December Daily :Day 20

Well it's been pretty busy and I have kind of been going through the motions as far as Christmas shopping and prep is concerned. .yes the pictures tell a different tale but they do sometimes don't they!?

But today I have had a nice day and am starting to feel it .. Lyla is here and we are watching some (more) Peppa Pig and wrapping some presents and tomorrow evening we do 'Christmas' with Lisa and her family. 

Life is very busy for them as they run an online shop so work takes over their home.. so they have rented a house ..With hot tub..for the week..not too far away but the miles are not important and it's lots cheaper then Centre Parcs.  As Cols dad is away on Sunday we are seeing the girls and him open pressies and getting takeaway for supper..sounds good. I quite like to vary what we do so no one feels they have to do something every year.

Also this super hamper of wine and cheese..Our favourite foods for when we see Cols Uncle Bill ..arrived in the post from Uncle Bill & Deborah..how lovely to think they may get here next year sometime..

Sadly our Secret Santa in the office has been postponed as one of our young gun designers is off sick but we made sure to give our favourite Scrooge fan his Christmas gifts.. He hates to join in so we make it worse by giving him multiple presents..which he receives with a smile xx

Where do I begin...a month of days!

So I think I have a bunch of photos to tell the story of the past month! I will make a few notes but let the pics speak for themselves.. I have sadly lost momentum with the challenges so I will include the view pictures I have tried to take , my saving grace I think!

Since my last note we have spent seven nights in America visiting with Col's Uncle Bill and Deborah and seeing two of Col's first cousins who he only gets to see every ten or fifteen years.

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 We had a lovely afternoon sailing on the Potomac (the river where that plane crashed in icey water about 30 yrs ago) We loved seeing planes landing at National airport right over our heads..

It was great weather and we got in the pool a few times, absolutely just what we needed, except we know now that summer is gone for good!  

The last few days we spent with friends about an hour from Col's Uncle so it worked out well..we ate and drank so often I felt quite full for a week when we got home!  The hospitality was fab and it was amazing to spend time with Michele who is an encyclopaedia of food and I think all things Italy! Their family came by too so we got to meet all the new additions to the family.

Cake!

Our Zac arrived at Heathrow about an hour after we did on 22nd September, it was just great to see him ad worked out just right for travelling home together.  He goes away again this Friday, that month has really flown by; no big parties as weather and house / building works have not leant themselves to a proper 'do' but he has seen family and friends, chilled and had nights out and we have just enjoyed having him about..

Found this little video.. Zac loves technology!

Boating with Pops and pal Liam

And here are a few of my October views..the window view has Col& Zac sitting just here the window use to be!

October .. where the window view was!

Not forgetting Lyla.. so funny x

Porthcurno Oct view

A different sofa view, the other one, this time Lilly and Annabelle!

365/136 Portrait of a stranger.

Again, several pondering thoughts about who I might photograph for this, but as is the usual thing for me in the week I know everyone I see during my day.. the nearest I get to a stranger is a delivery guy who brings things to our office, but it was quiet today and I'm not even sure anyone came in.  I was in town earlier,looking out things for our little family shindig on Saturday, but at that point I didn't know the day's prompt.

.. did you see what I did there.. wandered off a whole paragraph of excuses..

..here's my stranger.. well he would be if I was in the same room, as I never knew him, but he is Joe Warren, my Mum's dad, husband to the lady in the picture on Sunday.

..our favourite snapper of strangers is Col's Uncle Bill who when he is over always has his camera at hand, he has a great telephoto lens and when he's showing us the images he has taken there is usually someone eating an ice cream on the beach, or talking outside a shop and we ask who it is.. he says he doesn't know, he was on the opposite side of the harbour .. he should be in the papparazzi!!

..a few years ago, over the weekend of the Golden Wedding we went on a fishing trip and as we walked back around the harbour I stopped to speak to someone I knew.

 Uncle Bill took his picture, maybe two pictures.. the guy laughed and said why would anyone want a picture of me.  But on reflection there was so much to  see from Uncle Bill's point of view... this was an elderly man, a resident of the town, in fact a man who had lived all his life within 50 yards of Pemzance harbour. He was wearing a woollen hat and his tanned skin was so 'Cornish' to someone from the outside.

(I'll let you into a secret, the man used to be my father-in-law)

365/132 Unforgettable..

..the 'unforgettable' things which come to mind when I consider a story and picture for this day are generally some event or another, fairly simple* occasions with food and family and a feel good atmosphere.  I have already blogged those which have taken place since the blog began, but I thought I'd mention my in-laws Golden Wedding weekend which took place over August Bank Holiday weekend 2008.  I only began blogging a short while after this so the event was never quite 'covered' from a blogging / reminiscent point of view... and that is something I should start putting right..(be prepared for some recent nostalgia in coming weeks!)

Col's Mum and Dad were raised in Liverpool and both had quite tough upbringings and they had worked hard to make good lives for the two boys. Ken had been unwell in his younger days, and when attending a Silver wedding party when still engaged Jean said that she wondered if she would ever have her own 25th Anniversary.

Well, their Silver Wedding came and went, they moved to Cornwall in 1985 , celebrated a 40th in 1998 just after we all started living here together and in the run up to the 50th when Jean was unwell it always perked her up to plan her Golden Wedding weekend. 

Plans started for a big meal, but who to invite, where to eat etc etc, and eventually we decided on our favourite.. a Ceam Tea afternoon.. but not just cream teas, just about every cake or dessert you can imagine.  Family came from up north and Jean's brother, the now famous (in my blog) Uncle Bill travelled over from the USA and all their pals from local bowls and village socials came to join the celebration.

Lisa had had Lilly a month previous but she was young enough to just enjoy being held, so she pitched in too and us girls loved running the tea rooms!  The boys did their bit, the infrastructure: gazebos if it rained (or in fact if the sun was too much) and plenty of tables and chairs..it was like a Village Tea Party ..

 Over the whole weekend we also did loads of other things with the closest family, a family fishing trip to give Ken an outing as he was generally so committed to being there for Jean, plenty of 'cupso'tea' visits to friends and in the evening of the party a big fish & chip supper. (* Suddenly on  rereading this I reconsider how 'simple' an event the weekend it was..!)

My scrapbooking had been kick started in earnest for the event as I started classes just before I began an album for their Anniversary.  I had a few great evenings with Jean & Ken looking back through the tin box of photos, big and small which charted the family's history from the early days in Anfield, through the several house renovations to where we were then.

It's evenings like those, with no great plan, but which when they are reflected on are what looking after your elders is all about.. just being there, asking who this one is or that one.. 'you know, the one with the beehive hairdo and the mini skirt'!, sucking up the stories and letting them remember and talk about how it used to be..just like I do now I guess!! 

We gave them the album the day before the party, during a barbecue and outside fire evening with all the visiting relatives and friends, it was so cool.  We photocopied the scrap pages so they could be displayed at the cream tea and I was / still am really proud of it.. as ever for our best days, photos courtesy of Uncle Bill..

(oh dear, this recent nostalgia trip has me not quite able to see the keys..I love these days, these pictures..amazing how in the few short years since then so many people have left us, both our mums and so many of their friends..but boy, great memories..)

365/109-11 Entrance-Small-Flag

..a quiet week from a blogability point of view and I thought I'd let a few days pass and see what came up.  Sitting here savouring a lazy Friday evening, watching some aimless TV with Col we are both pretty weary, he from driving and visiting for four days flat out and me from just being here without him... The girls are out so no wines for us, oh the teen taxi days !


The phone rang an hour ago, Col's Uncle Bill from the USA, undoubtedly one of  our
favourite family members, he had some great news...Col's cousin Michelle has just had twins to add to her little girl , they tripled the children in one go!  A baby boy about 7lbs and a girl almost 5lbs, all doing good.


Uncle Bill & Maya make an entrance!



... we chatted and ooohed and aaahhed , new babies are such a joy in any family, but for Uncle Bill he is especially blessed to once again have his 'magic three' feature in his life, this time his (current!) number of grandchildren!!

Then it came to me... entrance.. small (but perfectly formed).... flags out everyone!!

Now to find some pictures!



Our Lilly (small) and Kate





Flags out in this layout!



.. tenuous links I know, but hey all's fair in love and blogging.. xxx

Different strokes..

Col's away for a few days and the house is different without him! Jordan always says so, but this time the difference is palpable. Guess maybe we've been hanging out together quite a bit lately, what with JB and Ross working anti-social hours, Kate being at that teen stage and Zac being away, that one extra person out of the routine is certainly noticed.

I'm not sure if it's the lack of 'Air Crash Investigation' coming from the sitting room, the lack of chores being done between work and tea time or just the lack of him being about the place. Everyone seems so much quieter and we lack the kind of central conversation.. and there was me thinking that I was the one who was always in the middle.... or is that another thing altogether?

So... I should be sorting some stuff and getting stuck into some of the monthly challenge layouts (I owe since about May!) but thought first I'd put fingers to keyboard and also catch up with some emails... yes, Michele, you're first on the list!

Definitely an autumn feel about the place, almost time for a fire in the evenings and new series of Spooks on telly.... the perfect autumn fix... looking for a picture I thought I'd share this one Uncle Bill took of Mousehole last week, kind of atmospheric indeed!

Lots of eating done too!

In fact I'm not sure we did much else! 



Old Coastguard Hotel.. not a squint or closed eye in sight.. Result!



Another of JB's cakes!



Another day, another Dolphin meal!




Yes, home catering too!



Before it rained on us!





And never leave a Newlyn Ice Cream off the itinerary!

Weary..(Contd.)

..love Zac..

.. but for good reason.. it was a great weekend, so much socialising, eating and doing... a great family time, not everyone together all the time, but everyone had their time.  The kids were working and doing their own thing some of the time and even Zac made his entrance, well flowers in lieu of his presence! 

Well 3 days later I am finishing this entry, it's been a hectic week but lovely overflow from last weekend, and I owe some pictures..perhaps I should just shut up now and give them to you.. this is Uncle Bill's story board for the present shopping!






Job Done..Thumbs Up!
(and did you know my boyfriend has a belt to match
 his boxers and his hat logo!)



..just what Bill had in mind...



  



51 is the new 50 . . ?

Whilst I can hardly say my 50th birthday went past unnoticed the fact that Zac and I spent half the day on trains to and from Cardiff meant we had a kind of wearied celebration on our return. Col and I went away later in the year but I have always kind of felt like I should have marked the passing of 50 years with a more family gathering kind of occasion.


Well as those of you who really know me can vouch, I am not an early kind of person and perhaps in this case a whole year behind!  A few weeks ago Colin's Uncle Bill said he was going to be in the country and hoped to come visit, and sure enough it was over my birthday weekend!  I didn't make much of a deal of it, kept it kind of low-key and amazingly the last few days have been the perfect kind of family weekend. . a kind of Cornish equivalent to an Indian wedding I reckon!


Lisa and her family were going to a wedding so they came by Thurs eve, introduced their latest addition and generally hung out . . I had some great gifts, books and DVD and also a trip to see the Vagina Monolgues with two of my girls. . our first family girlie event really ... my they are all growing up. . proper presents and everything..love you xxxx


Well last eve Col's brother and co. came down to see Uncle Bill and we had a big curry night. . Iwas aided and abetted by Ross' April who has recently had the Jones family 'baptism of fire' and appears to have come through unsinged... though onion chopping brought a tear to her eyes!   Then we had cake from JB and I got a clutch of great pressies. . a set of luggage? No, it was a very cool black craft baggage set and inside some great papers, letters and plenty of inspiration. . it seems Uncle Bill took pics through the whole purchasing event so there's a layout or two in just that. . .. and as they say it is the day to day moments you scrap whch make it so special.

Bedtime, late on at 2am was also a nice surprise.. go on.. guess.. No!... My Col bought me Samsung tablet and I wrote this entry on it.... while listening to the Top 30 from September 1973.. everything from 'All the Way to Memphis' and 'You Can Do Magic' !! (a momentous year, my last summer in Penberth and 13 years old, a real right of passage..

(mmm, Mandy, looks like I'm a lucky little Princess too!)

..no doubt Uncle Bill has pics of this event to follow!

PS Most amusing gift.. a plaque from Jordan...

'Remember, as far as anyone knows.. we are a Normal Family'

PPS Have had great calls from Zac too, sounds like he's having a great settling in time, and we'll see him soon.. if all the excitment of the Boat Show, ship visits and paintballing allow!

Worth the effort...

.. of the anticipation and the thinking about.. a great day yesterday at Newlyn, a small compliment on the Just Scrapbooking team but it seems to be the way of things in the summer. 

As planned I took some of  Uncle Bill's photos of the Mount and Newlyn, with copies printed in soft focus on watercolour paper.. the texture and colours were lovely and then when I used the 'technique of the day', grunging the two photos into the background it came into it's own. I loved the seashell stencils and once again it set me off browsing e-bay for bits and pieces today too!

It was nice too to use some of the little extras I've been hoarding for ages, fishing rub-ons and little pewter seahorses...needless to say I've come home with a pot of texture paste to play with, and Linda tells me it works if you mix with acrylic paint.. messy play coming up!

Anticipation is the key.

.. the key ingredient to most of my good and bad emotions.. I've decided! 

Generally I really love the waiting for and looking forward to a big event.. whether it's Christmas , a birthday or something to go to, like a holiday or Grand Prix or something, I can get completely absorbed in the detail and learning about 'the thing', working towards making it a great moment... hopefully with some nice scrapable pictures thrown in!
And generally the anticipation is more enjoyable than the event itself, which generally throws up some mundane-ness or another I had completely overlooked.. the dishes to tidy / the travelling or the deflated feeling when 'the' present wasn't quite the dog's whatsits you were hoping for!

Other events fill me with dread, telling someone something they don't want to hear, hearing something I don't want to hear but knowing it's coming, going to the dentist, taking someone else to the dentist (even!) or just the approach of a moment in your life you know you have to face....the stress of it makes me ill, but the other day I realised and remarked that in actual fact I'd rather have a worry day and feel the stress than a nothing day and feel nothing...

... well, tonight's been a nice anticpation moment. It's Scrapbooking tomorrow and I've been putting a bit of thought into what pictures I may use and what my layouts might say....'Oh! Only scrapbooking!' I hear you cry, but the whole process, the thinking, the picking out the pictures, the printing of them, in several sizes and formats, all adds up to make the actual few hours there, doing it, all the better.  And spending the time with some other people enjoying the same moments is great in itself.

Linda set us a challenge in June using words and pictures of a video 'Dream Big'' and I've pondered it long and hard.. yes, into July!! But I have found a couple of photos from my archive and I should be able to do something nice with them...

As for the rest of the week, it's been okay.. Zac finished his 'A' levels and Kate had two days home with teacher's strike and a training day.. she'll enjoyanother nice long weekend.. just to keep in touch with long weekends as they have at least another 3 weeks til summer holiday!
Col's working on the boat, should be in the water by the end of the weekend..and the weatherman promises sunshine this weekend (for a day indoors scrapbooking.. and a day out and about with my big girls and her two little 'uns!)

oh and for good measure, yet again I'm going to scrap some of chief photographer Uncle Bill's pics from his last trip here.. he should live in my pocket, such a great eye for a photo!

Here's one ..

'Hair by Bill'!

At Christmas when Uncle Bill was here, playing official paparazzi we ran a slide show of the best pictures and were amazed at all the images of Kate's hair, in it's various formats!  Hair by Bill I thought!

Ever since she was a little kid she's loved changing her hair styles, though today it is generally straightened and she bemoans the thickness and sheer volume of hair she has.

As a toddler it was curly and a gingery blonde but now just great shades of blonde.

I did this layout using an invisibles page and Star and heart masks on saturday. the photo isn't the best, probably better on Linda's site (when she gets to it)