Bleurghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

That's how I feel today, I was alright this morning, I had a fabulous nights sleep, think I clocked up about six hours uninterrupted sleep, got up reasonably early got organised and ordered all my class materials for next week and hopefully they will all be delivered before my classes start.

Then went to town to collect my new blind, that yes I have fitted and no...typically...the old blind fittings were unsuitable and I had to do it all properly...drill, wall plugs, screws...the works...and I didn`t even have to call my Dad, although it is probably down to him that I am able to tackle such jobs!!! And I am happy because its still hanging and looks great, smells good too, I love the smell of wood!!!

By the time I finished that I was a little warm to say the least, must have overdone the screwing!!! And since then had one of those headaches that wont shift...you could say it was a "blinding headache"...god I am sad, the kids keep asking me if I think it maybe swine flu and are walking "around" me giving me a wide berth...bless them!!!

Did manage to complete another layout tonight and photographed the three I did last night too...scrap crazy at the moment, have lots of lovely pictures that I have taken over the last few weeks with my new camera and this morning the printer decides to run out of ink...Bloody typical!!!

Mia and I larking about at the Albert Dock...




Me and my Girlies...love this picture taken by my gorgeous niece...the journaling on this reads "No matter where you are or what you do you are my girls and I will always love you"



Mia in the Disney shop in Liverpool...Journaling reads "Once upon a time there was a little girl who dreamed of being a real princess...she will always be my princess"



Took this gorgeous picture of Mia on Monday, while she was chasing pigeons...



Did this to it in photo shop....



And created this with it tonight...



And was just about to say I am off but turned to check on the kids, they are watching Kung Fu Panda and had one of those "Kids are too quiet moments...what they up too"

Look....





Mia is looking very comfortable in my chair looking through my scrapbooks...Jesus that really bought a lump to my throat, she has independently got them off the shelf and is looking through them all and can hear her chatting away to herself remembering past events, special occasions or just simple perfect moments....now that is why I scrapbook...a beautiful moment captured on camera...that will no doubt get scrapped!!!

I am off now to sit and cuddle my little girl and tell her how much I love her.

A little hometime!!!

Today I spent the whole day at home...no shopping, no trips with the kids, no visiting friends, no lunching...just me an old pair of jeans, my hair scraped back and a spray bottle of Cillit bang!!!

My house has never looked so good, I spent most of the day cleaning, my kitchen is gleaming, my floors are sparkling, I have even washed the paintwork. I have done all those little repair jobs that needed doing, fixed the towel rail in the bathroom that has been stood behind the bathroom door for more months than I care to remember, repaired the curtain track in the girls bedroom and re hung their curtains. I have finally measured the kitchen window and ordered the new blind that I want that I am collecting tomorrow and have measured the bathroom window so I can go and buy some fabric tomorrow to make a blind...even have the sewing machine out and ready to do this....Feel all domesticated and not just because my hands feel like someone has been at them with a sheet of sandpaper, even the kids said wow the house is clean Mum...which proves we usually live in a sty obviously!!!

Hopefully all that exercise will help me to sleep because that bloody insomnia has crept back, hardly slept a wink last night and woke up this morning feeling as though I had been wrung out...had to rely on a double spoonful of Alta Rica this morning to kick start me!!!

Managed to finish this layout this afternoon, Ella posing last week before she shimmied away to her leavers disco...



Have also completed another three layouts this evening but the pictures will have to wait until tomorrow as the nights are drawing in quicker and quicker!!!

So off to town tomorrow with a list as long as my arm...as I was cleaning each room in the house I did the incredibly organised thing...Mum`s influence here...writing a list of all the things I needed...I know I am a Geek!!!

A Day at the Museum!!!

I have lived in Warrington for over twenty years and I have never visited the museum...that was until today!!!

Luckily for us Ben Stiller was not around and none of the artefact's came to life, Mia would have literally poohed her pants she was terrified of the "Mummy" as it was and that had nothing to do with me!!!

So the museum is full of interested old stuff as you would expect and that was just the staff...just kidding, they have some pretty incredible artefact's in there, including this little Egyptian girl...who we made walk like an Egyptian....



Then she transformed into this little beauty outside in the sunshine...



Also "Discovered" this little dude outside...




Stumbled upon this little mini me...



Scary how much she is looking like me...well she is bloody bound too when she is again wearing my clothes!!!

So had a great day with my kids larking about but wanted to just send special thoughts to a couple of people very close to me having a tough time.

Organised....

...Yep I am so organised even I am scared...

I have been out with the kids today and bought all their new uniforms for September...even they were a little worried and they are concerned they are going to grow over the summer so what I have bought them won`t fit them when they go back to school...bless them...they had better not grow because I have parted with an absolute fortune today...Harry insisted on two pairs of the most expensive trousers in the shop, Ella would only entertain black skirts and they were typically more expensive than the grey ones and even Mia decided she didn`t want the two pack of shirts for £2...oh no £5 each shirt because they have flower shaped buttons!!!

Bloody kids...not sure where they get their fussiness for fashion from!!!

It has been a lovely day today but rather than enjoy the sunshine this afternoon I made the kids clear out their bedrooms...muwahaha...I had been threatening this all week so today we bought the bin bags and the poor bin men are in for a bit of a shock when my bin is emptied this week...think we managed about 6 bags of crap, the house feels de-cluttered and airy all of a sudden!!!

Took this lovely picture of Ella tonight while she was watching some American crap on the telly, I still can`t get over the fact that she starts high school in September and will be walking to and from school on her own...but just look at her, look how grown up she is...



And a lovely smiley shot of her....



Made some cards today too, doing a craft fair in a couple of weeks so trying to build up some stock, at this rate I am going to have three bracelets and six cards!!!

Off now to get some scrapbooking done, have a pile of pictures, some gorgeous new papers and the time to actually do it!!!

School`s Out For Summer!!!

Oooh and what a monumental day, after seven years at Christchurch Primary School, Ella finally left today and is officially "between schools". I spent the morning at her leavers assembly where the children put on a performance and thanked the all teachers individually, and the Headmaster said some pretty lovely things about the year sixes...there were tears and laughter and that was just the parents!!!

I managed to remain composed, as did Ella, the tissues managed to stay in my bag but I think if she had of cried then I would but she just enjoyed herself despite half of her friends bawling their eyes out!!!

Took this lovely photo of Ella and her teacher, she has been in her class for the last two years so is extra special to Ella, I have so much respect for this lady, she is an amazing teacher and Jack and Harry also had her, so I am secretly hoping that when Mia is in year five she has her too. What spoilt the moment slightly was the fact that she had to ask me if it was okay for her to put her arm around Ella!!! But never the less a lovely happy photo for Ella.



The girls then had achievement assembly this afternoon and both of them received the Certificates of Excellence...awarded to one boy and one girl from each class...Proud Mum!!!

And Ella has had her shirt signed by it seems the entire school, what choked me was the comment her Headmaster put on..."You have always been nothing short of outstanding and will never be replaced here...you will be sorely missed at Christchurch"!!! That my little girl he wrote about.

God listen to me gush...!!!

Okay gush over, I had a class tonight, after three whole days off work I had to teach...great lesson though made even better by carrot cake...mmmmmmmmmm.....one of my students was celebrating her birthday so bought it in for us to stuff our faces with...I don`t recommend jewellery making whilst eating sticky carrot cake though!!!

I am probably going to be teaching some classes in the near future here and Anne-Marie has set up her own blog too, she is famous you know...goes on the telly!!! I have done a couple of demo`s at her shop and really enjoy working with her and her team so really looking forward to going back soon, but for now I am enjoying the fact that I have a whole week off work...yep I am free until 5.30pm next Thursday evening...although I have so many courses to plan and samples to make and my Saturdays are starting to fill up nicely with Demonstrations for Kars and I reckon it is going to be Christmas before I get any length of time off again...It`s a good thing I love my job!!!

Off now to finish the card I started making today...just for fun!!!

Manchester, Mia and Making Memories...

Wow all the "M`s" there in the blog title!!!

Hit the streets of Manchester today for a little retail therapy, funnily enough though I only bought myself a skirt and a new handbag, even though my bill in Primark was over £50...Ella and her bloody "Mum I need this and Mum I Need that's"...spent a fortune on her on new clothes in the hope that she will stop stealing mine...I really thought I would have a couple more years before she was borrowing my clothes but I should probably be thankful that she actually wants to be seen in mine!!!

I really wouldn`t mind but have to take her shopping at the weekend for her new uniform for the high school too...Kids!!!

Did nip into Waterstones though and could not resist this little gem...



It`s so cute...obviously because it says so on the cover...duh...and full of the most gorgeous felty fun makes...Ella...again that child...has her eye on me making a couple of the creations for her...hmmm we will see, but in actual fact I can`t wait to get my needles, threads and felts out to have a play...so my mother of the year crown will remain polished and sparkly!!!

I think I have another Geek in the making here too....



Little Miss Mia caught as she was building her school web page...obviously I am a little bit biased but how gorgeous does she look, oh and very tired, last week in school always a busy one and the girls are having to be literally peeled out of bed in the mornings this week...bless!!!

And just take a look at this, the ultimate in organisation....if only it would organise my lesson plans, my tax return and my housework...well I can`t have everything can I...



Look at all those compartments...little drawers and a big section in the middle, and it spins too, have wanted one of these for...ever...and now I have one...sad and geek like...I did warn you all!!!

Tomorrow is the last day of school for the girls...finally...every man and his dog seem to have broken up for the summer...have to take my tissues to the leavers assembly, obviously Ella will be performing in this and I swear the teachers try every year to think of the most tear jerking song for all the kids to sing...must remember the waterproof mascara, hmm can I get away with wearing my shades in the school hall, I have a reputation to maintain...never cried yet at anything whilst others around me have sobbed...if I concentrate on taking photos...but who am I trying to kid, my little baby girl...yep the one who keeps stealing my shoes and my clothes...is leaving little school and has to go to big school...they really do grow up fast!!!

Off to prepare my tissues and camera and to hide my new skirt from Ella!!!

Complete and Utter Randomness!!!

Funny old day today!!!

Did I mention I had twelve days off work!!!

Well now I only have eleven...but today, although the weather was complete and utter pants, my friend and I headed into rural Warrington...well Lymm to all you Warrington residents, to the Willow Pool Garden Centre...which by the way is not your typical Homebase style garden centre...oh no...it is just completely bizarre...beautiful but bizarre...look...

Of course we had to "do lunch" and we did it in style...oh yes china cups and saucers for our coffee, porcelain dishes for our homemade soup and plates for the hot chocolate fudge cake complete with ice cream, which can be eaten either in the indoor tea rooms with genuine log fires or outdoors sheltered from the elements in these rather quirky thatched, heated gazebos...as it was raining we opted for the log fire!!!

So after all that "fresh country air" tonight I am exhausted...but in a healthy "I have been outdoors all day" kind of way...just have to contend with a days shopping in Manchester tomorrow...oh the strain of being off work is so hard I can tell you!!!

Sad Day Today....

I am wiping a sad little tear from my eye as we speak, choking back the sobs that threaten to rack my body...my lil girl is all growing up...look



11 years old...School leavers disco...wearing my eyeshadow, my sunglasses, my scarf and my shoes!!!

Look...



She was even told by her class teacher and the headmaster that she looked like me and she does, a little mini me!!!



She has three days left at Primary school then its going to be a whirlwind of hair straighteners, make up and skirts that are far too short for her as she hits High School in September...oh god I remember what I was like when I started so I can only hope she is the complete opposite!!!

Also finished up teaching today too, that's all my classes done (apart from evening ones) until the first week of August which means....Twelve whole days off work....TWELVE Days...ooh it sounds just like the Twelve days of Christmas!!!

And on the first day....I am off out with a friend tomorrow for the day here
And on the second day.... I am hitting the pavements here
And that's about all my plans so far...well unless I count what the kids have in store for me next week...which is no doubt going to be expensive!!!

Off to load some new songs on my ipod, have discovered Porcupine Tree and I quite likes them!!!

That Friday Feeling....

Came and went, I had this morning off from teaching, the class I usually teach on a Friday morning finished last week so I spent the morning making samples for my demo tomorrow, using the Slice machine...and a whole lot of the most scrumptious pink, embossed, glittered card...yum

Little 10p notebook from Asda covered...ideal teachers gifts



Love card using a little bit of wire work



25th wedding anniversary card...and yep I hand glued every one of those beads on...the background paper is the most gorgeous vellum...



Little pot of blooms that will never wilt...

and a little chip carton, that Harry actually showed me how to make this morning...credit where it is due...

I think I am all crafted out now, have all my samples carefully packed in my funky wheels and have just done my nails...they have to look good when you are crafting in public...they are all glossy and pink to co-ordinate with my samples...that's sad right!!!

So although I had the Friday feeling this morning its now Friday evening and I know I have to get up early tomorrow, no blissful lie in for me, then I am out tomorrow night to watch the band, having a chill out day on Sunday I think!!!

Off to check my nails co ordinate perfectly with my papers!!!

Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding!!!!

Yep on a Thursday...oooh and it was delicious I met a friend for a spot of shopping and lunch today and we nipped into our local Toby Carvery, I have never been before even though its been open for about a year. Wow £5.00 for a bloody gorgeous beef Sunday dinner...on a Thursday, so today I was officially a "lady wot lunches".

Then had to teach a jewellery making class with a belly full of beef and roast potatoes...hard life huh!!!

I did however get a chance to finally have a play with some wire knitting, one of my students had bought in a piece to show me and she lent me some knitting needles and before I knew it I had remembered everything my lovely Nan had taught me and I had not only cast on I managed this...



I love it, although my fingers are hurting a little, I am planning on making it big enough to turn into a bracelet cuff and weave some more wire through it with beads on...how cool is that.

Also managed to finally complete this necklace last night, only took me about two hours because I kept dropping the crimps...god they are soooo small and are only just visible to the human eye, I think a trip to the opticians is in order as I am finding it more and more difficult to focus on close up work!!!



Look what has come to stay with me too...



The Slice from making memories, back where it belongs on my craft desk, demonstrating this machine at the weekend here and I have not one but two of these little beauties, one to use for Demos and one for me...also got my hands on some of the Slice papers and acetates...oooh so lush and also the embossing kit which turns the die cut cartridges into embossing folders...now that's cool!!!

I am off to stroke my new papers and charge up my little slice ready for a mass play tomorrow.

Gradually Going Green.....

...It has taken some time, especially when you consider the uniform I had to wear at school...Green everything, shirt, skirt, cardigan, socks and yep those horrible PE knickers...so approximately sixteen years later I can finally say I like green again...bought some gorgeous lime beads yesterday from here and have spent the afternoon turning them into these little delights...









On to working with turquoise next I think...although I must say the green is so fresh and lush and looks fabulous with the raspberry pink beads I also got.

Also managed to hang my new tea light holder this morning, bloody hell it weighs a ton, so hopefully it wont pull half the ceiling down if by any chance it falls down, isn`t it pretty though, can`t wait until later when I light a vanilla scented candle in there and it casts a candlelit glow over my desk...either that or it will fall down and set fire to my new papers!!!



Dum dum dum dum...school report day today too...for the girls anyway, Harry either genuinely hasn`t received it or he has "mislaid" it!!!

I am a proud Mum tonight, my girls have done really well this year, they have some outstanding comments written by both their class teachers and the headmaster too, one that sticks in my mind is the headteachers comment on Ella`s report:

"She is a reflective and thoughtful young lady with a great sense of humour, High schools gain-our loss!"

What a lovely thing to say, and I must admit I had a little lump in my throat when I read that because she is growing up, she is starting high school and she is not a little girl anymore...she had her first taster day at the High School today and had an absolute ball apparently...I even did the good mum thing and went to collect her at the end of the day, to see her beaming as she walked towards me was just a lovely feeling and she has been excitedly chatting about her day all evening, lovely to see such enthusiasm...just wondering if it will last!!!

Off now to play with my turquoise beads...bored with the green ones now!!!

Bad in Blakemere!!!

Oooh I have been a very bad girl today, had a fabulous day but I was a little bit naughty and spent far more than I should have done in the bead shop in Blakemere...I am blaming Geoff...completely and utterly...yes Riley you!!!

OOOH there were some beautiful beads in there and I bought a lot of them home with me, was like a child in a sweet shop lushing over the pick and mix of beads available singly, in tubes or strung...bead heaven...got some beautiful findings too and some much needed thong ;-)

I have it all laid out on my desk, on my new bead mat, ready to stroke and purr over later....look at my stash of goodies...



We also came across the most fragrant candle shop, which sold candles in every colour, size and shape...I have never seen so many candles altogether...treated myself to a beautiful hanging tea light holder which is still in the box but will be hung over my desk tomorrow if I can find my bloody hammer which has mysteriously disappeared!!!
Look at all those candles...



We met a few "little people" while we were shopping ;-)



And Geoff went completely potty...

Still the sun was shining, although we did encounter a bit of a "Draught"

How cool is that giant draughts board...I am getting one of them!!!

Now funnily enough I can`t just go on a shopping trip, managed to get chatting to quite a few of the shop owners, crafters are so friendly, and a couple of them asked for my details when they found out I teach, so day of shopping and networking too!!!

Off now to play with my new beads and work out how to spool knit!!!

One Day in Two days off...My kind of working week!!!

Today was my only full day in work this week and what a day, busy as hell but a really enjoyable day, as the academic year draws to a close a lot of my courses are either finished or finishing up in the next couple of weeks, although courses will be running throughout the summer starting the first week in August and it seems I have a pretty packed timetable again but I actually have a whole week off work the week after next although I have a feeling I am going to be de-cluttering and decorating, my poor little house needs some serious TLC...watch out charity shops of Warrington I do believe you are going to be inundated with all my crap!!!

So I have two whole days off work...although I have plans both days so can`t really get down to serious housework just yet which is unfortunate as I was so looking forward to dusting and scrubbing!!!

Tomorrow I am being taken here for the day by some of my students...really looking forward to that, apparently there is an amazing bead shop there...can see a small fortune being spent!!!

On Wednesday I have a very exciting meeting regarding a new business venture that I am really looking forward too, Thursday and Friday mornings I am off too but can see those being boring paperwork and housework sessions. To make up for having time off though I am working all day Saturday, running a craft demonstration here this will be the second time I have demonstrated here so I am looking forward to meeting up with everyone again, and I get to travel by Virgin train which has free wi fi you know...ipod will be in hand!!!

Off now to read...can`t remember the last time I read properly but started one of my books, I bought yesterday, last night and am already halfway through...yep it`s that good!!!

Shopping...On a Sunday!!!

Have been up since stupid o clock this morning, about 4am, couldn`t sleep because my mouth hurts, am getting slightly sick of it now, thought that once the tooth was out I would be suffering less but still keeping Neurofen in business, needless to say spent most of the afternoon in bed and am probably going to be up half the night now...!!!

So took advantage of the fact it was so quiet this morning...even the kids aren`t up at that time...thank the lord... and lay on the couch with coffee and magazines...pure bliss, then decided to complete the pink layout of Jack I was going to finish last night...



Then managed to make this little card too, water colouring at 6am in the morning is one of the loveliest things to do at that time...so relaxing and when it is a Tilda well that's just the icing on the cake...I love this colour combination, saw it in a magazine this morning and thought I would give it a go, papers are all good old K and Co...



So after all that crafting I took my sorry little self into town ...retail therapy was required...god on a Sunday that is an adventure in itself...okay so the shops are all open for so many hours, Sunday in the town centre seems as busy as a Saturday so why are there only three buses a day...and these buses go around the whole of Warrington before they actually reach town!!!

Had a lovely mooch in Borders, the smell in there is divine, Starbucks upstairs...mmmmmmm, then hit the Town Centre...got these out of The Works...along with 3 books for a fiver...bargain...got myself some summer reading now, not read for ages and really missed it, I love to loose myself in a book, I think its the ultimate form of relaxation, especially in a hot bubble bath accompanied with a nice glass of Pinot...so all these were £1 a pack!!!

My first utter bargain of the day though was this book...Oh My God...reduced from £20 to £1.99...and full of fabulous tips, tricks and tutorials and I spent an hour flicking through it this afternoon.

Then went "proper shopping" to us girls this means clothes shopping and managed to find the most beautiful pink top in Zara reduced from £40 to a tenner...bought a couple of other tops too, one being a little turquoise cardi out of the kids section of H&M...aged 11-12....fits perfect...not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing because Ella (aged 11-12) has already cast her beady eye over it...Kids!!!

Off now to chill with one of my books, and maybe that glass of wine too ;-)

In the Summertime...

...when the weather is nice!!!

Had a lovely day today with just my kids and my Mum and Dad, the sun shone and we went to the little garden party they hold every year at our local church...which is affiliated with the girls school and also has an Alcohol tombola and a homemade cake stall...heaven...didn`t win on the tombola and cant eat anything that requires any sort of chewing so just walked around socialising...catching up with people I have not seen for ages and trying not to swear in the vicars back garden!!!

Took the camera too, its becoming a regular accessory for me lately...Ella won a coconut on the coconut shy, that she very kindly donated to Grandad, saved me a job of cracking it with a hammer!!!



A close up of my Dad`s fuschia`s, that defy all laws of gravity and are the size of apples...and not small ones at that!!!



My Dad finally gets his hands on my camera...and takes a pretty good picture too...



And Harry who really is getting good at this photo taking malarkey captured this great shot of my Dad and I with my girlies!!!

Off now to complete a Pink layout of Jack!!!

And finally....

....Its gone...incinerated probably in some hi tech machine that dentists use...my tooth, the one causing me to have an abscess for over 6 weeks...pulled out today with a pair of pliers that looked remarkably like the ones I use for jewellery making...the loveliest feeling in the world was after I had the injections and my mouth went numb...and pain free!!!

The worst feeling in the world, taking three of my little darlings with me to the dentist and having them question me all the way home whilst I was trying to bite down on the gauze shoved into my mouth and half my face was numb...bless them...upon arriving home I pulled a sheet of paper out of the printer and wrote "shut up" on it!!!

So hopefully I will no longer suffer from toothache, the girls have both inspected the hole in my mouth, both of them utterly disgusted...muwahahaha...I spent 20 minutes eating a bowl of soup earlier and for some reason am craving toast....mmm crunchy burnt toast!!!

Something has happened to me too...something magical, I am not sure quite what is going on but I have all my lessons prepared and planned for next week and all my paperwork completed...shock...which means I have the whole weekend to chill out and enjoy!!!

Managed to complete this layout tonight, this is the one that has been "in progress" for a week on my desk...which shockingly is tidy!!!



Off now to celebrate being pain free...oh yes baby!!!

I got my new shoes on....

The pink ones...I wore them all day with the shocking pink cardigan I heard screaming my name when I walked past it in Primark yesterday....now although I like girly pink I never wear it but got so many comments today about how lovely it looked teamed with my bargain £3 shoes I will be hunting down more pink clothes I think!!!

Had a very busy day today, taught three classes, two jewellery and one scrapbooking, my students all finished their mini albums this morning with the help of the fabulous bind it all...although if it hadn`t been for Carole running me home to collect it they would have gone home unbound...god I can be crap sometimes and openly admit this, to make fun at yourself and accept your faults makes it easier for others to too...I have had to fill in yet more evaluation forms with my students today, paperwork is the downside of teaching but I am so amazed at some of the lovely comments my students continue to write about me, makes me think if they are really writing about me to be honest, I thought that I had been crap lately down to the toothache but obviously not affected my teaching too much...so for my lovely students a great big thank you and sending you a big Est Love Hug xxxx

I did an impromptu photo shoot a couple of weeks ago in one of my classes and got everyones permission today to publish these, so here are some of my very lovely ladies looking very lovely....

Just look how beautiful that baby is, now although I have four kids I am not the most maternal person in the world...I love my kids to bits but babies usually make me cringe...they get dirty, they smell, they don`t hush when you tell them to...I have been there and done all that and they seriously interfere with your sleeping pattern...but...and its a bloody big but for me...this is the most gorgeous baby in the whole world....so pleasant and placid...and so lovely in front of the camera too....

Off now to decide whether to finish the layout that has been "in progress" on my desk for almost a week or jump in the bath and relax with a glass of wine...hmmm decisions decisions!!!

Shopping for Shoes!!!

I have had the best day today, a day of work and a whole day in Manchester: shopping, chilling out and enjoying the sights and culture of my favourite city. Got the train first thing and didn`t get home until late this afternoon and I am really chilled and happy but bloody shattered...cooked tea then fell asleep on the couch!!! God I am turning into such a lightweight having to have "nanna naps" all the time!!!

Took the camera with me today but although it was warm...shock it wasn`t raining...it was very cloudy, got this great pic of the wheel though...was tempted to go up in it and take pictures from a great height but I get nauseous on escalators so I think I would have probably passed out at the top of that!!!



I love this building so much; Manchester Town Hall, I think it is one of my favourite, apart from Chester Cathedral...the architecture it boasts is incredible, and when you really take it all in it is so intricate and breathtaking, the building was completed in 1877 and it was designed by architect Alfred Waterhouse...it is often used as a "double" for the Palace of Westminster in television as filming is prohibited there...how cool is that!!!




So on a visit to Manchester it would be rude not to hit Primark...only spent £35 in there...which got me two new pairs of shoes and three tops, loads of jewellery, some fab sunglasses and a new handbag...and new socks for the girls as theirs look like they have been polishing the pavements with theirs!!! Then had a little mooch in H & M...god I love that shop and found another pair of shoes to give a loving and happy new home...look how pretty my new babies are...



Unfortunately all these fit Ella...she has been "wearing them in" for me this evening I thought it would be a little longer until I had to put my clothes and shoes under lock and key!!! Even she commented on the amount of shoes I now own...which is probably around the 2oo mark now...But a girl can never have too many pairs...Right!!!

Off now to stoke the lush new card I picked up in Fred Aldous...rearrange all my shoes in colour order...and soothe my poor little debit card!!!

Bead-draggled!!!

Have had the best day at work today, just spent most of it laughing...yep I get paid for that, a lot of my courses are finishing this week so I am filling out course evaluations with my students and I have been described as an eclectic and innovative tutor...how nice is that.

My toothache is easing a little today too, either the antibiotics are finally working...this will be the third dose, or I have pumped my body so full of Neurofen over the last week that I am becoming immune to pain, although saying that I was very hurt this afternoon when my darling little Harry told me I was middle aged!!!

This all came about from a conversation on the way home from school, the kids were arguing over who was going on the PC when they got home...Ella and Harry both declared they had homework and stupidly I responded by telling them that I went through X amount of years at school without ever using a computer to complete my homework...to which Harry piped up yeah mum but there were only three computers invented then and you are middle aged...Bloody Kids!!!

I have just spent the last two hours preparing for a class tomorrow...not sure how long it is going to take my students to complete this if it took me two hours but I will just ban the break...muwahahaha...although I did almost complete the first necklace and it snapped....bit like my language which was incredibly x-rated...luckily the kids were all outside!!! Anyway necklace number two turned out exactly as I had envisioned it and it looks a little something like this...was a nightmare to photograph though even with my brand new baby!!!




Off now to prepare class number two for tomorrow...god I am so disorganised...but at least have the day off on Wednesday to look forward to and I am off out to Manchester tomorrow night to watch the Selfish Lovers...oooh out on a school night whatever next!!!

Been one of those days....

...Oh Yes....I have had one of those days today where I managed to get everything done that I wanted to and more...doesn`t happen very often so I embrace it when it does!!!

Housework...done, Washing...done, Ironing all done...and all the beds changed which is a major job in my house...nearly put my back out twice doing the top bunks...Jesus they are really designed for tall people to change the sheets...not sure how much longer I am going to be able to scoot up a ladder to do this!!!

Shopping done...dear god how dull is it to do the weekly shop...walking round Asda with three kids following me saying Mum can we get this Mum can we get that, one of them needing "L" plates to push the trolley and a raging bloody toothache that no amount of Neurofen Express is gonna shift is not my ideal way to spend a Saturday afternoon but I did it...slowly and very painfully!!!

Before we hit Asda though I did treat myself to these little beauties, I could not resist...



Look at my little oriental doll, isn`t she pretty...



Came home and after putting all the shopping away thought to hell with it put on my brand new shorts and a little strappy top and sat in the garden to soak some rays...ten minutes later the bloody heavens opened...so obviously I don't need to find the after sun tonight!!!

So instead I decided to tidy up my studio...seeing as the craft fairies obviously are not going to make an appearance any time soon...

This is what my shelves looked like before I waved my magic wand....



and abracadabra....



How tidy does that look...even I am impressed!!!



This is the layout that was in progress last night...completed



I am off to bed now...can hear that line dried fresh quilt calling my name!!!

Sweet as a Nut!!!

Yep I am...finally...after yet another visit to the dentist, you know you have been there too often when you don`t even have to give your name to the receptionist, they just tell you to take a seat...take a seat I wanted to whack my bloody tooth with it but had to keep a brave face on because the kids were with me...and Mum is "Well Hard"

So had to endure another teeth prodding session...ouch and the dentist has finally...I am talking four bloody visits later...decided to "whip it out" So next Friday I shall be one tooth less and the bloody tooth fairy better be on her way!!! I have magic pills too...feeling rather floaty tonight, painkillers were upped and have another dose of antibiotics but for the first time in about four days the pain is bearable, it was so unbearable this afternoon I had to cancel a class and come home to curl up into a little ball!!!

Completed this layout tonight of Mia and I, picture was taken a couple of weeks ago and I have another page in progress on my desk...which yes looks like a bad jumble sale on a Saturday afternoon!!! I wonder if the tooth fairy will bring the clean up fairy with her next week!!!



Off now to finish my layout and celebrate the fact that Sir Alexander Fleming liked to play around with mould and ibuprofen can be taken with co-codamol...god I am going to rattle at this rate!!!

Scouseland and Sports Day Sunshine!!!

I am really starting to appreciate my midweek days off, especially when the sun shines as beautifully as it did today, and when the girls had their Sports Day and I didn`t have to feel guilty about not going because I was working.

Jack and I dropped the girls off at school bright and early and headed into Liverpool on the train...Oh my God the thought had not even crossed my mind that I would have to pay adult fare for Jack...boo hooo...he even got asked his age by the ticket man...(Est sobs)...does he really look 16...yes Est stop kidding yourself he really does!!!



So after a breakfast McMuffin...not had one of those for years...and McDonalds never looked this cool when I was a kid...



...we hit Primark...think this may now be Jacks favourite shop...well definitely when Mum is buying anyway!!! Got him well and truly kitted out for his summer hols all for under £40...oh and of course I had to get a few new things too...obviously!!!

Took the camera with us but didn't really have the opportunity to take many pictures because we only had a couple of hours as we had to be back for the Girls Sports day.





Oh but I did treat us to a Milkshake from the MooShack...Jesus they have about 15 billion flavours of Milkshake, Jack opted for a Jelly Tots flavour...hmmm I know...and yes the pink glasses are his!!!



Mine was strawberry and considering the size of the strawberries that went in it I consumed at least 3 portions of my five a day...we will ignore the 6 scoops of ice-cream that accompanied them though!!!



We ended up having to run for the train because I spotted the Chilli Pepper shop and "Had" to have a dress I saw but obviously had to try it on first...luckily it fit!!!

Sports day then was not rained off as it has been in previous years...in fact we sat in blistering heat for two hours cheering the teams on, I think sometimes the parents can be more competitive than the kids, I certainly am anyway, and on the way in we had to sign to say if we were taking photos and other children appeared on them then we wouldn`t post them on the Internet...understandable in this day and age but of the 140 photos that I took I don`t have one single picture of Ella winning her races where there isn`t another child in the shot...can see some serious photo editing taking place...

Did get these rather cool shots of Mia though...





...and Jack managed to take this picture of me in my new dress...after me telling him that the lens cover needed removing from the camera!!!



So a great day off...and sunshine too...and yep I am burnt but look what was waiting for me when I got home...lots of lovely stash...



Off now to stroke my gorgeous new papers, take yet more neurofen for my toothache and hunt for the after sun...again!!!