New Year's Eve 2022

 

Postage Stamps

I know there is a big hullabaloo going on about the changeover of stamps to the new coded ones . . . . boon for philatelists for once . . . but I have to say 'Good one Royal Mail'.

I sent my stamps off in November to be exchanged . .  the only ones I had left were mainly for Europe and a few others.

I filled in the form that came through the door and posted them off . . . . back in November ready for using at Christmas . . .

My returns came within a fortnight!

What RM couldn't replace they sent 2nd class ones instead . . . . lots of them . . . that's ok, they'll get used . . . but I must remember to post everything two days earlier!

Well done RM.

Then they went on strike so not many cards were posted!!

Blotted your copybook there RM . . . .  stop paying out so much to your shareholders and give the money to your posties . . . . they are the ones doing the work!

Getting off my soapbox now . . . . .

How to spend an hour or two

The weather is not very conducive to going out so I took the opportunity to do what I enjoy . . . . . cooking . . . I have a two lots of vegetables to use up so what can I do . . . .

Peel, chop and cook!

Get foil trays ready . . . 

Fill, seal and label . . . . . .

Pop into the freezer and all I have to do is add meat and gravy . . . . . The trays defrost overnight and finish cooking in the oven . . . . 

How many days is that?  

Ten days for very little cost . . . . on a winner, chicken (or meat) dinner.

My freezer now looks very healthy, all meals and vegetables are packed in individual portions.  I might just need to make a list . . .  types of food and dates frozen helps, usually kept in one of the freezer trays . . . .

After having a good day crafting, I don't feel like cooking a meal from scratch so now I can go choose!  Yeah!

Pink Houses folk

 Spent the day colouring in the folk for the houses.  I only have to send four ATCs but I like to choose from a selection, who knows how many will lose their feet, hair, hands . . .  need I say more?!!

It's been a mean day today, massive blasts of wind and heavy rain showers.  Not the weather for going out at all.

I have also sorted out my challenges for the month of January . . . . . whew!!  Need a few more bad weather days!

Penguin hunting - photo heavy

Felix caught mid step . . . he's not drunk!!

This year we have a penguin trail through the city centre, so after the snow left, we popped into town to go hunting Penguins.

Oh! Boy! did we have fun!

We caught the tram round to the first one on our route . . .

 .        

It so happened the Wheel is there so we hopped on for a whirl.

          

       

           

We could see Daddy's Office in the distance and showed it to Mummy.

              
       

We then caught the tram to New Street Station for lunch . . . . 

We had to wait some time but we amused ourselves . .                 

While we waited for our food, we tried to discover the next penguin . . . 

      
We met some fun folk on the way . . . . .

We found one in the station and then another in The BullRing . . . we're getting really good at this . . . . 

This found this one in the Arcade.

We even found a friend from school!

The next one was at the Christmas Market with it's giant tree. . . . . .

This penguin was close to  . .

 . . the Nativity Scene . . . . .

Which was close to  . . . .

the Grumpy Camel!!!!

Such fun!  

Then we spotted the Carousel, DDC stayed with the bags and trolley . .  so me and the boys hopped aboard . . . .(I didn't really hop, more heaved and pushed!)

then it was time for home but we checked the map . . 

. .and found another . . . 

That's it for now . . .  we need to get home and have some tea but don't panic . . . . there's still more to find  . . .  but that is for another day . . . 

Six found, nine more to go . . .

WOYWW #708

 What happened there then?

 . .  . . another week just whooshed by . . . 

 . . . . . . took me ages to get there and then . . . .  

WHOOSH!

Now it's back to 'normal' . . . . the desk . . 

Lots going on here . . . . painting ATCs pink . . . . different!

Over on the left we have one of my External drives, this one is important to me as it contains most of my digital images for all my artworks.

                                             

On the right we have just one of my boxes of paints; recycled catfood boxes were so useful and just the right size.  I covered a few of the others but then decided to put them end to the front so I could get more one each shelf . . . now I only see the ends!!!  he! he!

                                          

Then in the centre the actual works in progress.  Our Hostess issues these 'House' challenges once or twice a year and I'm always up for creating them . . . .

I intend to go back to my old format of posting all my artworks, just for my records, so apologies in advance if you find it boring . . . .

I also hope to post about my adventures outside, even going to new hospitals and my non-visits to others . . . . . oh! yes!  21st Century doctoring!! 

So there is today's post . . . . exciting wasn't it?!?!?!

have a good week, please take care when 'first footing' and . . . .  I know where the coal is . . . . . . HAPPY NEW YEAR!  

Christmas and all that . . . .

 Well . . .  what excitement!!

What a great time was had . . . .

All the noise and chaos cannot be translated into a Blog Post but I'll try . . . .

Christmas morning I was sent . . .

I presumed this was my early morning call, how wonderful!  A view I shall treasure . . .

Then we had some of  this . . 

Some of this . . . .

Lots of this . . . 

Some of this . . . .

and what I didn't tell you was . . . . one of the morning events started like this . . . 

I want to thank them all for making my Christmas so super and a special mention for the Chef . . . he always produces the perfect meal with plenty of leftovers . . . . love him to bits.

Happy Christmas

 

I hope everyone has a happy and healthy Christmas with lots of love, hugs, laughter and food.  If you're on your own . . . enjoy the TV and be blessed and warm.

WOYWW #707

 Thank you for all your good wishes last week for my birthday and your lovely cards.  I had a great day with DDC, including a Fish & Chip lunch!  DDN popped in on the evening and brought me a CD  - Cliff's latest - just what I wanted.

 WOYWW - All the deets on how to link up etc. and, more importantly, why you should, can be found at the top of the page.  Thank you Julia for hosting another week of fun and mayhem.

Well, if your cards haven't been posted by now . . . . 

The finishing touches were added to the 'Village' over the weekend

All the folk are out and about, the children are joining in and the tramline is in action (only runs when Grandma is there) and all the good folk are waiting ready to go home and wrap their parcels  . . .  I've included a short video at the end of this post, hoping it works of course.

The desk is still churning out Christmas cards, plenty for me and the Church next year.

My screen is . . . .

May we take this opportunity to wish you all a Christmas filled with love, hugs and laughter . . . . they're the best pressies in my opinion . . .

 . . . . . and the video . . . .

WOYWW #706

 My desk shows the aftermath of Christmas Card creating . . . . . and will go on until I am fed up of it all  . . . . . then I will chuck out all the leftover papers, embellishments, card fronts etc from years and years ago!!!

I have two boxes of stamps and dies that never see daylight because of these boxes of 'useful' Christmas stash . . . .

yes, there's even peeloffs!

I am another year older today.  I really don't notice the passage of time as my days and nights blend.  I have always said that if we didn't have children we would not notice the years go by.  

I like the Nigerian (and I presume . .  most third world countries) way of not recording births.  Ask most of them how old they are and they have no concept of age . . .. love it.

I will be celebrating with my daughters, not going out as it is much too cold for my 'old' body.  

I want to live long enough to get a telegram from the King (any King will do!) but at the rate that age breaks down the body . . . . . I wonder . . .  do I?  

Will I enjoy being that old? 

I suppose as long as I can create and contribute some thing to society then yes . . . . possibly . . . in the meantime I shall enjoy my day.

The screen

this is me most evenings . . . 

December Creations

 Apart from Christmas Cards, I have managed to get some ATCs and Coins made and posted . . . . don't know when or if they will arrive but . . . . .

The Theme being Christmas

there is an Angel, Victorian and Modern designs.

The Colour being Red/Gold

I played around with my dies and various pieces of card and paper

Coin 1 was Birds

While I had my machine out I carried on.  I cut the birds from white card and then painted them roughly to suggest a robin.

Coin 2 was Snowmen

Found these super guys on the web so painted up some 'snow' for them to sit on.

The About Oriental Stamps lottery this month was Christmas.

I did manage to stamp some bamboo and decorate it to look like a Christmas Tree.  Lots of 'snow' in the background.

That's another year wrapped up . . . .