Becoming Titled

How about this for a pretty good Christmas present? Two of our sons, Mark and Stephen along with two grandchildren, Autumn and Beau came for the day on Christmas Day for the big Turkey meal.
We always have table presents in a Secret Santa style which we open between the main meal and the Christmas pudding.After the big meal, we got ours and put them on the table in the recipients places. Stephen & Mark did the same. So that meant Autumn, Beau, Mark and Stephen all had a gift.
There was nothing by mine or Dons place!

Mmmmm I thought, somethings going on here! They all said we had to wait till after desert and everything was cleared away as they needed lots of room for our gift. Well we got curiouser and couriouser!

It all got cleared and then we were banished from the room for 10 minutes whilst they 'setup'.

We sat in the bedroom and then there was a knock on the door. We opened it and there stood Mark in a Knights outfit, complete with sword! We were ordered to follow him. He then knocked on the lounge door and a voice told usto enter!

In there was Autumn dressed in resplendant ermine and scarlet cloak, Stephen with the video camera running who welcomed us to the ceremony. Beau was there holding a cushion.????? We were told to kneel on the two satin cushions placed in front of Autumn. Mark joined her as we knelt.
Autumn began to read...........Mark carried on reading and Beau placed a crown on each of our heads. Stephen carried on filming. It was a full on ceremony!

The gift was Title Deeds to a small plot of land in the highlands of Scotland which under Scottish Law gives us automatic right to be known as Lord and Lady!!! We have a Scottish family Crest and are entitled to wear the Lochaber Tartan.

We have title deeds, a fmily crest (above) and can by law actually change our names officially if we want to so our passports and drivers licences show Lord and Lady Bentley Simpson.

We were absolutely stunned and I couldnt stop laughing!,(In fact on the film which we watched over later, I laughed so much it sounds like a witches cackle!!)

What a fantastic unusual and thoughtful gift. The whole play acting that they put with it was terrific and took half an hour for the whole ceremony.
Apparently they had been planning it for 2 months! What a surprise and so very well done.

The selling of plots of land like this is because a lot of these estates in Scotland are in danger of being lost with deforestation and to the developers and by selling off small plots, the money goes to the upkeep and maintenance of the estateas a whole and it can then be preserved.

It is a one foot square plot each so not enough room to build a castle! For the conservation its fantastic and we have an exact map of where it is so we can go there to visit.

The actual estate is called Lochaber Highland Estates which is in Lairds Wood and its just a little south of Fort William. The area is maintained by Scottish Woodland Alliance which was formed to help reverse centuries of deforestation and breathe new life into the Scottish countryside, its wildlife and communites.

This Christmas present that will go on into perpetuity.

Looking Forward

This is the time of year most people look forward to. We see the Christmas lights appearing everyhwere, firstly in the shops, then in the streets in the towns around the country, up and down the roads, outside houses. We see the people rushing around trying to complete their Christmas shopping lists.

All the gossip is about what to buy.As you rest your weary feet at the coffee shop in town, you might pause outside Santa's Grotto and see the wonderment in the childrens eyes as they come out! Such twinkly eyes so full of anticipation.Thats what its all about!

A lot of us make lists. Lists of things to buy, lists of food to prepare in readiness for the great day.Lists of things to do around the house. Extra beds to make up.

Whatever our way of preparing for Christmas, one thing is pretty much uniting us all right now in the world. 'Looking Forward'.

If you have children, its looking forward to the early morning start when Santa's presents are opened! Looking forward to a day with family or friends. Looking forward to lovely food. Looking forward to a glass of wine or a cup of tea. Whatever you are planning to do at Christmas, just look forward to it, enjoy it for what it is, a celebration. Maybe for you a celebration with Religious meaning, maybe a celebration of time together with those you love. Whatever it is, just look forward to it!

Relish the moment for all too soon it will be gone, the day will be over, the moments to remember will be in our minds, on the photographs.A part of your history.

so just Look Forward and Enjoy.To each of you reading this have a wonderful Christmas.

Precious time

Sometimes we just go on in life, doing the same old thing, day in and day out! Work, shop, cook, chat, tv, and so it goes round and round. Then one day something is said, or something happens, or you read a passage which makes you think, you might see something on tv and you stop! Something brings you to that moment!

This is the very moment you stop, take stock of everything and realise! Yes realise, time is so very precious.

You hear a piece of sad news, you read about another soldier needlessly dying in Afghanistan, you really feel for his family and their torment. You may chat to someone and hear their bad news, you hear of a death of someone you know. Just one thing thats all it takes.

Thats when you stop, realising that life is so short, every moment has to count. Count your blessings, good health, wonderful family, fabulous friends, comfortable home.

Yes we may always wish we could have a bit more money to take the pressure off when the bills arrive, but does it make life better?

The answer in short is NO!

What makes life better, is YOU realising life is wonderful, learning to appreciate all things.

The saying 'Stop and Smell the Roses, its so true. We all need to stop sometimes and just think. Life is quite good really. We are not starving, we are not dying of aids. Our country is not a deprived nation, we do have a democracy, (no matter how it sometimes irks us). We can say our thoughts out loud and not fear being shot.

And so it goes on, we become determined not to moan as much, to appreciate everything in life, to be thankful for the health we have whilst others suffer so much. Make a vow to ourselves to remember to tell relatives and friends we love them.

It lasts for a day or two, sometimes even a week or two, then eventually the same old routine comes into play and we slip into the old habits.

So before that happens, to all my relatives, both home and abroad, no matter how far apart we are, I love you all. To all my dear friends, some we dont see as often as we should, I love you all.

I aim to make more time for those precious moments.

Making Memories

Laughter! It is one of the things in life that make you feel good. It leaves a memory for you to recall and the memory makes you feel good too. Last Friday was one of those times.

It was the occassion of our local Magical Society Annual Awards Dinner. The venue was a local golf club. It was a great night, good company, lovely food, laughter and a fantastic cabaret. The comedy magician who was the headline act was so naturally funny. We enjoyed it from beginning to end. This is my friend and I in the picture with him and one of his 'props' a crying baby! Hilarious routine!

Now I know Christmas is really on its way because our Awards Dinner is always at the end of November. So I really must get organised and make lists of things to buy, thinags to do. Its me who is hosting this year but there is only 6 of us so I think I am getting away lightly. However, no matter how many of us, it will be fun and thats the main thing, fun times to make memories to keep forever.

Remember Them

This week has been Remembrance Time. Time to reflect, Time to think. What about? All those who lost their lives in conflict. The First World War, The Second World War, Every Battle and War before and since. Its a time to remember all those who served their country in conflict.

Don and I went to London, to Westminster Abbey this year. In the gardens there is a beautiful Garden of Remembrance. It has areas for all the armed and civilian forces, every battalion, every regiment, and every war and battle.



It is there for people to 'plant' their own crosses, with or without photos and messages on them. To take time to remember. To wander among all the parts of the garden, to look and say a little prayer.

Its the place where visitors come all week from around the world, simply to remember.

It is so over powering being there, so emotional but also, for me, a necessity. I am so lucky in that I never had to go to war, never lost a friend or family member to any war or battle. My Grandads both served in the First World War, My Dad in Royal Navy in the Second World War.My husband served in the Army in The Malaysian War. My Brother in Law served in Vietnam. For all their work and the work todays forces are undertaking, I say Thank You.

For all those who have lost loved ones in any war, I say a prayer for you. Bless you. I will never forget.

Counting my blessings

We had a wonderful day on Sunday in the New Forest with our two youngest grand children. They are so very adorable. they are funny, and keep us entertained all the time. They are also very very beautiful, very different from each other but equally beautiful. Wavelett the eldest one at 5 1/2 years old is very confident in herself. She has a musical talent which her parents will try to nurture. She gets that from her Dad and Grandpa! Then there is Bluebell a vivacious, funny 3 1/2 year old, already taller than her sister was at that age (so could end up being model material)!

We all went for a very long walk with their two dogs on the heath in The New Forest and they fair wore me out! But the girls wanted to go further and further! Although a little chilly, it was a bright autumn day and there was lots of healthy fresh air for all. Walking along looking at The New Forest ponies is a wonderful past time.

Once back at their house, there was hot tea and cakes for everyone and this was swiftly followed by a display of songs from the children's Harvest festival at school. With Bluebell trying to be as big as Wavey and copying absolutely everything her big sister did, we were hard pushed not to laugh! Lots of lovely songs (I suspect some were made up on the spot!) it was a pleasure to be part of it all.

They are such delightful children and certainly make me think...........Someone shone on me the day those two children came to this family.

I am so very blessed.

Flights the hard way

It is my intention visit my sisters next October. I thought of swapping my timeshare apartment for one in San Francisco. Then I would be central to two of my sisters, one would hopefully fly down from Washington and the other one would manage to drive down. Then for once we could all be together.

I really need to do this because as time goes by and we all get older, who knows how many more times the long trip can be achieved.

As its such a long journey from the UK I thought maybe of extending our holiday by visiting somewhere else first and then finishing with the week in San Fran.

So, its time to start planning the journey, making enquiries as to prices of flights for that time of year.I started today on the internet. I searched several sites for return flights to and from Uk to San Fran or a return trip to Canada. That side of things is easy!
My other alternative was to fly from San Fran to Canada to see a cousin for the second week.
Or we could fly to Canada, go down to San Fran and back to Canada to come home.It doesnt matter which way round I looked it was all so awkward.

I want to book an internal flight to another part of the USA. I have been told its cheap and easy to do so. Oh NO its not! At least not from here!
If you live in USA its fine and very economical. But to book from England, they hike up the price! How annoying. So now I am thinking I must look further afield for help with the flights.

So I called a travel agent and a flight specialist. Well the prices they want! HUH!

Its now down to emailing my sisters and seeing what they come up with. Maybe thats the only way, for them to book it over there and if so, i have to arrange a money transfer to get the cost of it to them to enable them to make the booking. Its all so very complicated now.

All I want is a simple journey to culminate in a week with my sisters and a weeks holiday somewhere else, one after the other its not too much to ask is it?
(Apparently it is!)

I am not giving up though, I will sort it out but its going to be a long week in doing so.

A Proud Moment

My husband Don and I have just returned from a magic convention in the North of England. It was the International Brotherhood of Magicians British Ring convention which is held every year in September. One year it is held in the north of the country and the following year in the south.

It was 5 days of eat sleep and breathe magic. We saw some fabulous acts and lots of brilliant close up magic. I always look forward to the conventions, even though I know it is full on and very tiring.We meet up with friends we havent seen for some time and coupled with staying in a hotel and not having to prepare meals, its great.

I belong to The British Assembly of Magigals. Basically this is the wives of magicians for want of a better description. I have been a member for around 20 years and always enjoyed meeting up with old friends at the conventions. We have a couple of meetings one of which has entertainment arranged by our current president.

Well this year when it was time for the outgoing President to announce the new incoming president I was delighted to find it is none other than yours truly. It is nice to be recognised in this capacity. My duties are not too bad really. I send out birthday and Christmas cards to all our members on behalf of the Magigals. I also arrange a Presidents Day and this will be on 25th April in Chelmsford Essex. We will have a lovely 3 course lunch, followed by a cabaret that I am currently arranging.Magigals come from around the country to be with me on my special day and hopefully some close friends and family will be there too.

Then at the convention next year, I am in the chair at the Annual General meeting and then at our Saturday meeting I have to have some form of entertainment arranged. But thats in the future, plenty of time for that.

I am quite looking forward to the year as generally you make new friends through holding the office of President. (You never know, I may get invited to be guest of honour at a clubs dinner of something!)

So a sort of 'fame' at last. I intend to enjoy it.

Dirty little fingers

Following on from our fantastic weekend it was back to earth with a bang!

Beau my 11 year old grandson was so looking forward to starting his new senior school and we had prepared for this, we went shopping for new pencils, pens and school bag bits. He had his new uniform all ready and was getting very excited at this new phase in his life.

BUT just 2 days before he was due to go off on this big adventure his knee was hurting, it was quite badly swollen and so his Dad took him off to the doctors. The doctor took one look and sent him to A & E. They in turn took swabs, xrays, blood tests and decided to keep him as an inpatient.

Beau had scratched a gnat bite on his knee and as with all boys dirty fingers, he had infected the bite.

That led to an operation later that day. The surgeon had to make a large hole in his knee to dig out an abcess and drain lots of nasty poisonous fluid away.Poor kid was in hospital overnight with pain killers.

When he came home the next day he was told he wasnt allowed to go to school. He was devastated! So plans were put in place to carry him to his tutor room in school on the first day of the new academic year. The school agreed he could be present for just 2 hours to meet everyone, get his registration and meet his new class friends. Well that didnt work out either!

Overnight the knee became even more swollen & painful and so a phone call to the hospital meant a drive back there. He had got MRSA! a very nasty highly contagious disease in the actual wound! In fact the whole family and his friends who were with him during the previous 48 hours may have to be tested too! So more blood tests, more pain killers, more draining of the poison in his knee and more bandages. Luckily, it is a mild case and self inflicted and is just in the wound so we dont need testing. Now he is off school for at least 2 weeks, he can use the leg/knee but has to have it cleaned and dressed every few days by a nurse who comes to the house.

He has to go back to the hospital next week and get a further prognosis. So the moral of the story is this..........watch out for dirty little fingers, think before you scratch.

Family Reunion

We have just returned from a great weekend in The New Forest. Present were our 3 sons, Gary, Mark & Stephen and 6 grandchildren and of course the 3 dogs. We had 3 fab days and 2 nights with the children ages ranging from 3 to almost 21 years. We stayed in a hotel but everyone else stayed at Garys, camping in the 8 man tent! Rather them than me! It worked though.

A very mixed age group but wonderful to see the 6 cousins all getting along and each of the older ones passing on skills and help to the younger ones and making sure they were all safe. Each and every one of them having fun with the others.

To see Wavelett (5) taking guitar lessons from Luke (17)and learning quickly. Luke is so musical and so patient with the little ones. He in turn learned a lot from Gary's musical expertise. Luke also showed Beau (11) how to play the piano a bit which gave Beau confidence.

Autumn (14)helped Bluebell (3) with her constant dressing up as a princess! Such girlie girls together.

And Mike (20), well he helped the younger ones learn tree climbing skills the day we spent in the forest. To see The New Forest ponies just wandering around is a wonderful experience.If you havent been there you absolutely must go, its free and is so calm in the forest, its definitely a back to nature calming journey.

The evening BBQ was a great success with Mark acting as chef and the jamming session was super! Even Wavelett got on the microphone to sing! Combine this with the dogs barking in tune and great fun was had by all.

Its not too often we can all get together so each moment is a moment to treasure. We should never forget that time is free and to give of it freely is a great gift. You cannot replace time and it goes so quickly so use it wisely and give others great memories.

Family

I am quite excited as I talked to my youngtest sister in USA this week on Skype and we discussed how we can all get together again. We came up with a plan!

So for it to work, I have exchange my Cyprus timeshare apartment for one in San Francisco. If that all works out ok thats the main part of the plan started!

I dont know how available these San Francisco apartments are but I am speaking to a representative next week to find out.(Fingers crossedd!)

The next step will be to book a flight, try to fit it in with all my commitments for 2010. I dont want to just go all that way for 7 days so am thinking maybe combine the trip with going to see a cousin in Canada. We will have to wait and see what transpires there and the total cost which will determine how much or how little we do.

If it all comes together I will be able at last to meet the next sister down from me. There are 5 of us altogether and I have met 3 so just Terrie to go. She is a new Grandma as well so there is an addition to the family to meet too. Its very exciting to think it might now happen. I cant wait.

The trouble is, I am so impatient, I want it all now! but the wheels of the travel industry do not seem to work as quick as I do. Never mind, I have faith now that it will happen.

The only fly in the ointment may be that my eldest sister may not be able to get to San Francisco and that will be upsetting. However, I havent even told her of my tentative plans yet so thats another 'wait and see'.

Now I have mastered Skype, I am hoping to be able to speak to all my sisters on a regular basis, its ok for emails but the human voice carries so much feeling.

I need these sisters, I only found them a few years ago, I missed out on so much with them when I was growing up an only child and so time is precious, I have to see them as much as I can manage.

Family is a wonderful thing, I will never take it for granted. I love them so much.

Why I dont want to save money!

What a silly title, you may think. Well its not really when you know what I mean!

Every day for the past 2 weeks (including Sundays), I have had at least one telephone call from someone claiming that they can save me money if I switch my telephone company. It sounds like they are all from the same call centre and at first I was very polite, just saying no thanks, I am happy with who I currently use. Then another couple of days go by and I have had 5 or 6 more calls and I am a little cross now so I say NO! I am NOT going to change. then a few more days down the line and a few more calls, I am a bit more agitated at this invasion of my privacy now. I don't sound very polite at all, in fact I tell them to go away, I have had enough, take my telephone number off their listings and DON'T call again!

Does that work?
Hell no!

What do I have to do to stop this? I thought I had signed up with a telephone preference service to stop these kind of calls. The number of the caller is unavailable so I can't register it and have it blocked. It is such a waste of my time.

And whilst I am on the subject of wasting time..............What about all that junk mail? Its a tree that gets delivered more or less every day. WE are supposed to be aware of saving paper and the like but not if someone wants a nice shiny leaflet shoved through my door apparently.Its always for a pizza or Chinese food delivery service too, different ones every time.

Then there is the case of the phantom plastic bag poster. Someone puts a plastic bag through my door, the bag says please fill up with clothes for XXX charity. (No charity number on the bag by the way). We will collect the bag from outside your house in 2 days. HUH! these are NOT charity bags. Its someone collecting then selling fabric for money and whilst I appreciate individual enterprise, I hate being ripped off by scoundrels pretending they are doing good! I support some charities but will choose who to give to.

I have a note on my door that says NO JUNK MAIL! But hey who reads that? Certainly not our postman who delivers leaflets with the post nowadays and not the people who get paid to put rubbish through our doors!

Please let us get back to normalacy! Its getting on my nerves now.

Scrapping today

It is the end of the summer term and have had so many working hours this week finishing off the school accounts and preparing for the new academic year starting in September, I decided its time I took time out to do something for me!Something that will calm my mind, focus my creative energies and allow me to switch off for a few hours.

I recently found an old photo of my Mum and Dad's wedding and it was in such an old format (it was 2 1/2 inches x 3 1/2 inches) I had to have it professionally repaired and printed. I was so impressed with the final result I just had to create a 'page' of their wedding day. I hope you like the finished result of both pages. It was a very small wedding and is so obviously in a time of austerity following the end of the war. I just love old photos, they tell a story on their own.

My scrapping bug has again bitten and so I aim to spend the afternoon scrapping as well. The dinner can wait, the housework will still be there tomorrow and the washing can do itself in the machine. Today is for me!

I have just found a fabulous layout online that I plan on making. I need to really think it through as its a jigsaw puzzle pattern. I want to use it to fit the pieces of jigsaw of my life together in a scrap page. Its quite an exciting project for me.

In fact this isn't the only page I have lined up and waiting to be sorted out. I have a box full of photos that I printed especially for scrapping. A huge box of scrap papers, another box of bits and pieces to decorate the pages with and my dear husband purchased a wonderful cricut machine for me to electronically cut out letters and shapes. So there is no excuse for not getting on with things, its just the pace of life sometimes!

So I have made a mid years resolution (I never keep New Years resolutions!) it is simply this:

I mustn't take life so seriously and have to make time for me at least once a week.
Life must not be all work and no play.

Ireland, life in the slow lane

Gosh it seems everything here is moving far too fast! We have just returned from a week at our friends cottage in Southern Ireland, Kerry to be exact.

It was typically Irish.................
some rain showers, some sunshine and lots of good 'craic'.

It is such a friendly country, everyone always make time to stop and have a good chat.
The scenery is beautiful and there is so much of it! Its all so wonderfully green! Truly 40 shades of green.The pace of life is fabulous.

Sitting in the cottage one night with our friends, we were playing cards and it was around 11.15pm when there was a knock at the door! Now at home we would all look at each other and wonder what the heck was wrong if there was a knock at the door at that time of night! But no! In Ireland people come calling that late. It was the neighbour from up the road popping by to say Hi. She stayed and chatted and 4 wee drams and 3 hours later she left.

A night or two after that we were planning on visiting a local pub to watch the Irish set dancing. This is not at all 'Riverdance' style, but the old style set dancing to an Irish Ceilidh band. Its dance with a partner in sets of 4 couples, fast and furious, its so entertaining to watch. Well we didnt go out till 10 o clock at night, we had a drink or two and a bit of a 'craic'.
The dancing carried on until well after 12.30 and then the singing started. Wow, they sing about anything over there, some melancholy songs, some happy songs, some political songs, some true life songs but all sang with feeling. Anyone in the pub could sing, its not anything formal. We finally left there after 2.30 in the morning! A fabulous, never to be forgotten night of friendship, fun, laughter and music.

The speed of life is so very different, everyone has time for everyone else. Whether you just pop into a little local shop, the supermarket or retaurant, it doesnt matter, everyone is polite, and interested in you! What a wonderful way of life.

It truly is Earths Heaven! I shall miss it, but shall return again and again.

Driving is not enjoyable!

Since my husband had a bad few weeks of sciatica, I have driven 99% of our journeys. Its been hell. Why don't I enjoy driving so much? Well I guess its because on this tiny island the amount of cars seemed to have doubled in the last year. The amount of young 17 year old new crazy drivers in their racy cars has definitely trebled! and the amount of very old drivers who go terribly slow has doubled. Driving is no fun any more.

Even with driving holidays, the very essence of English life since the 50's. Nowadays its so busy and no pleasure.Even taking holidays during term time the motorways are so congested and the lesser roads are almost at a standstill. Am I getting old? Maybe! Am I becoming a grumpy old woman? Probably!

My daughter and her husband are currently in Europe travelling around with their band for the summer. They enjoy all the driving, I just couldnt do that!
Driving for long distances is no pleasure for me. Especially on the 'wrong' side of the road.

I think I should have been born into a rich family and then I could have a chauffeur! Now thats a thought! I shall keep buying a lottery ticket, you just never know!

My BUG of the week!

I am so mad! Just been to a shop to buy something and the sales assistant called me ‘Dear’
EEErrrggghh

I hate that! It makes me cross.
‘Dear’ is a loving word. It can prefix Wife, Mum, Sister, Daughter or Friend BUT NOT used by someone that doesn’t know me and is just giving me my change in a shop or speaking to me regarding my purchase!

The other thing I cant stand is when the assistant calls me 'Love'. Often used when handing your goods to you. I could scream!

Love is a feeling, an emotion, or a term of endearment. It is not for strangers to call me by!

These are the words used by my Grandmother when I was a child, by my Mother as I grew up and became an adult and are used by my husband.

They are not for shop staff to use when serving a customer. Its far too personal. They should not presume its ok. Its time the employers know this.

In the UK there is not enough training of staff. Shops, bars, restaurants, public transport and services all need to put their staff on training courses before the staff are let loose on the public, just as they do in USA.

A person should not just apply for a job, be accepted onto the staff of that company and then thrown in the deep end without proper training in customer relations and how to deal with people, especially if its a public service job.

Some people may think that a parting word by the Americans such as ‘Have a nice day’ or You’re welcome’ as gushy, or over the top but I would far rather have that than someone calling me ‘Dear’

And thats my moan for this week

Lupins

These Fabulous Lupins were on display at The Chelsea Flower show. These are one of Dons favourite flowers and we never seem to be able to grow them. Guess the soil round here is not suitable.

Its a mad world

Once again I am absolutely amazed at the rules that are being enforced in this country. No other European country things to this level of idiocy, but the UK....OH YES...follow it to the letter of the law! Its beuocracy gone mad!

So the latest saga...........

Part of the heart of England has always been the school fetes, the scouts summer fun days, the village fetes, the church garden parties, the WI coffee mornings and many more. Its part of the classic British life. Its a chance for everyone involved with the organisation or village to come together and help raise funds for local causes.

The Mums and Grandmas make jam, pickles, cakes etc. Dads and Grandads can show and then sell their home grown vegetables, fruit etc.
There are stalls with games on for everyone to 'have a go!' A coconut shy where you can throw a ball to hit the coconut and take it home! Great harmless fun! Some villages even have a dog show.
Its all terribly British and fun.

Now the latest information in the newspapers are that the powers that be may have to stop all this because of the...........wait for it...............Health and Safety act!!
Why? Well someone might just make a cake or some jam without following the laws on hygiene in their kitchens! What a load of old tosh!

These fetes and the like are a wonderful community event that raise money for their cause, give people the chance to meet, make new friends and give huge enjoyment for all. They are usually a once a year event which most people look forward to. and plan for months ahead Most of the organisers are hugely sensible and take precautions for general safety.

Why do the government, councils and powers that be think they have the right to take away part of our history. There has always been church fetes, summer fairs, coffee mornings.

These over zealous officials who appear to have nothing else to do but sit in their offices and think of something that 'could' happen and then say 'Well we better ban that then!'

For goodness sake, when will they be human beings, live and let live!
They are killing off small town and village life! With all the red tape days, these events disappear.
We all survived on home made cakes, bread, jam and lemonade and had great fun along the way.

Here we go then

Well here we go with my first attempt. After a couple of false starts I got the hang of most of it. It sure takes time!
However I am pleased with it so far.
This is to be my platform for airing my views, publishing my achievements and generally boasting if I feel like it. I can moan as much as I like if I have a mind to! Not that I do moan very much as my life is wonderful.
My darling husband is a professional magician and has been for over 30 years. He is very very good and although officially retired now, still 'plays' magic. He still practises daily, attends lectures and is always learning. He still does gigs and thoroughly enjoys himself at work. He is one of the lucky ones whose hobby is his work. We have had a great life from magic and made some wonderful friends.
I help out at a childrens dancing school. Its the one my daughter trained at and the best locally. I help with all the paperwork side of things. I love to watch the children when they perform in their shows.
In between all this excitement at home, I also find time to make a few cards, but mostly I scrap book. I am on my 5th book now of 12 x 12 layouts. I just love it. I go to classes roughly once a month and we have a chat and scrap with wonderful layouts. I also keep a scrap book 8 x 11 which is filled with pages from my dearest sisters in America.
America I hear you say? Well thats a story for another day.......................