...I Think I Need Trainers...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Outside Temp: 3c

--bright but very windy--

As you know I can now class myself as 'A Walker' - EEK - as I've been walking pretty much everyday since October last year & I now average 7500 steps a day (thought you'd be impressed!!).

Yesterday, I walked around Stickney (small village a couple of miles from us) - I had to go to the post office & thought it'd make a nice change of scenery and it certainly did. I felt quite inspired and just kept walking and walking around...at a good pace, I'd like to add...and I ended up walking nearly a mile & half in just over 15 minutes. I must say I was pretty impressed with myself.

..............................

I'm beginning to wonder where it'll all end :0) - maybe I should invest in a good pair of 'walking' trainers to go with my walking shorts - now that really would be a sight for sore eyes.

........................

ME ;0)

...Bastards...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Outside Temp: -2

--mighty cold but dry--

Danielle Update:

Tom said that when he saw her last night she looked SoO much better & had taken a few steps but was still on a drip and still not allowed to eat. The hospital have said that she should be home Sun/Mon if she keeps improving - so that's very good news, isn't it?

-------

But not so good news is that Tom's debit card has been cloned & used -- BASTARDS -- So now he has all that hassle to go through

.

.

......I tell You - it never rains but it pours......

...Get Well Soon...

www.the-cratfshed.co.uk

Outside Temp: 2c

--dull & cold--

Danielle (Tom's girlfriend) had surgery yesterday to remove her appendix, unfortunately it ruptured during the operation and she now has an internal infection, needless to say Tom's pretty concerned about her :0(

.................

I feel at a bit of a loss this morning I think it's because of Danielle...I feel as if I'm waiting for something to happen...hopefully, when Tom sees her later the news will be better.

.............

...Will It Hurt...???

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Outside Temp: 5c

--wet & dull--

Dave had his appointment yesterday with the 'Back Man' (prolapsed discs) at our local hospital - it's the first time Dave's seen him since we've been here - and he gave Dave an extremely good examination and concluded that the next stage was to try an injection into the base of the spine as this was the only thing that 'might' give him some short/medium time relief.

Dave has a bit of a thing about injections - he has been know him to come over all hot & bothered just giving blood - so it took a bit of persuading to get him to say OK. So now he's waiting for an appointment - hopefully, it won't be too far ahead.

--------------

Other news - Danielle (Tom's girlfriend) is in hospital awaiting surgery - it turns out that she has appendicitis - it's been 'rumbling' around for the past four days....no wonder she was in so much pain.

Spoke to Tom earlier and he was pretty concerned as you'd expect & was on his way back to the hospital for an update

--------------

ME ;0)

...How's The Boss...?

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Outside Temp: 4c

--sunny but brrh--

I spoke to my dad yesterday (he has Alzheimer's and is in a care home) - he answered his phone on the second ring with a chirpy 'Hello' - which made me feel at ease straight away. He's normally upbeat & pretty chatty when I call but I'm always a bit apprehensive until he answers as you never know with Alzheimer's, do you?

.................

Anyway, we chatted for about 20 minutes or so - well to be truthful dad chatted for 18 minutes and I managed to speak for the remaining two :0)

But in that time he asked me at least seven times how 'The Boss' was - meaning Dave (dad hasn't remembered Daves name for some time!) & I repeated myself over & over as if it was the first time I'd ever heard the question.

..........

I came off the phone with a sort of empty feeling in the pit of my stomach - pleased that he sounded OK but realizing once again that Alzheimer's was never going away.

...Waiting & Waiting & Waiting...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Outside Temp: 5c

--dull & damp again!--

Pretty miserable here this morning - very Mr Murky first thing - we've got the electrician here today rewiring the place & putting electricity into the garage for Dave...at least he'll not have to trail an extension lead across the kitchen to get power out there anymore...not that it's been a great start - he was suppose to be here on Saturday but he phoned to say that he wouldn't be able to come until Monday (today) & he'd be here between 9-10am -- he turned up at 11.30 --

what is it with tradesmen???

..................

I'm also waiting for a caterer to get back to me - she should have phoned over the weekend and needless to say I'm STILL waiting for her call

.....................

It's been confirmed this morning that my 6 hours a week job has come to an end - there's NO work for me to do - so I really do have to look for something else. I've already had a call from the Lincolnshire NHS for possible admin work on an 'as when' basis at various hospitals/doctors in this area so I'll see if it comes to anything....

.......................

Dave has been suffering with his back again for the past couple of days and it's definitely slowing him up again :0(

He has an appointment at the local hospital tomorrow to see another back specialist.

I'll let you know what the outcome is

ME ;0)

...I Really Missed The Internet...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Outside Temp: 7c

--Damp & Dull--

Sorry about not blogging yesterday but had no Internet connection - ALL DAY -and mooched around the whole time like a lost soul -- just didn't know what to do with myself (sad isn't it??) -- as it turned out it was all to do with me changing a password and the router didn't know what to do -- I tell you computers are great things until they gone wrong and then what do you do......well, if your lucky (like me) you phone a man that can....and he did - so here I am again..up and running...

.....................

Anyway, todays news....spoke to Tom (youngest son) this morning and he and Danielle have had sickness & diarrhoea all weekend (possibly food poisoning!!) and Danielle ended up in A+E on Saturday night because her stomach cramps were so bad...Tom sounded better today but Danielle was still in bed :(

Hopefully, she'll be better soon.

...................

I've been catching up with eBay & emails this morning - it's amazing how many there are when I've been 'unavailable' for a few hours - it's the same when we're on holiday (I don't have a laptop to take with me - Dave won't let me get one- spoilsport!) I can have a couple of hundred - some are junk of course - but it takes me a couple of days once i return to plough through them - still keeps me busy :0)

...........................

Well best go I've got a whole 24 hours of 'missed' surfing to catch-up on

ME;0)

...Wee Hughie Was Dying...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Outside Temp 5c

---raining again --

Wee Hughie was dying.

Tenderly, his wife Maggie knelt by his bedside and asked,

"Anything I can get you, Hughie?"

"No" He replied.

"You must have a last wish, Hughie?" asked his wife.

Faintly, came the answer. . . "A wee bit of of that boiled ham over yonder would be nice"

"Ach, man... you can't have that" said Maggie,

"You know it's for the your funeral".

hehe :0)

...Does This Make Sense To You...?

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

I really like bagels & quite often eat them - but I saw this on a bag recently....

...Does This Make Sense To You...?

NEW IMPROVED
Made the old
fashioned way

...........

ME ;0)

...Watching Birds Go By...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Outside Temp 2c

--very sunny but mighty cold--

Woke up to a pretty heavy frost this morning - just want to add that I was up way before Dave today - the ice clearing machine thingy was in the lane really early...when it first rumbled down, I wondered what the hell it was as it was so noisy...

...............

Anyway, the frost has cleared now except for a light scattering on the pathway where the sun hasn't reached it yet and I'm sitting at the 'ole computer' watching the birds dart around & feed in the garden - I haven't done that for a while & I've quite missed it.

At the moment there's a couple of blackbirds pecking around the base of the felled conifer (The Tree Man took it down during the summer - I'd forgotten about him - How On Earth Did That Happen???) & a few green finches are on the sunflower seeds with a robin waiting on the top of the wooden fence. There's also a grey dove in the garden strutting around. I like Mr Daws (jackdaw) best as they are big & beefy and when they arrive to have their feast all the other birds give them a lot of feeding space.......

...Now That's What I Call Power...

ME ;0)

...Finished...Finito..Kapuut...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Outside Temp: 4c

--sunny with no wind--

As you know I got myself a little job in October that kept me busy for a whole 6 hours a week - but it looks as if it's come to an end :( as I haven't been back since the Christmas break because there's been no work for me to do & speaking to them yesterday it looks as if that's it then...finished...finito..kapuut...Thanks But No Thanks...

...........

But I've not been sitting on my laurels you know & I've already applied for two more vacancies - one in a very prestigious golf club (OOH! i thought you'd be impressed) as a booking officer and the other in a local primary school working with special needs children. This is something that I have done before and even though it can be very hard work is also pretty rewarding and having all those holidays is a definite plus :0)

............

the first one's for 22 hours a week and the second for 25 hours

-- at this rate I'll have no time for all the nice things in life like eBay, sitting around & blogging...OMG! perhaps I should reconsider the work idea--

...It's Quite Nice Here...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Outside Temp: 5c

-Rain, Rain & Rain-

Well, as you've probably guessed it's raining today - started during the night & has been peeing down ever since - we did have a glimpse of sunshine around an hour ago but it didn't last for more than a few minutes.

~~~~~~~~~

I started this morning with a lay-in and a cup of coffee brought in by my gorgeous hubby, Dave and while sitting up in bed drinking it, I was watching the seagulls (through the rain haze) pecking at the freshly ploughed field that lies behind us.

-- It's the only time we see seagulls here which is no bad thing in my opinion --

I wonder what the farmer will be planting this year - last year we had a field of 'McVitie Biscuits' (wheat) which was really a nice view to wake up to every morning - still I don't expect we'll have to wait for long before he's back, planting it up.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I also saw loads of Mr Daws (jackdaws), I really like them - big, black and beefy - not much messes with them. Whenever they are in the garden feeding on the fatballs - the other birds give them lots of space. I also like the wren (Jenny) - we have a couple that feed regularly in the garden and hop along the fence...they always seem a bit wary of the other birds though and the yellow finches are in abundance here there's loads of them fluttering around. Our next door neighbour feeds them so I think they just stray into our garden as well.

~~~~~~~~~

....I think I could get use to this view....

...I Can Shower At Last...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Outside Temp: 4c

--Bright but Windy--

Dave's now refurbishing the bathroom and making a great job of it - of course - the old faded grey suite has been replaced with a gleaming new white one and after a bit of swearing...there's now NO leaks...which is always a bonus, don't you think??

I had the first shower in it this morning and am pleased to report that it lived up to expectations - and I emerged all clean& shiny :0)

.......................

We've decided to keep all the wall tiles, as they are quite neutral and they are in very good condition -- if a little dated -- and it'll save us a lot of money & time not having to remove them all just to replace them.

.......................

Then once that's finished its just a bit of decking outside & refurbish the summerhouse...well it's SO pretty...and we'll be all ready to get a couple of estate agents around to price it up for resale

.......................

.......only problem is - the way the housing market is at the moment - what will it be worth.......??

...Pay Up & Look Big...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Next to being shot at and missed

nothing is really quite as satisfying as an income tax refund

............................

Unfortunately this won't be happening to us this year :0(

...Only For Smart People...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Outside Temp: 8c

- dull & damp -

Can You Read This?

Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs. I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs psas it on !!

...A Little Joke...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Outside Temp: 6c

-- bright & windy --

A Sunday school teacher was describing how Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Jason interrupted,

"My Mummy looked back once while she was driving," he announced triumphantly, "and she turned into a telephone pole!"

.......................

hehe!

...I Can Do Better...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Outside Temp: 3c

-- no wind & pretty sunny --

Just returned from my 'power walk' & it was glorious out there in the Lincolnshire countryside....I walked faster than I normally do - I tell you The Mavericks are a great band to walk to, they really put a skip in my step....

..................

I've recently bought a pedometer and it read that I'd walked 2500 steps in around 15 mins -- I'm pleased with that but I'm determined to do better --

WHAT ARE I SAYING??

....................

Why it almost sounds like I enjoy walking & that just can't be right...Can It...??

ME:0)

...Thick Knickers Are The Order Of The Day...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Outside Temp: 6c

- very dull & damp --

Here in lovely Lincolnshire there's NO 'proper' gas in our village so we have Calor Gas central heating - which works brilliantly but boy it's proving to be mighty expensive to run. The system uses 47kg bottles and we have two delivered at a time - costing around £80 for both - which in itself isn't too bad (when you say it quick!) - the problem is, it's only lasting 7-10 days at the moment because the outside temperature has been hovering around minus3 every day...EEK!... so the heating has been on full-time keeping the inside temperature around 20c/21c -- which I don't think is over hot...mind you Dave disagrees, of course - it's because he really doesn't feel the cold that much, while I always seem to be cold cold since we moved here :0(

---------

Dave keeps telling me to wear another layer so I think that I'm just gonna have to start wearing my thick knickers indoors - these aren't the sort of school gym knickers you understand more like your old granny bloomers

...leaves a nice image, doesn't it...??

............

ME ;0)

...OMG! How Much...?

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Temp: 10c - wet & windy

-- It's definitely a wet Monday --

Dave & I have been to the vet this morning - it's the yearly check-up for Beattie (cat)...she's been jabbed, wormed, clipped & poked (please don't ask where!)... and has been declared well & healthy and it only cost us £35 :(

......................

When the receptionist said. 'That'll be £35 please' I heard myself say. 'Yes, that's fine' while inside I'm screaming. 'OMG! HOW MUCH?'

......................

Why do I always do that? - think one thing but say another - It was the same while I was growing up, whenever I disagreed with my dad I never said what I really felt - I usually just didn't say anything & then tell myself off for 'not giving it to him' when I was alone in my room.

Now that I'm in my fifties, I still rarely say what I'm truly thinking unless it's towards Dave then I can ALWAYS tell him exactly how I feel

......................

ME;0)

...Look At Me In Jeans...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

I'm actually wearing a pair of Per Una jeans today - I know what you're thinking. 'So what?' - but believe me this is very unusual for me - I haven't owned a pair of jeans for at least 15 years!!

------------

This is because as the weight went on and on and on, I looked so ghastly in them & decided many years ago to exclude them from my wardrobe...it's the same as trainers - haven't had them as part of my footwear for the same amount of time...

------------

But now that I've dropped three dress sizes - boy I SO like saying that - Dave talked me into buying a pair & today's the first time I've worn them. And I must admit I feel really weird in them and keep checking myself out in the mirror

------------

How's the song go??

....'You're So Vain'...

------------

ME :0)

...www.the-craftshed.co.uk...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

We took The Craft Shed items to Woodhall Spa Country Market again yesterday to try and sell a few more bits and sold a total of zero pieces - this is SO disappointing - I feel most upset for Dave as he's spend so much time making the necklaces & crafts and made such a great job of it as well & it feels as if nobody wants them :0(

...............

But, it's early days and we've decided to 'plug away' until Easter at least and see if it takes off at all - I've been browsing the web trying to find craft fairs that don't cost the earth...I never realized how expensive it was to hire space at some of these shows...

...WOW! I Even Lost Weight Over Christmas...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

I've just returned from seeing 'The Stunner' (nurse practitioner) for my first weigh-in of the year & also the first one since the over-indulgence of the Christmas/New Year festivities and I've actually lost weight - be it only .5kg.

I know that it's only a very small amount but I'm really pleased with it (as I normally put up to 7lbs of weight on over Christmas!!) & feel so motivated to carry on with McPaul (Paul McKenna food plan) -- so that when I see her again in a fortnight I'd have lost even more :0)

...............

I was so excited by the prospect of it all that I walked an extra half mile today and hardly even broke into a sweat.

..................

See, I've told you before - McPaul has messed with my head :0)

----------

ME ;0)

...Skippidy Hop - I Can't Stop...

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

I've just got back from my daily walk - it's been more than three - yep three - months since I first started and never in a million years did I think that I'd still be doing it let alone enjoying it.

......................

I'm also taking Pat's (aunt-in-waiting!) advice & taking my iPod with me each time - can't believe that I didn't think of it before - and I have even uploaded 'power-walk' tunes to inspire me to walk faster & further

......................

....OMG it actually works...I definitely walk a bit faster and occasionally even skippidy-hop when it's playing something with a fast beat

......................

I have to draw the line at singing out aloud though -- even though I have done on occasion -- as it frightens the birds

......................

ME ;0)

...Have You Eaten This...?

www.the-craftshed.co.uk

Beattie (cat) is definitely getting above herself and REALLY pushing her luck, I can tell you - if she keeps this up she'll find herself out on her ear

(NO, Gerry - you can't rescue her!)

As most of you know she simply loves Dave (& to be fair he's quite fond of her too...usually) - but even he couldn't stop himself from yelling at her yesterday & threatening to do unmentionable things in her direction.

-----------

...the story goes...

It was lunchtime & I'd finished my baguette & had gone into the bedroom leaving Dave in the lounge finishing his lunch and reading football news on text (boring!) - when there was a knock at the back door - Dave got up to answer it and stood chatting to our neighbour for a few minutes and on his return to the lounge let out a yell.

'What the f**k do you think you're doing. Get out of here'

-------

I entered the lounge just in time to see Beattie licking her lips and scampering away and looked in disbelief as Dave held up a well-licked eclaire from his plate

--------

OMG! talk about the cat that got the cream :0)

...New Year Resolutions...

www.bootblack.co.uk

...I don't do New Year Resolutions anymore...

I use to many years ago -- I'd make up my mind during Christmas what they were to be and promised myself that I'd really stick to them this time but you've guessed it by the second week in January they were already a distance memory -- so now New Years Eve is pretty much the same as any other night - well as far as resolutions are concerned anyway :0)

-------------------

I have made one decision though - not really a resolution - and that's to stick with McPaul (Paul McKenna food plan) as I've been losing weight since July '08 and unbelievably I've even lost weight over the festive binge -- and that definitely a first --

----------------

I normally put on up to 7lbs without any trouble so when I got on the scales and saw a loss

YIPPEE DO DA!!

...I Need Another Holiday -- Soon...

www.bootblack.co.uk

Why is it that you can have a lovely holiday and forget all about your 'normal' life for a fortnight - but within hours of returning home it feels like you've never even been away?

.......................

We only got back on Saturday and since then I've had to plan meals, go shopping, sort out the vet for Bettie's (cat) jabs & worming pill, phone work and chase paperwork from our local council

...as well as listing exciting items on eBay... even though I'll admit that's not really a chore as I love eBay because it's good fun :0)

..............................

I did manage to avoid making dinner this evening though as I talked Dave into doing his special stir-fry -- it's amazing what a bit of flattery can do...

.......................

ME ;0)

...Happy New Year...

www.bootblack.co.uk

That's It Then - another Christmas & New Year come & gone in a flash -

Dave & I spent it in Kent visiting friends and family and was thoroughly spoilt by Doris (Dave's mum) - I never peeled a sprout once - GREAT - I did have to wipe-up though :( but it was a small price to pay for all the pampering we received.

-----------------------

The best pressies that I had was a gorgeous Dolce & Gabbana watch from hubby & Chanel No.5 from Alan (brother-in-law) - I simply LOVE Chanel No.5 and wear it everyday...it's my daily indulgence... the most boring but practical one was a desk diary -- yawn -- and the biggest surprise was a £50 M&S voucher from Steve (eldest son) - I also love Per Una from Marks & Spencer - especially since I've lost a bit of weight -

-----------------------

And on the weight front I just HAVE to mention that I actually LOST 1lb over the festive fortnight - this is a huge success for me I can tell you as I normally put on at least 5 lbs and then only loss 2lbs over the coming months - hence why over the years my weight has gone up and up - but thanks to McPaul (Paul McKenna weight plan) I definitely found the 'extra treats' easier to cope with - & now that we are back home and there's no snacks, sweets and left-overs I've already got straight back into McPauls' way of thinking -

-----------------------

I've got my first weigh-in of the year with 'The Stunner' (nurse practitioner) on Friday so I'll let you know the outcome :0)

========

...HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL...