Congratulations Helen!
You won Crazy Chick. I used the low tech version to choose the winner (but it worked)...
Helen said...
He is gorgeous - I'd love to win him.
Posted by: Helen Winnicott | March 31, 2012 at 06:03 PM
So Helen, email your address to me so I can get Crazy Chick in the post asap :)
Thanks for all the comments. I read every one.
There have been lots of changes around here. Lots. I am coming to grips with it all. Slowly. The biggest change has been that Roman has gone to University. He got back from Thialand very (very) late on Wednesday 21st september and after three days at home Husb and I drove him to Uni. (Sunday 25th) Yep it was too quick for my liking. I will post some of his photos he took on the trip in another post. He used my Craftroom to pack in, because his room was still full of Thailand backpacking gear.
We'd found out he wouldn't be in catered accomodation so had to sort him a list of stuff for self-catering. I really enjoyed just the two of us going to town to get the last few bits and pieces like new trainers because his had only just survived the Thailand trip. New jeans, jumper, T-shirts and undies. Toiletries and stationery. Towels, bedding and pillows and a new hold-all. The list went on and on. We went to Starbucks and sat and sat. I was holding it all together (mostly). He has phoned once since we dropped him off. Once. I heard from him more when he was in Thailand and was using Internet cafes. If you're reading this (you know who you are) get in touch with yer muther.
Ready to go, just need to pack the car (and get a few photos!)...
Still looking a bit tanned...
When we arrived after over three hours in the car, we had 20 mins to drop him off. Seriously. There was a shortage of space to park, so although I could understand it... it was too quick. Actually it was 17 mins from driving in the gate to driving off. I did get some very quick photos of his new room...
He had been greeted by a bunch of folks that live in his Halls, so he was a happy chappie...
The campus is fab. Here's the view from his window...
...and up to his room...
...and nearby...
When we drove out the gate I saw a bunch of students and just had time to capture this photo of Roman going off in a group to a BBQ.
Unexpectedly seeing him after saying our goodbyes made me a bit tearful. But as Husb said, it's good to see him walking off in a group than leave him sitting on his own in his room. My Husb is a wise man. We went for a coffee. I was a bit teary. We had a brief trot about in the sunshine and remembered that we'd visited this city about 19 years earlier on a mini-break.
So. What about the other three?
This girlie now goes to College. She has a very full timetable. Here she is on the first morning...
I totally love her confident, purposeful stride...
The next day was Chef's first day at Catering College. They don't travel in their 'whites'.
It was a cold wet morning. He's not over keen on photos these days :( But he strode off, very excited and raring to go (he's wanted to be a Chef since he was 12)...
The following day, Smurf started school. He had asked about school last Easter. Husb and I visited first and I was very impressed. We took him for a visit and he liked it too. Then followed several weeks of gradually introducing him. The school were absolutely brilliant. They integrated him more and more and finally he went for the whole last week of last term. He looks so grown up in his new uniform...
He's kept his morning paperound and has a ten minute window to get home and change into his Uniform. School is a 25 minute walk away (uphill on the way home).
We were so pleased when he got to do BTec Construction as one of his options. He does Construction all day Wednesday and it's his favourite subject. He has been doing all sorts of woodwork joints and helps his friends when he's finished his work. He's not so thrilled with the academic stuff but has got on with it. So pleased he's settling in.
Right then. That leaves me. I am not sitting at home like a lady of leisure. I have been helping an old College friend with fundraising for her African Charity, but I'll put that in another post as I must go and get on.
Husb is fine too. Supportive as always :) I am so very blessed.
After a full day on the Saturday we got up Sunday to go canoeing in honour of Smurf's Birthday. All 7 children paddled as well as Uncle Foghorn and myself. Husb took all the photos and I am grateful to capture the activity. Here's the Birthday boy...
Such a beautiful part of the country. It was overcast but not raining.
Not sure why Roman, (below far right ) is sitting back not doing anything...?!
That's me below, having a blast. I used to canoe before I was married on white water rivers in Germany (long story) and I loved it. Being 4' 11" has no effect when you're sat in a canoe. It was just like riding a bike (although obviously canoeing is nothing like riding a bike)... it all came back to me.
Here's a close up of Chef who was really enjoying himself...
The instructor, Katy, was great (white helmet). She demo'd the skills she wanted us to practise, then off we went to have a go.
We played games too, like 'Sharks and Minnows' ... a variation of 'tag'. Lots of fun. So too was throwing a ball to each other. No photos as Husb had gone for a coffee at that time. Below is my niece, Sweetie. She did really well, everyone did.
Yep... this boy loved his Birthday activity (we all did)...
Once we'd put the canoes to bed, hung up our wet stuff and got dry and changed, we had a picnic in the courtyard. No Birthday celebration is complete without a Nanny made cake. Smurf loved the canoe dude on his cake...
If you're wondering... Uncle Foghorn was kindly sheltering the cake from the wind so's the candles didn't blow out prematurely. There was a gathering for a group shot...
Here's the cake (minus the candles, just before it's cut up)...
There were a few rude comments about the canoe dude looking like he was straining to do something smelly and were it not for the canoe, he'd look right at home on a potty. heehee.
Thanks Nanny for a great weekend :()
Smurf is now 14. They're all even numbers in this house (till Roman turns 19 in November). My teens, as of August 11, 2011 = 14, 16 (x2) and 18. heehee.... Looks like weird algebra when you put it like that!!
We went across to Wales to celebrate with Nanny and Grandad and spend time with the cousins. On the Saturday we had a very early start to make sure we arrived in their Welsh village in time to submit some entries into the Village Garden Show/fete. I love these really oldfashioned, traditional village events that they hold in the Village Hall. It really is the hub of the community. So many beautiful flower entries, amazing veg and home-made goodies from cake to crochet. The twins had picked fruit and made jam. They got a 1st in the plum jam section. T-g was super happy...
Smurf entered two photographs. One was for the 'macro' section and the other was 'digitally altered' (which for some strange reason he kept calling 'genetically modified'!) He took photos of bees on flowers in our garden. Here's what he ended up with... we printed them out A4...
The digitally altered/genetically modified ladybird photo won 1st prize. So did Nanny's drawing...
T-g did a watercolour for the prompt 'Storm' and so did Nanny. They came 2nd and 3rd...
My niece, Sweetie, had been staying with Nanny for the week and had made several wonderful entries into the Garden Show. She painted a dolphin and decorated the frame with shells and next to her on the table is a minature garden in a brown terracotta dish. She won 1st for both entries. I think she also entered a veg bunny.
My other niece made flapjacks...look at that happy face...
Sadly, my nephew, Davinci, didn't place for his veggie frog, but the competition was very high. Love the tiny 'fly' on the frog's tongue...
The children lined-up with some of their entries...
There was a Newspaper Photographer about who took some photos...
Hoping they'll be in the paper :)
Sweetie won a cup for the under 12's overall winner. This year Nanny is the President, so was handing out the cups and saying all the thank-yous to relevant people.
Afterwards we had a walk along the beach and returned home for home-made lasagne. The children all chilled out and the adults chatted and caught up. I'll do another post about the Sunday, which was canoeing!
I've worked out the kinks in my crochet egg pattern and have made three eggs so far.... they're decorating my craft room...
The eggs are 3" tall. I think perhaps I could have done with a bushier twig as the eggs look huge on it!
Here's the pattern...
Download Free Crochet Pattern amigurumi crochet egg
Enjoy!
Our twins are 16. They are so grown up. I couldn't be prouder of them.
We had a meal with Nanny, Grandad and the three cousins. Nanny brought out her speciality Birthday cakes and we sang Happy Birthday.
For their Birthday they had lovely gifts and money from family far and wide and some days out are planned later in the year, but the most special moment was when Chef gave T-g a phone that he'd got with his own money. It's got Android and can go on the internet and can do allsorts of whizzy things (except make tea). It's the white version of his own phone that he got himself in black. He was more excited to give her this present than about anything else. This is so typical of him.
They are a close pair, especially around their birthday when they refer to each other as 'my twin'. Just lovely to capture a Birthday 'twins' moment as he showed her all the features of her phone.
Here's an old photo taken in 2000, when they had a Fancy Dress 5th Birthday party. Tg was a Fairy Princess and Chef a Policeman. Big bro Roman (7) was a clown and Smurf (3) was a ladybird (with a homemade costume I made from one leg of a pair of my black leggings and some fluffy red fabric and black felt dots) he was very cute.
They all had a big, special party when they turned 5. Seems like 5 minutes ago. Love these old memories (because the reality was pretty hectic and busy with only 4 years between all four of them).
It's been tricky to get time to sit down and put together a photo packed Christmas post. It doesn't help that I have to resize each and every photo in PSE before I post. Yikes. Also, once the decorations have been put back in the attic, the Christmas flavour seems to be a thing of the past. Anyway... here goes... a coupla days before Christmas T-g and I had a lovely day with my sis-in-law and 2 nieces. They had a 'Build-a-Bear' experience from us as a pressie. So lovely to watch their excitement and joy at bringing their very own cuddly to life then accessorizing...
What could be lovelier than a doggy on skates and a personalised 'Hello Kitty'?
Also before Christmas Chef had his first 'gig'. It was amazing to see him on stage and he played really well...
Then the big day itself began with pressie opening and chillin out together. Smurf, plugged-in to his i-pod touch, wearing a new T-shirt...
T-g looking so beautiful in her new clothes from Auntie S and Uncle Foghorn, holding her new (pink) e-reader...
Chef in his smart new leather jacket with Husb...
We went to stay with my folks after Christmas and the family met their new baby cousin...
The most happy and sweetest baby you ever met. yes he was totally adored from the start...
My folks had worked hard and prepared a lovely three course meal. Below we're waiting to start and my Dad looks like he's entertaining the troops and standing by to be the waiter/bouncer!
You know it's Christmas when you've got a paper hat on your head!
After the meal there was some serious gaming for some folks...
... and this little chap played happily in his big new toy...
Here he is getting some grandparent love...
We came home for a few days and Husb & big son worked, then went to stay over on New Year's Eve with Husb's sister and family, and Nanny & Grandad. We played lots of games wore silly ties then saw the New Year in with champagne, Big Ben on the TV and a paper lantern...
Yep, family is what it's all about.
So thankful.
Who gets married at Christmas...seriously? Well, we did. 19 years ago today. It was pouring with rain. It was dark when we left the Church in the afternoon. There is a Christmas tree on nearly all my Wedding photos. It was the best decision I ever made. When searching for a photo to go on this post I kept coming back to this silly one of the two of us taken on the day early in December when we put up the Christmas tree. There's always a mini photo opp after the tree is up. After the kids group shot Husb and I had a few taken. Sometimes I am too serious about taking photos and the fun can go out of it a bit like wanting Husb to keep his eyes open (is that too much to ask? seriously?) So... he started to be silly with loud kissy noises and over-the-top affection (yep I was lovin it).... so the photo below is technically one of the 'B' pile photos but has turned out to be my fave.
Been together over 20 years. Been hitched 19 years. The man is a saint. Seriously.
We went to the same place we've been going to for 'Paddle Power' to make Christmas decorations with natural materials. There was a variety of foliage like ivy, holly, pine branches and other greenery, with baubles and pipe cleaners too.
For the table decorations the children covered half a potato with foil and gouged out a hole to hold the candle. They then spiked the potato with a bradawl and stuck their choice of foliage into the pierced holes...
Smurf made a very bushy table decoration!
They also made hanging decorations by threading the foliage through some thick string. I have one in the hallway and two in the lounge. After this activity we went outside for a brisk frosty walk...
After lunch we made bird boxes and an insect home.
Smurf made an insect home...
T-g made a blue-tit bird box...
The children really enjoyed the woodwork and I'd like to organise some more learning in that area if I can. An action packed day for sure!
