I have no choice but to drop out of the group - a shame as they are the most talented ATC makers in the world and I felt very honoured (and quite frankly a bit out of my depth sometimes) to be a member of the group. I just hope that I'll still get access to the gallery as it is always wonderful seeing the creations, although of course not as good as seeing them in real life.

So I now have only 1 last shift at the pub tonight and then I'm outta there for 3 whole glorious weeks - will I want to go back? I doubt it, but I'm sure I will, if for no other reason than to annoy Iain. I know of 2 more complaints that have been sent to Spirit in the last week, but I'm betting they'll have as little effect as the previous ones. Just need to hope that my lift to the airport has been sorted out, as that's looking in jeopardy at the moment. Hopefully good news on that later today otherwise it's going to have to be a taxi.

Bleurgh

So what's with this weather?

First we have unseasonably hot weather, culminating in the hottest July day ever on record and suddenly we get to August, usually a golden sunshiny month and the weather is pretty poor. Cold, wet, miserable and to cap it all I've got a stinking cold and feel like crap. Thank god I'm off to Spain soon, I really need a nice break with some time to relax and ejoy swimming and sunbathing with a few nice cool drinks. I just hope my cold goes before I leave.

I am in the middle of the 'big clear-out' (just taking a few minutes out to update my blog). Usually this happens twice a year anyway, but I missed the last couple due to other things and so am having to get majorly tidied up before my parents arrive on my doorstep. Luckily Lynne has been helping me, otherwise I think I'd be going nowhere fast - housework and tidying especially - is definitely NOT my forte and trying to fit enough stuff for a 3 bedroomed house into a 1 bedroomed flat is challenging to say the least!

So back off to continue with the cleaning ... at least I only have to get through this weekend working at the pub and then I'm free!

Festive Friday

Today a fair few of us from work went to the Great British Beer Festival at Earls Court in London. It didn't take long for us to get split up into smaller groups, so I spent the afternoon with Nick, Andrew & David trying several good (and not so good) beers including Exmoor Gold, Belhaven Fruit, Leatherbritches Raspberry Belter, St Austell's Dartmoor Best, Surrey Hills Shere Drop and Woodforde's Wherry.

I guess real ale must inspire me because as soon as I got home I immediately scrapped the photos that I had taken during the afternoon.

And no I didn't get drunk ...

Ouch!

Yesterday I spent a nice relaxing evening in the garden with Zoe, Tracy, Russ & Stuart having a BBQ and a few drinks. We spent quite some time looking at Z & T's holiday photo's and hearing their anecdotes on their journey to Singapore, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and San Franciso. Unfortunately we weren't the only ones in the garden. This morning I woke with about 40 mosquito bites, which the clicker and cream just aren't soothing. I have one lump the size of an egg on my derriere and in several places look as if I've been attacked by vampires. They are very itchy and I am desperately trying not to scratch them as I don't want a repeat of last year's blood poisoning.

How Time Flies

Well it was exactly a week ago today (at this time) that I was stuck on the M25 on the way to Jo's. i can't believe a whole week has gone already ... where did it go?

Bits and Pieces

Finally posting another sketch layout that I did earlier in the month - kept forgetting to copy the picture to upload. Once again it's of Chelsea Flower Show, and once again it's pink! I really must find some pictures that aren't pink to scrap. I really love doing the sketches 'cos it means i don't have to think too hard about what I'm doing. I've now found a fab LO by Cathy Z that I really need to have a go at, and already have 2 subjects in mind ... more on that later if it works out.

Lynne confirmed that she is going to come and stay with me in Spain for the last week of the holiday (actually she confirmed this a couple of weeks ago now, but we went for a drink at the Robin Hood on Wednesday evening to discuss it more and generally catch up). It's nice to know that I won't be alone for the whole time, although of course I'll have the dogs and Carrie & Bill will be coming to visit. And of course I still have access to the internet, so not exactly cast away ...

Last night I met up with Lisa (Quincy) and we went for a meal at d:alto in Bluewater - very scrummy it was too, and nicely relaxing, sitting outside by the river (apart from the spiders - and there were LOTS of spiders!) It's been absolutely ages since we got together and it was really fab to see her. Chatted about a million and one things and of course there was a little sadness at the news that 'The Hoff' has cancelled his pantomime appearance, which we were obviously all geared up to go and see, and her devotion to him, even in the face of his recent troubles is very sweet. Lucky girl has been busy watching Guns 'n' Roses and getting involved in all sorts of strange work things involving gay people and baby blue t-shirts (yep i have pics). Hopefully we won't be so long in getting together again.

She very rightly reprimanded me for not keeping my blog up-to-date (not the first one to do that either) so I am going to make a concerted effort to find time to blog regardless of how busy I am. Just wish I could find the time to get my ATC swaps and my CJ entries done too!

Very Slack!

That's me for sure. I haven't posted for almost the whole month, which is very bad! Mainly this has been due to me being busy, but also a bit lazy as I kept meaning to do it but never got round to it (bit like most things at the moment). I could put it down to the hot weather (and boy is it ever hot!) but that would just be an excuse.

Iain finally found out about my letter to the brewery a couple of weekends ago (the weekend Wendy left) and has refused to speak to me since. At first he completely blanked me, even when I asked him work related questions - he turned his back on me and walked away, and at one point even pushed me out of the way as he wanted to get through - quite a difference to the previous Monday when he was going out of his way rub up against me *bleurgh*. Now his stance is that he won't acknowledge I am there unless I ask a question directly related to work, which he will then answer. Whilst I don't mind being ignored as it means I don't have to talk to him, it annoys me that he's to pathetic too even mention the letter to me and discuss the reasons why I wrote it. I am also annoyed that Spirit haven't bothered to contact me about it either. The problem is that at the moment I feel too despondent about the whole situation to even bother chasing them.

Anyway, I have just spent a relaxing weekend in Standlake with Jo and Paul. Had a lovely time and it was so nice to not be working. The journey there was awful (6 hours!) due to a lorry fire on the M25 and so I arrived a bit later than anticipated. Us girls went shopping on Saturday, leaving Paul to sleep off his late return from Spain, and we stopped in Whitney and had a lovely cream tea in a nice little cafe. Before returning home we stopped at Cotswald Keepsakes (in monsoon conditions - yep it tipped down!) to take advantage of their sale (they have found someone to take them over and so will be staying open - yippee!) and Jo was even tempted into buyng some stuff. When we arrived back at the house there had been so much rain that the road outside the house was flooded! In the evening the weather had cleared up and so we ventured to the local pub for a drink and a bite to eat. On Sunday the weather was warm and sunny again and so we went to see the White Horse at Uffington, and had a lovely walk before returning home for a BBQ. All too soon it was time for me to head off home - not as bad a journey, although I still got stuck for about 30 minutes on the M4.

Very Sad!

Yesterday I had to spend 6 hours without an internet connection as my telephone exchange was down. You would think such a little time would be OK, but it wasn't. I felt completely cut off without the access. The only good thing was at least it wasn't like a power cut so I could at least use my computer. After a long chat to Jo (intermittent as my mobile was playing up too - due to the weather I assume) and a few obligatory games of Spider Solitaire, I finally made the most of the opportunity to get my outstanding Discworld CJ done and to do another LO, this time of Mum and Dad, using that fab sketch again. This time I used the free June daily download kit called Average Joe from Digidreamer.

I still have 2 birthday cards to make this evening and really need to get cracking with my latest batch of ATCs, but I do at least have an idea on what to do for them (assuming it works!)

The weather seems to have cooled down a little bit after the storms, I just hope the nice weather isn't over for the year!

Sunshine and Showers

July already! This means I've been doing this blog for almost 3 months already - doesn't time fly when you're having fun?

Well the weekend certainly has been a time of sunshine and showers - the weather has been glorious, temperatures in the 30s, which is perfect for the parties and BBQs I've been to. Aiden's christening on Sunday was lovely, with Aiden himself sleeping through a majority of the service, only waking up when the water was poured over his head, and the Birthday party was perfect with the sunshine. The showers though, of course come in the shape of England's exit from the World Cup. After yet another abysmal performance (although if they'd played the whole game the way they played after Rooney got sent off then we might have done enough to win) we are on our way home. I am glad I wasn't at the pub to watch it, I hear there were fights aplenty in the aftermath, as usual from the younger element.

No sign on Saturday that Iain knew about my letter, but I can't believe he won't find out soon. Expecting fireworks, but maybe if I'm lucky he'll just ignore me. At least I have company tonight as it's Kim's birthday so the whole crowd will be in the pub to celebrate.