Review of 2014

I have seen on many of the blogs I follow a review of the year, so I thought I would do my own version.  Instead of doing a monthly review, I am just going to post some of the photos that still put a smile on my face.

Jan 2014 - he is going to kill me!

Who needs to bake............  H happy with his 40th cake!

BEST PICTURE of Anni B.

Yes, we have the nerve to travel.

Friends

Birthday trip

Molly's Bar R Us.

Fab flowers

A dog who cuddles - yes!

Handmade is best!

Just some of the things putting a smile on my face in 2014.  Hope to see you in 2015.

RAOK

Hello

My mantra for 2015 

You know, I feel that 2014 hasn't been a great year for us.  There has been bad health for H, I have really struggled with his MS - which is ironic as he's now had it for 10 years and this is the year that I have grieved for what we have lost and for what we will never have.  I can honestly say that the first 8 months of this year are the worst I have ever gone through and have tested me to my limit.  Then a friend's husband has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness which has one again shown me how precious life is.

Anyway, I am determined not to hit 2015 with the same attitude that i have struggled with this year.  Life is what you make it and I am determined to make it a good one.  I am thankful for what we have and can appreciate the little things that we forget each day.

So in 2015 I want to share some of this good feeling.  I am willing to send someone a random act of kindness (RAOK).  There is a catch though - isn't there always?

If you want to participate in my RAOK then all I ask is that you share the love and pass one on yourself.

So my rules:  I will send a RAOK to everyone who says yes (in a comment, or via email).  It may be handmade, it may be bought.  I will not be doing this immediately (definitely in the handmade category!!!), it is to be a surprise at some point in 2015.  So you have an unexpected package in the mail.  All I ask is that you take the time to pass it on.


Want to join in ?????????

(Please don't let me a Billy No Mates )

Making me HAPPY this week

Wow, can you believe that this will be my last "happy" post for 2014.  I don't think I started at the beginning of the year, but I wasn't too late in starting.  This week it is really easy.

Making me happy so far;

1) Books!!!  I was very lucky this year and was spoilt with my books.  I have authors I love, authors I have never read, books I was DESPERATE for (thanks Mum) and a baking book which H has already chosen the first recipe out of.

2) Someone shamelessly photobombing.  Cheers N!!!

Christmas Eve with the Hubby.  Still loads to do but with a glass or 3 of Rose - I no longer cared :-)

3) Opening presents.  Someone REALLY wanted what was in the bag, and rather surprisingly there was no food involved......

4) OOh look not one photo of me on Christmas Day and those I took of my family were far and few behind.  One of my goals of 2015 is to take more photos - I keep meaning to but haven't been so great this year.........

My big Bro

H and my Dad

Mum

5)  My sis in law A and her son R coming for tea tonight - just snuck into my post for the week :-)

Merry Chrimbob

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a fabulous 2015.

Making me HAPPY this week

I am all a fluster today as I had lost 2 Christmas presents and have spent hours searching for them.  I have found one, and another I didn't know I had misplaced.  I have had to admit defeat on the other and order it again - fingers crossed it will arrive tomorrow.  I wouldn't mind but I have a present cupboard and the majority of gifts are immediately placed in the cupboard so I know where they are - Grrrrrrr.


Things making me happy, on my last happy post before Christmas;

1) Finishing a scarf for my Friend S for her advent box.  It went so wrong and I couldn't face frogging it - so I changed the design slightly and she says she loves it so all is well.  S can you take a photo please, I was so eager to get it into the post I forgot to do so.

2) Starting to wrap presents - I love wrapping presents.  From the choosing the wrapping paper, ribbons, to the wrapping.  I LOVE IT.  Well except round gifts- I don't love them!!!!!

3) Walking Anni with Dad.  Mum had friends for lunch so he escaped for an hour.  Not only does Anni love my Dad, but I also love spending time with him one on one.  My Mum and I sometimes go shopping and have lunch together, but I don't often get time with my Dad.

4) Having the friends I have. You all rock - well to be fair only about 4 of them read this blog, but you 4 rock, as do the rest of them.  I am truly lucky to have them in my life and I hope to have them with me for a long time to come.

5) My Hubby.  You are annoying but I love you and you make me happy.

and just in case I don't post much next week, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2015.

So Frustrated

Oh I could crush a grape at the moment.  Part of H's MS at the moment is that on an evening his legs feel like they are burning and he has uncontrollable twitches.  In bed, he can wake me up he's twitching so much - though strangely he can sleep through them :-)

So the MS team at the hospital wrote to our GP to ask him to prescribe a certain drug.  Hubby went today to ask for the drug and the Dr refused to prescribe it, saying he'd never heard of it.  Now if I received a letter with a new drug on it I would google it to look into it.  So he has prescribed a drug which H's Dad has been taking with some major side effects so Hubby won't even get the prescription filled and the drug only stops the burning not the twitching.

All I can suspect is that either it's a cheaper drug or the Dr gets a bonus for prescribing it.

On another note the MS Physio arranged for a chair to be delivered this week for Hubby to test out to see if it makes it easier for him to get up and down.  Shame it's obviously come from a smoker's home and now my living room absolutely reeks. - it gets collected next week!!!

The NHS is sadly not fit for purpose with long term illnesses and it is so frustrating - ARGH.

Rant over!!!

Making me HAPPY this week

This week has been loads of fun.

In no particular order

1) Mum and Dad coming down for a curry to say thank you for all they do for us.  The last time they came down for a takeaway (2 years ago), H had a relapse and it was the start of a very hard time for us.  Tonight, we have laughed, listened to a new Christmas CD and had a good time.

2) Getting the tree up.  Mum helped H wrap my present and Dad and I got the tree up - it still needs some decorations adding but it is largely done - and I was thinking of not putting one up this year :-)

3) I haven't read much this month - too many handmade gifts to make, but I have started on my Christmas reading.  I do try and find a Christmassy book to read every December.  I am currently reading 'Wish Upon A Star" by Trisha Ashley.   I haven't read much, but I am enjoying it so far.

4) Christmas lunch with G and C and to make it better it'll be C's turn next year :-)

5) H having Physio and starting to walk better with his crutches.  Don't get me wrong, he needs his wheelie for most things, but watching him walk upright in the house is amazing.  It's been a long time coming.  Not sure, if his 2 sessions of physio have helped him achieve this, or just given him more confidence in his walking but I am happy that he is able to walk better - saying that I think he's just face planted upstairs - at least there has just been a loud bang............

A Grand Day Out

My friends G and C and I try and meet up fairly regularly throughout the year.  We all used to work together in Leeds and were determined not to loose touch when first G and then I left work.

Yesterday it was G's turn to do the Christmas do and what a day it was.   Although I was up early yesterday I went so wrong and felt all a dither.  Although I had loads of time before I had to catch the bus, I somehow started ironing and suddenly I had 8 minutes to get out of the house and onto the bus.  I forgot the wine for lunch, the soft drinks and my mobile phone and by the time I was sat on the bus, I wasn't even sure I was on the right timed bus.........  thankfully by the time I got to G's I was a little calmer and less rushed.

Thank you G is was lovely and I do love spending time with you and C.

Me and G

G & C

A few Advent gifts perhaps......

 Photos courtesy of C (thank you).

A new job?

I'm a big fan of trying to shop local.  I use my local Post Office, Hair dressers, charity shop and more recently the wool shop.

Tomorrow I am helping out in the wool shop and I am part excited and part terrified!  I am only helping out as and when she needs someone to cover for her, but due to illness it might be a little more in the new year.

Is it normal to worry about all the small things - how to use the till, not selling things for the wrong price?????

I am hoping it will help re-build my confidence in myself and help out someone who needs a hand for the near future.  Maybe I'll even get a discount on my wool :-)

Comfy

Do you think she's comfy?  She's even got the remote!!!!!!

The blanket she is on was knitted by my Grandma (and my Mum thinks some of the squares may have been from her Grandma) and given to me when I went to University when I was 18.  It is precious and is the last outing it's having. It will be washed this week and put away (it is just starting to get damaged).  The blanket over her is H's new blanket.  We spoil our pets don't we!!!

Making me HAPPY this week

It's that time of the week again and I start thinking about positive things whilst in a peeved mood, so I am thinking, oh hang it, I'll miss this week.  But then I think no, being peeved for an hour or 2 shouldn't spoil the rest of the week.  So here I am with the things making me happy this past week.

1) Looking at old photographs whilst de-cluttering.  Anyone know where this was taken?  Yup, that's me in the pushchair - I haven't changed much - I still go round kicking one foot into the air and grinning madly................

2) Opening the advent box.  I got a fab knitted snowman.  He is a little scary as he has no eyes, but the rest of him is lovely :-)  Hubby has opened 2 of the gifts and found chocolate each time - how does he manage that?

3) Spending the day with my Mum.  We finished (most) of the Christmas shopping, had lunch, shared a bottle of wine and just had a lovely day together.  So glad we can do this now.


4) Walking Anni in the woods.  I don't like to do it by myself but we did it and she loved running through ALL the mud she could find.  I am so happy we got a black Lab who loves mud.........

PS Is it too early to open the Christmas chocolates????????


5)  H has opened the choccies - hooray.

Advent has started

Whoop, advent has started.  I tried to wait until Hubby was home to open my advent box but I couldn't wait.  I have one this year and I am really looking forward to the next 24 (well 23 now) days.

I may have cheated and found number 1 before the big day....... Shush, but don't worry the creator of this box doesn't follow my blog :-) See it there, the little white one??

How about now?  Want to know what was inside?

A fabulous little candle, but way too cute ever to be used.

Thanks M.

On another note, I was slightly late in getting box number 4 out to my friend C.  So I took the decision to post the first 4 days to her (H will deliver the rest tomorrow).  Now, although I can't tell you what the 4 gifts are, they were so little and light I was shocked to find that postage cost me £1.71 and the PO wonder why people are no longer sending so much post......

Making me HAPPY this week

Sunday again and time to look back on the past week to see what has been making me happy.

In no particular order;

1) D,V and N coming down last night for takeaway and a drink or two.  It was nice that Hubby could join in with us (we all went to secondary school together).  He even managed to stay awake until 11pm (unheard of lately).  Christmas jumpers were worn along with some hats.

2) Anni B suddenly fancing a cuddle - oh, go on then.   Do you think she's happy?

3) Meeting L in Leeds to celebrate her Birthday. I love catching up with friends, especially when we have something to celebrate.  The huge crowds in Leeds weren't so good!


4) Finally getting hold of a jar of this.  WOW - where have you been all my life.  Very happy to sit on the sofa tonight with a spoon.............. want to know what to buy me for Christmas??????

(or a bigger spoon!)

5) Making orange buns with a Maltesers topping, chocolate orange biscuit and a chocolate orange slice.  Do you sense we love chocolate orange?????  I love to bake and H loves to eat them :-)

Shush don't tell H - but can he get any more in his mouth?????

Not liking so much - have to frog my crochet :-(

3 hours work all gone, all because I used the wrong sized hook - Grrrrrrrrrrr

Busy, busy, busy

I both love and loath this time of year.  I used to be uber excited over Christmas and I loved it all - the cold, the christmas music in shops, the decorations, the window shopping to choose presents before the real shopping itself.  The last 2 Christmas' have not been great so I don't have a lot of festive spirit these days.  I am hoping that if this one is a good one then the spirit will return in future years.

Today, I popped into Leeds to meet L and to celebrate her Birthday.  I only went into 3 shops to kill time before lunch and I hated it.  In one shop, 3 mature ladies were stood in a line, across the aisle and then 2 more came to say hi and completely blocked the aisle.  They then looked affronted when I asked them to move - Grrrrrrrrrrr.  Then in Next there were a zillion people in the queue in front of me.  I shall not believe it if the news tell us we are still in recession.

Still, it helped me decide that the rest of my Christmas shopping will be taking place online :-)

On the way to Leeds I did manage to work on another Christmas present - don't worry the person receiving it doesn't read my blog - I don't think!!! :-)  Don't all us crafters craft on the bus??????

I had a lovely time catching up with L and giving her her presents (again I forgot to take a photo of presents or the lovely L).  At least we've set our next date!

Advent time again

Can you believe that it almost December?  My heart skips a beat whenever I think about it.  I have so much still to make and lie in bed worrying about getting it all finished.  Of course, it will either get finished or I will buy a last minute present and all will be well.  I think I will feel better when I sit down with a list and figure out what it left to do.

You may remember (if you've been reading me for a while - or hello to any newbies), that every year I make up advent boxes for some friends.  Throughout the year, I buy little bits, make things, last minute panic buying until I have 24 gifts for each person.  Every year, I swear I won't do it again, but the 4 people who receive the gifts tell me how happy it makes them, knowing that someone has thought about them and their likes and have a little bit of love waiting for them each day, so I know I'll do again next year :-)

The bit that really gets to me is all the blooming wrapping.  Just finished number 3 and boy have I had enough............. and I still have 1  left to do!



At least I have Anni B to keep me and H happy.

Making me HAPPY this week

It's been a quite week this past week which was just what the Dr ordered.  I switch between liking to be busy and liking to be a hermit!!!!!

Making me happy;

1) Meeting N for lunch on her day off.  We went local and we managed to push H both down the hill to the pub and uphill on the way back.  Well N did much of the pushing on the way home.


2) Our nephew's 21st last night.  I was great, til I drank TOO much then was not as enjoyable!!!!

3) Not having a hang over this am - not sure how but I will accept it....

4) Being about half way through my gift for my s-i-l.  I can't wait to give it to her and show you the finished gift.

The problem of being a crafter

I have been making loads of things lately, mainly for Christmas presents and there lies the problem.  I am so excited about some of them, and in doubt about some of them.  I'd love to show you the ones I love and I would love your opinion of those I am in doubt about.  BUT every single one of them is going (or not!) to someone who reads my blog.


ARGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.


I am making a gift for A (who I don't think reads this blog - if AJ you are reading this, then it's not for you! (I don't think I have anymore A's)).  I am using 4 different colours of stylecraft DK.  I am crocheting 6 rows of each colour and then swopping colour.  I have finished 1 ball of each colour, but what strikes me as odd is that colour 1 JUST finished a row, colours 2 & 3 finished a row too early and colour 4 had enough for another half row.  All the same brand, the gift is the same size, I just don't get it.  I am a newbie at crochet so not sure if this is normal or if I have done something incorrectly.  Just hope I have enough yarn now as my local wool shop has run out of the Meadow that I need.

Making me HAPPY this week

Wow what a week.  I am so glad it is Sunday night and I am curled up on the sofa making something for someone special who is having an op tomorrow.  Anni is curled up on the sofa on my her blanket, snoring away gently and H is catching up on tv watching.

We've had friends up this weekend and had a blast.

Making me happy;

1) Making a new hat for a Charlton fan.  Just waiting to get a proper photo on the terraces!!!

2) A Saturday night with friends and family.  A fabulous meal in a local Turkish restaurant followed by a drink or 2 in Weatherspoons.  I may have felt a little delicate today...........

3) Meeting S and little M on Monday.  I caught the train to an out of town outlet centre and we met up for lunch and a catch up.  Little M is a real cutie and lead me on a Merry dance round some shop windows whilst Mummy was shopping - it was fab.  Then lunch in Thorntons, a lovely hot chocolate and panini.

4) I loved the expression on a piece of chocolate I had this week.........  a bag of these would cheer anyone up!!!!!

5) A photo of the one finished wall in the kitchen.  The wall is actually painted a really pale blue colour and is lovely and I love the poster that I framed.  We still have to paint/undercoat/plaster the other 3 walls :-(

Erm, the rest of the kitchen looks like this below :-(

Friends

We have been holidaying in Molyvos for many years now.  It actually feels more like home than home does.  About 3 years ago we met new friends in our favourite bar and we have talked about meeting up ever since.  Now one couple live in Kent and one in Portsmouth (we live in Yorkshire) so it has taken a while to actually meet up.

P&D came up about a month ago and we had a lovely weekend.  Today they came back with V&J.

We have had a lovely evening, fish and chips, a belated Birthday cake and too many cocktails.  It's been great!!!

I think D likes his new hat (in his football colours!)  I have an order for matching gloves.

Wine and Greek beer, what more could you ask for?

JellyBean cocktails -not too sure what was in them - Ouzo and stuff!  Very sweet but very popular in Molyvos this Summer!

Cheers.  We have another night like this to look forward to!!!!  I think I need sleep :-)