Goodbye 2007

Well, I cant say I am sad to see the back of it.

Although it has been the first full year of Dave and I living together it has been a hard year for my family. I have lost my Nan and two great Aunts, I have been diagnosed with possible fibromyalgia, I have started to have physio on my knees. All this along with the general money worried that some along with being a third year under grad student trying to support a home and a family.

I am pleased to say that I have worked hard and earned enough money to get us through christmas and I have now handed my notice in at work. I have enjoyed working but I dont feel like I have stopped since october!!

At lease with the extra time I can concentrate on uni and hopefully fit a bit more scrapping in. I really miss it and now I have my Robo I am itching to go! Now I am not working sundays I am even be able to go to the crops again, hadnt thought of that, really cheered up now!

Off to a family do tonight so planning on being very tipsy by midnight!

Happy new year!!

Nearly new year

Hi everyone!
Weel that was a hectic christmas.
Had the in laws here for a week and it was really enjoyable!
Everything went to plan with meals and we had a good time!

Havnet had chance to play with my new craft robo yet and cant seem to get the tutorial disc to work so may have to read the whole manual!!

Christmas is coming.........

and the goose is getting fat!!

Its nearly here, dont seem to have that christmassy feeling yet.
Was writing my christmas cards yesterday when my Mom rang to say my great Auntie had passed away. She had been poorly for a little while and it was expected. I got all upset writing the cards, I only have one great uncle left now, my grandparents generation is almost gone. Starting to feel very old.

Its Faith and Sophies birthdays on the 19th (yes, both on the same day!)Doing a party for Faith, bit worried not many will come because its so close to christmas, got about 15 so far.

Apart from that still feeling very stretched and hectic. I am up to date with coursework but wanted to get a few more out the way to concentrate on dissertaion stuff. Will keep plodding on.

No time for scrapping though, managing to keep up with CJ but mine has gone missing!Well, when I say its missing, we know where it is but for some reason the team member hasnt posted them on and isnt responding to emails and texts. Typical its mine! Two others are with it. We are all going to redo the pages and post them on to the owners (when we can fit them in!)

Help!!!

Have that slow sinking feeling when you just know you are trying to cope with too much!

My house needs so much doing, the ironing pile is taking on a life of its own and the garden needs three weeks of ground force treatment!

I am tring to keep up with uni work, have started collecting data for the pilot of my research, but have so many other bits of coursework to get started on. Its like that horrible conversation you have after an exam....
"what did you put for question 5?".....
"really? thats not what I put".....

Only now its a case off....
"what question are ypu answering for forensic psychology coursework?"
"oh, you havent started it yet? I am half way though"

NNNOOOOOOO!!
How can I be so far behind in the first month??

On the other hand, the part time job is ok. sometimes it can be mind numbingly boring and all I can think about is what else I could be doing with the time but I suppose I will think differnetly when the first wage slip comes in.

On the plus side, Nan's funeral went ok. I found it a lot harder than I though (hence leaving it till last to talk about). But, there were no family fights and my Mom was amazing. She arranged everything and read out a beautiful poem she had written for Nan's 80th birthday. I was really proud of her.

Is it nearly Christmas?

Wow, doesnt the time fly!

Been so busy at Uni, did make the ethics deadline and my idea has been approved. Now I just have to start the pilot of my questionarre.

Had some bad news though, my Nan passed away on friday. She had been quite poorly and it was a bit of a relief to know she wasnt in any more pain and at peace at last. She is now reunited with my Grandad. They have been married for over 60 years and it wasnt right that they were apart. The funeral is on Friday and may be trying due to familt tensions. Why do people wait for funerals or weddings to air their views?

Raining!

It really looks like its turned to Autumn now!
The rain has started and the leaves are falling.

Will be time to start getting christmas presents soon!

Uni is busy, lots of work to do, dont think I will make the first ethics dealine next week because my questionare isnt ready yet!!

Not have chance to do much scrapping over the weekend, just the one LO from the cyber crop and probably not much chance next weekend. Dad's 60th Birthday celebrations!!

Back to Uni....

.....with a bump!

First day back I was there till six in lectures, which is a bit harsh for a monday. Its been such a busy week, I dont know if I'm coming or going! Coursework is being handed out already, so we can manage our time with our dissertations, and its cyber crop weekend!

I have had a second interview for a part time job, it sound fine but I am so limited on the hours I can do I am not sure if they will be able to offer me anything. Which will not be a bad thing. I dont really want to have to work, I am worried my uni stuff will suffer, but money is so tight I feel to have a nice christmas, a few extra pounds will be essential. I suppose its out of my hands, if they offer me the job at the hours I am free I will take it and see how I go.

Its that time of year I have to start asking Dave to pull his wait with the house work. Which is never a pleasant sight. He goes from one extreme to the other. Either sitting doing nothing, letting me get on with it, to having a massive surge of enthusiam and cleaning everything in sight , making me feel I do a pretty crap job! I suppose he cant win really!!

The Ally Pally

Just got back from the stamp and scrapbooking show at the Ally Pally, got lots of lovley stash, plenty to play with at the paper dolls crop tomorrow. Got some photos printed off and feel all prepared for a full day of scrapping. Just need to print off some pencil line sketches in case inspiration is in short supply!!

I really enjoy exhibitions and shows and very often go to the Nec (being our local one) but it always amazes me how rude some people can be. Hardly anyone says excuse me and I always end up being barged out the way. I am always worried about hitting people with my hand bag but on numerous occasions get bumped in the back by a ruck sack! I just wish there was a time I could go when it wasnt so busy (dont suppose there is one though!).

Monday morning feeling

Feeling rotten theis morning.
Had a row with Hubby yesterday and I know it was all my fault but cant bring myself to apologise and I know I should. So I didnt sleep well, the tablets are making me drowsey and dont seem to be helping the pain at all. Not even sure I can be bothered to start scrapping, thats how bad it is.

Ordered some new clothes from a catalogue and none of the jeans fit me, I know they are my size but forgot they always come up small in this catalogue, so now I feel fat, but instead of stopping eating rubbish I am eating more in consilation. Feel like I am going round and round on the merry go round of comfort eating!

My pain has a name

I suppose the good news it isnt rhuematoid arthritis but the doctor (a much nicer one than last time, and he actually made eye contact) thinks its fibromyalgia. He has perscribed anti depressants to raise my seretonin levels and hopefully that will make a difference.

I still feel a bit worried though, I know people cope with a lot worse and I should be brave and get on with it but now I really do have to acknowledge that I have a problem. As a persitant ostrich (like to bury my head in the sand) its hard to admit.

Back to Doctors

Well, my test results are in and I am shortly making my way up to the doctors to discuss them. The very helpful receptionist informed me that she couldn't discuss them but if I phoned after lunch the nurse would talk to me. What use is that because I still have to make an appointment with the doctor for medication or more tests depending on what they show??? She was very put out when I explianed the doctor had asked me to make an appointment when the test results came in!

I'm a bit worried actually, I have found a couple of types of arthritis on the internet which it could be but I am worried that it will be a struggle to get it diagnosed properly. I could be worrying for nothing I suppose. I should really be writing this after I have been!

Expect and update shortly....................

Lots of spare time

Well, after another busy weekend of birthday parties and housework Faith has started full time at school!
I picked her up yesterday and all she could remember was what she had for pudding and that she played outside three times!
Arent kids memories great??!!!

I got back in touch with an old friend this afternoon. We had lost touch when I was having trouble with my abusive ex and she was having health trouble. It's a time we should have stuck together really and it makes me sad that I wasnt there when I could have helped her. I was encouraged not to see her and she got fed up of coming round because of what my ex was like. I cant blame her really, he wasnt nice, but it was only me who couldnt see it at the time. The old saying cant see the wood for the trees comes to mind!

Anyway, she is going to come round at the weekend with her family. I am really pleased and we were chatting like we have not been apart. Her health is not good but she sounds like she is battling on. Makes my worries about arthritis look tame!

Tickets

Got my tickets for the stamp show yesterday, they came through the post!!
They are the ones I won off UKscrappers. I thouht I was only getting one, but two turned up! I think we will go on the saturday because its the Paperdolls crop on the sunday. Mom is coming with us this time which will be great.

Faith is having fun at school, I wish it was next week and she was there full time! I will miss her but just going for less than two hours is a bit of a nightmare back and forward.

I always feel uncomfortable waiting for her aswell. I have never been good with the playground politics. As I have said before, I am terribly shy and cant just start chatting with anyone. Everyone seems to know each other from their kids being in the pre school together and I feel like I am back at school!

So this week will continue to be an uncomfortable one which not much chance to get stuff done. I worry that when I am at home Dave will get annoyed if I havent done the housework. His ex wife was incredibly laxy and although she was at home with their daughter all day all she did was chat on the phone and have her nails done. So, I start panicking when I have a lazy day in case he starts getting fed up. How insecure is that???

First day

Well Faith did well on her first day, she said they did nothing and it was boring then continued to tell me loads of stuff she had done! I love the way kids minds work!

Did manage to get some scrapping done. Found this photo of me and Dave in Tenerrife. He took me to see the dolphins as a suprise for my 30th. i was so overwhelmed I proposed to him. Luckily he said yes!!

Monday Morning

Monday again.
Faith starts afternoons at school today, then full time next week. Why cant they just start full time straight off? most kids have been in full time child care before school nowadays anyway. Or am I being presumptuous?

Had a busy weekend. Faith had two birthday parties to go too. I always feel like a bit of a spare part at kids parties. I get on well with a lot of the Mums but I always feel a bit out of place. Its not that I'm unsocial but I guess I am a bit shy (even after all these years). I'm not confident that anyone would actually want to sit and talk to me!

Not had chance to do much scrapping for that last couple of weeks. Lost my mojo a bit. Have to complete a CJ to post today so will do that this afternoon when Faith is at school. Bought two guinea pigs for the girls at the weekend, have to take them for their check up this morning, will put some picks up later.

Thanks for the comments, its nice to know someones out there!!!!!

slide show

Just figured out how to add a slide show!
What do you think??

Check out my Slide Show!

Visit to the doc

I finally plucked up the courage to visit the doctor.

I don't do doctors very often, I have to be really ill and have no choice, otherwise I just put it off for ever! But, my back, knees and ankles have been getting progressively worse over the last six months. It used to be that if I did something out of the ordinary, loads of gardening or went out dancing, then the following day I would be really stiff and in pain. Nowadays I only need to stand for an hour doing the ironing to be immobilized the following day. It now seems I have a dull ache across the bottom of my back constantly.

So, feeling thouroughly fed up I bit the bullet and made an appointment, the doctor was very nice, (although didnt make eye contact once) and as soon as I mentioned my father has arthritis decided to send me for blood tests. Yesterday I made the journey to the local hospital pathology department and grudglingly gave three vials of my blood, now I just need to wait two weeks to see what type of arthritis I have and the best way to treat it.

Dont you just love waiting??!!!

I would love to hear from any one else who has similar problems, please feel free to leave comments.

Busy

Wow what a a busy weekend!

After a busy saturday pottering around the house and the normal shopping Sunday was spent at the first Paper Dolls Tamworth Crop. It was so nice to meet some new faces who have similar interests and get some scrapping done in peace!
Monday we risked a day at the beach. We drove to Weston Super Mare, suprissingly it didnt take long and after an over cast morning the afternoon was glorious. The drive home was also relativley short and after an exhausting weekend I felt good for nothing yesterday.

Today is a day for housework but first I have some overdue library books! I did try to start making christmas cards yesterday but ran out or enthusiam before I finished one! Never mind.
Off I go to empty the washer! (looks like the washing fairy is back to work again)

Peace and quiet!

Listen.......
not a sound.....
not a peep!!

Faith has gone for a sleep over at Nanny's house and I am being treated to a night at the cinema!
Well, I say being treated, what I really mean is I suggested it. If I hadn't it would just be another night in front of the telly.
So until hubby comes home I have peace and quiet, now then... what shall I do?
All I can think is what house work needs doing. How depressing is that! Why cant there be more to life apart from house work (and scrapping of course, but scrapping doesn't count because its a necessity, house work isnt)? Why, as a parent, do your priorities lie with the house and everything else fades into the background. Is it the same for men? Silly question, of course its not!

The biggest eye opener I had was being taught about power and oppression by a feminist sociology tutor for my criminology module. I never realised how second rate women are. The simplist things like advertising are aimed at women because they will be the ones left to do the shopping. Its absolutley true!! A friend of mine got so fed up with having to do all the food shopping her self that she refused to do any more till her husband went with her. They did no food shopping for three weeks!!! It was only because they had ran out of alcohol that he finally gave in!

I dont want to sound a complete feminist, I dont hate men, I love them, especially hubby but they dont make it easy for us. Hubby very often makes comments that I take as offensive and he cant see why I get upset. Bless him, what would I do without him? (less washing and ironing for a start!)

I Won a Prize!!!!

I won a runners up prize on ukscrappers for my 'f is for fun' Lo!

One ticket to the alex for the stamp and scrapbooking show. Now I have to convince my sis to come with me (think I may have alreay done that just by mentioning it) only trouble is its a hundred miles away and although route finder says it will take two and a half hours hubby has said it will take ages and has really put me on a downer again.

I am really having trouble getting a hold on the depression this month. I thought it was getting better, not even worth mentioning but this month it has been a biggy. Maybe because I am feeling a little flat anyway it has compounded, plus being stressed about money.

I cant wait till I am earning again, while at uni has been the only time in my life I have been out if work. I even temped in Debenhams on the perfume counter once to fill a week inbetween jobs. I hate not earning. Hubby said it may take six months to find something when I finish, why is it always different for men? He says its ok for me to be out of work but not for him. Why is that??

why do men put different values on things? It would be handy if they were from at least the same species as women!!

Plodding on

Nearly through the summer holidays and although I love spending so much time with my daughter I feel like my brain is turning to mush!
I cant wait to get back to university and start using my brain again. Mind you, saying that, I have loads to do ready for my dissertation but my enthusiam is vanishing rapidly. I have stacks of reading but I always try and find other things to do!

I have rediscovered the playstation 2 and Harry Potter, the trouble is I feel like I should finish it asap!! I keep getting stuck, I think I am getting too old for gaming, either that or I am too normal!

So now I feel like I am wading through mud getting towards a really busy time and I know I should be doing something to easy the rush! My daughter starts school in september, she loves nursery and I know she will be just fine but I want to get her started and settled. She is also starting swimming lessons in septmeber, which I know she will love too! Onwards and upwards!

Back home!

Well, after a hectic week we are back home.

Did loads of family touristy stuff including going to see the HMS Bounty on its world tour in Maryport. Unfortunatly the queue to get on was too long, the Johnny Depp look a likd did look good form a distance though!!

Need to catch up on some scrapping now and REALLY need to start research for my dissertation, mind you, the washing needs to come first, two suitcases of it!! How did kids manage to dirty every outfit they wear within the first few minutes!!!!

Any one who reads this is welcome to make comments, its always nice to hear peoples views!

Its friday

Morning,
Its friday, my favorite day of the week.
We are going away to visit the in-laws for a few days this weekend. I'm looking forward to it but I need to do the ironing and packing (left it to the last minute as usual!)

I managed to do a bit of scrapping yesterday but still have two classes I want to do, unfortunatley, cant find where they have been moved to on the website!

Need to make a start on my dissertation for next year. I really wanted to make a big dent in the research before I went back in october. Havent really done much yet, other things keep cropping up that seem more tempting! I didnt want to get to that panicky stage where you are up till all hours trying to read everything! I was talking to a student last year who was doing her dissertation, she had collected the data and the report was due in the following week but she hadnt even decided how to analyse the results!! sometimes I wonder how some people pass.
I work so hard and put in loads of effort to get this far and some stumble their way through and still manage just fine, its very frustrating!!!

Summer Cyber Crop is here!!

Its Here!!!
Its really here!!

Its wednesay, the start of the summer cyber crop on UK scrappers!
Lots of on line classes and not much housework!
TEE HEEE!

I havent bought any kits this time, spent a fortune last time, trying to use up all my scraps in a bid to save some money.
Need to dig my sewing machine out too, some of the classes are stiching, really want to have a go at sewing on a page but havent been brave enough to attempt it yet.
I realy like things like this because it takes you out of your comfort zone. Sometimes its good to have a push in the right direction.

Summer Fun

I love the summer!
Now we finally have the weather. It's great to see the sun after all the rain. I can never understand why some people have an issue with the sun. When it snows its too cold and when its sunny its too hot!! Deceide what you want will you??!!!

I am really enjoying this summer but it may be my last off work. This time next year I will be finished university and starting to look for a job (joy, oh joy!).

Being at home gives me lots of time to spend with the kids but after a while you forget you are supposed to be enjoying it because it wont last, and start getting tired and annoyed. Then you wonder why the kids are playing up. Its only when you sit back and look and see that you are playing up too!

To while away the the summer days I have joined a team on ukscrappers. I find it hard to make new friends (issues going back to school bullying) so its nice to join in and chat to people who have similar hobbies and lives.

My life

Hi guys,

Its not very often I get to sit down long enough to collect me thoughts, so this is a rare moment for me!
My life is normally so hectic I feel I am slightly starting to loose my grip. But, never mind. Here we are, making a few comments on the life around me.
When I first started my uni course I have to admit, I had no real views on people or their behaviour but now I have looked at things a bit closer I can confidently say, people are the strangest things!
No one really says what they think and when they do speak their minds its so outrageous its un real. Where do they come from??!!

Hello everyone

Hi everyone,
just starting my first Blog, very exciting.
Not really sure what I'm doing, but hey, I'm bright, sure I'll figure it out!