WOYWW #760

 Hope you all had a good Christmas and, after being good all  year, had a naughty time.  Lots of cake, chocolate and wine!!! (Other food and alcohol available)

I am having a great Christmas, being looked after, waited on and three meals a day!

Happy WOYWW, see you all in 2024, hopefully from home!

WOYWW #759

 WOYWW - What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday! 

Visit here to find a friendship ring that goes on  . . .and on . . .and on . .  into 2024 . . . 

Wishing you all a happy, warm and contented Christmas with lots of good food and TV programmes.

No desk but a screen . . . 

WOYWW #757

 WOYWW - What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday! 

Visit here to find a friendship ring that goes on  . . .and on . . .and on . . 

Another busy week, I thought with all the frost about, and me having to stay inside in the warm, I would get a lot done but it was not to be.  I just did not feel very well and most days were spent lying around, taking tablets and crying.  Don't ask me why  . . . no idea!!

But now the sun is shining, I am sitting on a new office chair, (which still needs to be 'messed around' with a bit more in order to be comfortable), carols are blasting out from the radio and life is good . . . .

The desk:

On with the writing of cards.  I am making good progress although the pile does not seem to diminish . . . 

I went out yesterday for a meal at a pub in the country, most of the meal was inedible but I had enough on the plate anyway so was not too worried.

Then came dessert!!

This was their version of Eton Mess . .  . I did not think I would finish it all but I did!  It was just delicious  . . . .

R.I.P.

                    Denny Laine 

. . . may you continue to play your music in heaven.

Such fond memories of this 'teenager' looking out for him when he lived local to me in the sixties . . . 

The screen:

WOYWW #756

Good Morning

Back again . . . .  must be Wednesday as it seems that's the only day I post . . . .  and haphazardly at that!!

Last week absolutely flew past with lots of busyness and outings . . . . makes a change for me but so exhausting.

My desk

Just had to get those babies out!

I have lots of cards that I have made through the year but still some short . . .  so out came 'the boxes'.

Lots of papers and 'stash' to sort through so that's today taken care of as was yesterday . . .  please note that there are just a 'few' additional stamps on the left to add to the boxes . . .  I have been very restrained.

I keep these boxes on the top of my book case so when I am tempted to buy some new stash I have only to look over and there is the reminder - YOU HAVE ENOUGH!!

So after I have made my coffee, I shall come round and visit, with a catch up, to see how wonderfully busy you have all been.

Catch you later

The Screen

Just a reminder to me to arrange a date to go on the 'dog trail' in town.

WOYWW #753

Happy WOYWW!

Just checking in to say that I am here . . . . empty desk I'm afraid as I am full of a head cold and praying it does not go down onto my chest.  

Although I think I am rid of the infection that caused all the horrendous coughing, my chest still feels very weak but I do believe that the steroid inhaler will, eventually, strengthen me enough to be able to get about without being so breathless.

The trees outside are wearing their beautiful autumnal colours and all our gardens are being decorated  as they throw their brightly coloured leaves willy nilly down to earth . . . . . 

I may not be able to go out into this Autumn display but, through the window, it is a continual entertainment which I am so enjoying.

I hope that you are all enjoying Mother Nature's wonders . . .  be it Spring or Autumn . . . . 

WOYWW #752

 After all the trauma of last week, I am being treated to a day out to see Botanical Beasts and Mythical Creatures!  Sounds like fun, I'm with DDC, DX & FX so it WILL be but  . .  . . .  no desk again!!

I will catch up with everyone later and do a full post on the latest visit as soon as.

The screen is where my mind has been . . . 

BTW - Happy November!!  lol

WOYWW #751

 No desk I'm  afraid..... I'm  away visiting.....another hospital!!!  

If I'm  home later, I'll update....

UPDATE:

Back home safe and sound with a lot more tablets!!!  

Quite an experience!  

Staff were all wonderful as per usual, not much sleep . . . . then discharged

Left to get home on my own . . . . . in my night clothes . . . ..  18.00hrs . . . . dark, wet Autumn night.

Not eligible for hospital transport so I had no option but to go on the bus . . . . but would they let this little old lady in her nightclothes outside a hospital on the bus!!  that was the question. 

And how was I going to even walk to the bus stop without any stick or walker . . . . then again through town to my second bus . . . .  then a 'normal' 20mins walk to my house . . . . very difficult questions.

The main problem was that I did not fit the criteria for hospital assisted transport as I did not need oxygen and was mobile (no wheelchair).  I don't think the fact I was in my night clothes and had no personal transport came into the question . . . . I was very upset and the nursing staff were very apologetic but it was out of their control . . . .

In the end I phoned my local taxi company, the other side of the City, and asked them if they would be able to come and take me home . . .  they said yes but it would be very expensive.    We agreed a price and then I was taken out to the taxi (in a wheelchair) and came home.

Aide de Memoire

If taken by ambulance to hospital, please remember to take a set of outside clothes, shoes, Walker or Wheelchair, enough money for an expensive taxi ride . . .  and a Mac!!! 

750! WOYWW #750

WOYWW - What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday! 

Visit here to find a friendship ring that goes on  . . .and on . . .and on . . at least 750 times!!

Very short post today . . . 

I am having a 'sort of' tidy up . . . 

The quicker I get this lot sorted, the quicker I will be able to start crafting!!

Just emptying boxes . . . . exploding all over the place . .  

Hopefully, I will also file my stamps and dies instead of just throwing them into this bag after I have used them . . . 

I started 'putting' them in this bag cos I found that I would need one of these stamps/dies for the next card I made and so on and on it went . . . .  THEY REALLY NEED FILING""

so now you know what I'm up to, I'm going to visit you and see what you're up to . . . 

Screen still has my beautiful swan . . . . 

WOYWW #749

Hello my Friends, we meet again!!  Why?  Because . . . . 

 WOYWW - What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday! 

Visit here to find a friendship ring that goes on  . . .and on . . .and on . . 

The Desk:

au naturel . . .

It is posting time again so I am 'up to my ears' in cards, envelopes, labels, stamps (rich man's playthings!) and all things postal.

Great fun.

Centre is my new stash, went in for some adhesives and these fell into my basket. .  some superb colours . . . I really don't have these . . .  I NEED them for my envelopes . . . what the heck . .  they look yummy!  lol

These are next to be enveloped . . . Red/Brown colour and Cats Coins.

On the right, some ATCs and Coins received for September, I have yet to blog them.

Lots going on today but visits will be made . . .  

The screen is very special to me at the moment . . . 

Old Friends

 I have to say goodbye to an old friend who has been with me for over twenty years . . .

Welcome new friend, I hope we will be as happy as Mr Blue

Strangers are just friends we haven't met yet.

WOYWW #748

  WOYWW - What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday! 

Visit here to find a friendship ring that goes on  . . .and on . . .and on . . 

The desk

I'm waiting for paint to dry!

I am really!!  I am creating ATCs using the Neurographic art again, this time on canvas with Acrylic Paints.  It is teaching me patience . . . .

I blame those little tubes . . . .  I went in to buy some double sided tape . . .  they tempted me . . . I have big tubes, bottles, metallic paints etc  . . . but these little tubes of brightness . . . .

I have a pad of canvas paper, it doesn't see daylight very often but I used a page to experiment with these paints and  . . .  Neurographic art.

It took some time to find a black pen that would flow on the canvas but I managed it . . .a Sharpie you might know!!

This is my fifth day of  painting.  One has to wait for each colour to dry . . . . like I said . . . patience . . 

As you can see the canvas is rather large . . . . the colours are so much brighter IRL.

I have used some of the small tubes and some metallic paints, I shall do another one at some future date with just shades of one colour . . . . why?  Cos I can!!

                                         

These are my 'wipe off' sheets . . .  I just keep adding to them . . . .  they WILL become masterboards.

The Screen

Just in case you wondered what was behind the Library . . . . .

Three Years . . . . .

        "Silly Boy!"   Out in the rain . . . .

Three years today you left me . . . . 

I had no idea it would be so hard . . . .

I had no idea the pain of losing you would just go on and on . . . .

I miss you so so very much . . .

. . .  and I'm so very lonely . . .   

missing your silly jokes . . . . I tell them out loud to myself . . . 

Three years . . . . 

End of September ish

 No, I don't know what happened, I started the month with good intention but somehow it has all disappeared.

I meant to share the changes in the garden, the cards I made, the stash I bought and what happened . . . . . . I don't know!?!  I think I have just coughed and coughed my way through the month.  

Somedays I think it is getting worse, somedays I think I am getting better, somedays I think "Oh!  what the heck!" just let me go but I'm still here struggling on.  

I am filling my life with as much as I can do, and closing my eyes and mind to that which I can't do . . .

I managed to get all my charity donations downstairs and filled my hall ready for it to be collected . . . then their van broke down so it is still there . .  good job I don't go out or anyone comes to visit me cos the front door doesn't open wide enough!!  I have to laugh . . 

I was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  After a 45mins journey I was in and discharged and out in 10mins.  The same ambulance driver brought me home and I was so relieved that I hadn't had to make the journey under my own steam as I have to catch 3 buses.  . . .  for a 10 mins consultation . . . . lol 

So this is catch up . . . slowly I am bringing the plants into the greenhouse.  I'm not making a very good job of it cos I need to erect another shelf (potting table) and it is in the chicken house . . .  can't get up there, let alone inside it!  I am not complaining, I am just saying how it is . . .  and why I am so behind in everything . . .  

The absolute marvels of this month have been . . . .

and

Back in the Spring I found a load of small bulbs, some looked like crocus, but the rest ?????

I planted them out in various pots, some I added plants to and left them all out in the sunshine.  These two flowered . . .  a PURPLE Gladiolus and a Kafir Lily.  How amazing is that . . . I have so admired them especially as the bed of Kaffirs in the garden has been so overgrown they have died.

Roll on next Spring . . .  if I can get them through the Winter of course!!

WOYWW #747

 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! 

It's WEDNESDAY!!!

the Desk

I was informed about a sale at Seven Hills Crafts, rather like their goods and service so I went to their website . . . . just for a look you understand.

Order sent Sunday night, order delivered first thing Tuesday . . . . like I say, I rather like their service!

I am creating some ATCs using some corrugated cardboard.  Just prepping at the moment, had to stop to examine the stash!

When I find the correct colouring blend I shall continue with these cards.  Have just been trying out pens, shall move onto paints now . . . .

The Screen this week . . . .

. . . . . is of a lovely sunny day in Centenary Square, Birmingham.  The Hall of Memory to the left and Baskerville House to the right with the New Library towering over it.  Baskerville House is where my Mother came to collect her wages every week . . . all wood panelled passages and offices . . . . I had to go with her as a youngster and I found it very overpowering . . . reminds me now of the Bank in Mary Poppins . . . . the smell of polish and old men in suits . . . . oh! yes!  I know exactly how those children felt . . . .lol

WOYWW #746

 Welcome to another What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday!  I hope it will be happy for you . . . . I have lots to do as usual . . . .

The Desk . . .

I'm copying . . . well, I don't think it's called copying . . . . more CASE . . . 

Catching up on my emails the other morning I saw a stunning card here Texture Florals

Whoa!  That is beautiful!  

Just what I need for my October Colour card of Grey.  I had already decided to make a grey card with pink embellishments (2nd best fave colours), so as you can see it is almost finished . . . . just watching glue dry   lol

I have had a very busy weekend and have not really recovered completely, socialising seems to take it out of me these days . . . . so I am working at my desk . . . . . sitting down is good  . . . .

The screen says it all . . . .

. . . .  and I can see through my window that there are lots of umbrellas today . 

WOYWW #745

 I see Blogger has been 'updating' again!!

So the sun is shining after two days of continuous drizzle . . .  

My Desk

Clear desk time  . . . . need to get all the contents of the box on the right hand side ready to post.

There are cards, ATCs and coins all nearly finished.  They just need to be checked, finished, enveloped and addressed . . . . . with that expensive (price hike again in October and not just a penny or two!) postage stamp(s) added.  

Royal Mail made it a lot easier last price increase to send cards abroad . . . . they reduced the price of lower band to 2x1st Class stamps.  

When they hike up the price, we'll all have to buy 'make up' stamps . . . . . less and less encouragement to use them . . . .  I can see a future when all these cards will just be an emailed photo!!

ENOUGH!!

The sun is shining and my screen encourages me . . . . 

WOYWW #744

 When I woke this morning the mist was swirling down the hill, encouraged with each passing car . . .  I could hear PJ saying "What a beautiful Italian morning!" . . . . he knew that the coming sun would burn off this mist and another hot day was in the offing.

I sat eating my breakfast and noticed the leaves on the tree outside my window are already turning brown and John Keats' poem crept into my mind . . . 

One of my favourites . . .

but we are here to view the desk . . .

Shopping the stash . . . .

I found a basket with card kits so I have been working to complete these.

There are completed cards drying while draped over my laptop . . .

To the left are a couple of 'jewel' stacks, used to add a bit of glam to the flowers.

Jars of Cosmic Shimmer Chalk to colour up the flowers which . .  .

are added to the kit for us to colour as we wish . . .

We also have the choice of arranging the papers so it is all good fun. . . .  and the price of these kits went to a different Charity each month.

The screen this week is a reminder of how NOT to use tax payers money!!

My beautiful City whose Council has just gone bankrupt!!

Nuff sed . . . .

Making the effort

It certainly was an effort but I made it!

I decided to go up to the local church hall and see if I could find any takers for my piano.  I made it up there and then found there was a Bingo session in full flow!

I sat quietly watching and waiting till it finished.  The organiser came over and said it was an Over 55's group and I would be welcome to join . . . . . that's next week booked then!

I only went because I saw this advert on Facebook  . . . .  trust me to get the times all wrong!!!

At 14.00hrs the tables were laid out in small groups and the kettle was switched on.

We all sat at separate tables but then I moved over to join up with a guy and we chatted and folks seemed to orientate to us and we soon had an over flowing table with lots of chat.

The food was good and I'm sure it tasted better because I didn't have to cook it!1

John had all his weekdays worked out as to where he could go to get cheap or free meals.  It was interesting in that I had no idea all this was going on . . . .  worth coming for the info!  lol

I was told to come and join in on Saturday, it's a craft day so bring something along. 

 No problem for me!  

So that's another day booked up . . . . there will be no time left to sit at home and watch tv soon!

It was raining when I came outside to go when Jane offered me a lift home, I refused at first as it's only down the road and but then I said 'yes please' so I was brought home.

What a completely different day I have had, very enjoyable and met some lovely folk.  Brightened up my prospects considerably and cheered my spirit.

Thank you Lord.

WOYWW #743

 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! 

Happy WOYWW!!  I am happy

I have managed to walk up to the post box this morning and post off the last of my August swaps . . . . just creeping into the back of the room . .  .

The desk

I know . . .  tidy again!!  

It isn't that I haven't been working, I have had PC problems in that the printer was sulking in the corner and wouldn't talk to the rest of us!!!  We're all friends again now though and look what I have . . . . . happy mail!!

Now I'm not trying to make Angela jealous but . . . . .

Yes!  three of them . . . they contain finished (almost) cards, some card to use for diecuts and well, who knows!!  lol

I also wanted to share my Fuchsia with you . . . . this photo does not do it justice as it a is mass of red and blue flowers!  Gorgeous!

The screen . . . 

  . . . . is the front entrance of the Botanics . . . such a happy day . . . .