My month in numbers - May

Hello little blog. Have you missed me?

I have been sorely lacking time of late since starting my new job but have been desperately trying to read everyone's posts.  If I've not commented I'm so sorry but working 40 hours a week now is seriously eating into my blogging and scrapping time. (Did you see how I sneaked my first number in there?!). Anyway, discussions had and house meeting held and we have a plan for some organisation. Let's hope it works!

So as mentioned above my first number is my increase in hours from 30 to 40 a week and whilst the juggling of work, home, kids and life is a challenge the job is fabulous and I'm so glad I made the move.

Following my argument with the pan of oil in the oven last month I ended up with a total of 7 dressing changes.  The nurses were so lovely and very gentle.  The burn is healing well and I think after a while there will only be one small scar the size of a 5p piece.  However currently I have a huge red mark that kind of resembles a map of New Zealand and is about 6 inches long!  I could share a photo here taken in A&E but... no not  good idea!

57 was my raffle ticket number at the wedding of my cousin Becki.  It was for a bottle of champagne given out during the speeches.  A nice touch that had us all scrabbling with excitement - but sadly I didn't win!  This was the first of 2 weddings in May.   This one was a family affair with Alex and Josh in attendance...

Wedding number two was Tony's best friend for over 30 years getting remarried (at Chester Cathedral no less! - No she wasn't rich and famous, she just works there!!)  So Mr H got to be best man and delivered, possibly, THE best speech for a best man I have ever heard.  Honest!

I hosted a Pampered Chef party at the beginning of the month and earned a gazillion points which meant lots of free goodies :)  Including this little chap...

...which I use to make broccoli dip, having learned how to do so on the night.  Now I'm not a broccoli lover but, oh boy!, does this taste good!  Let me know if you want the recipe...

Finally I celebrated two 50th birthdays with a load of lovely ladies at a bar and restaurant in Manchester... the two birthday girls are far left and second from right.  Would you believe this photo has a combined age of 199 years?!!!

To share your month in numbers just jump in and join Julie each month.  Or if you just want to be nosey and read everyone else's then please go to Notes on Paper for a closer look.

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UKS Weekly challenge - May week 2

The challenge was a sketch this week, which I always love, plus use 5 different patterned papers and 5 lines of jornalling.

I decided to scrap one of my origrami pics of Josh (soaking wet!) having been stood waiting for the Olympic Torch in a local park for several hours! I'm pleased with how this page has turned out as the photos go together but are very different; one an Instagram shot on my phone the one of the torch taken on my DSLR on sport mode so I was guaranteed of at least one good shot!!




A few posts back I think I blogged I had 13 Sarah's Cards kits left. Well after this layout I'm now down to 11 :).

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RAK from Alison...

One my fellow Meadow Barn crafters is having a major clear out and down size prior to her move back to Australia.  You can read more about that on her blog here and maybe grab yourself a bargain!

So while we were crafting away Ali mentioned to me that she had a double layout kit she would not be using and asked if I would like it.  Well of course I said yes and she posted it to me when we got back.  This last weekend I was stuck for inspiration and so I had a play with it.

I deviated from the instructions a little and I've added some more red at the top half of the pages as the red arrows on their own looked a little bottom heavy.  I also struggled to find 5 portrait photos so adapted it for 5 photos from a day out at Hadrian's wall and a roman fort when we were in Northumbria a few years ago.

Right hand page...

 Left hand page...

So thanks Ali for the lovely RAK and helping me scrap these photos which have been on my desk for an absolute age!

My month in numbers - April

A little late posting this month but not to be defeated here is my post!

4 nights spent in the Lake District, walking by lakes and streams, climbing fells and riding on the "Ratty".  The weather was pretty kind and we managed 2 walks.  One of 5.5 miles and one 4.5.

We also called in on a NT property on the way home and the kids made 2 bird feeders each.  They were the oldest at the activity table (a little too old maybe?!) and so they got to go in the field in front of the hide and hang theirs up after the other kids had left!

The "Ratty" is the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway is a 15 inch minimum gauge heritage railway in the Eskdale Valley.  It runs from Ravenglass to Dalegarth Station neat Boot.  The journey took us about 40 minutes through beautiful woodland and fells.

Alex went off on her bronze DofE practice weekend and managed 1 night in a 2 man tent - carrying it and putting it up herself with her other Senior Section Guides.  More walking is needed though to build up her stamina as she was shattered when she came home!

2 1/2 hours were spent in A&E after I managed to slosh hot cooking oil on my decolletage after I took a roasting pan out the oven not realising it contained any oil :( Thankfully it is healing really well but I have had 7 dressing changes so far and got to know my district nurses very well! Hopefully the next change will be the last one then it's down to fresh air and bio oil to work it's magic!

And the most important news was 1 new job was secured at a well known internet/tv company and sponsor of the X Factor after a few months of looking.  It's a mere 3 roundabouts away from where I used to work so still only a 10 minute commute! However it is an extra 10 hours a week so we'll see how I cope working full time for the first time in 12 years.  The extra money will be nice though (another number I could share but I will refrain!)

UKS Weekly challenge - May week 1u

Having snuck some butterflies on a layout about Josh for last week's challenge I was a bit reluctant to add flowers so decided it was time to scrap a photo of Tony instead!

The challenge this week was to...

Use the sketch for a masculine LO= 10 points
Add flowers= 10 points
Use an inking technique =10 points

I loved the sketch and rotated it for my portrait photo.  It was perfect for using up the scraps I had left in one of my kits.  I misted in three places and then used up the rest of the Glitz - Love Nest kit from Sarah's adding some buttons and some letters from my stash.  The photo was taken in the lakes a couple of years ago - we had gone up to do some family history research and found this statue of Laurel and Hardy outside the Tourist Information office.  Ulverston is Stan Laurel's place of birth.

Thank you to Tink for a fab challenge :)

UKS Weekly Challenge - April week 5

I had so many ideas for this challenge but in the end I went for a page about Josh and how he's taken his time to settle in to high school but how proud we are at how he has responded to being on a target card for three subjects to reach his potential.

So the challenge this week was;

Sketchy Scrappers April Sketch

It was Sandra's turn to pick a sketch this month and at first I couldn't find two pics I wanted to use.  Then I decided to adapt the sketch to one 4x6 photo and I was off and running!

Using Paper Trunk - Maybe Baby papers I have scrapped the kids at the favourite ever payground at Tatton Park (a NT property near us).  It's a favourite because it has all manner of things to play on for little kids up to big ones!  This means they still haven't grown out of it at 14 and 11 although this picture was a few years ago;

And yes, that is yet another kit done and dusted!

I have had a quick count up and I have one page kit and 13 of the monthly kits left to finish.  Although some have barely enough for one page and a card so I'm hoping to kill a few more over the next few days!