Bunking off...

HUSH don't tell anyone but Steven and I bunked off school and work today to have a day sailing...


OK, we didn't exactly bunk off, as I did tell the school Steven was not going into school today, and I told hubby I would not be doing any bookwork, as we had been invited to the Langston Sailability Club open day...


We both loved the sailing boat (called Joyce), and when it tipped to one side, Steven thought it was a great idea putting he's hand in the water, in fact he got he's arm and sleeve wet right up to he's elbow, lol... he loved it, and too be honest the water was quite warm...


The weather was a little cloudy, but saying that I'm got a lovely red tinge to my nose and cheeks, lol...


Hopefully it brings some good memories back Jan? I was telling her that Steven was hoping to join the Langston Sailing Club and she was saying how she had some memories of sailing there too...

Well we must have made a resonable impression, as we've been invited back for another sail this Saturday, (not sure if we're allowed to be members yet though, lol)...

4 weeks and counting...

That is all Steven has left at school and nothing sorted as yet, but did visit another couple of day centres during the week and today took hubby and Steven to see one that I had previously seen.... Still not 100% sure which path we are going to take as yet...

I've had a good week up in the attic, it was very HOT HOT HOT but I've finished rubbing down the lilac paintwork including the doors, also think I've chosen the colours, and have been up there with a tape measure to see what units I can fit in, as I like the expedit units from Ikea.... have worked out I can get 2 of the 2x4 ones and 2 of the 2x2 ones, so giving me 24 12x12 squares to fill, now will that be enough for my stash?...

and what about Ghana tonight beating the USA, it was nice seeing the so called underdogs beating a top team, not sure about tomorrows game though, as not sure if I can cope with the tension. You should have heard me shouting at the TV the last few minuets of the Ghana game, as I said, not good for my blood pressure, all I can say is, good job I'm not donating blood till next month, lol..

Oh forgot to say, when Steven had an inset day from school the other week we went out and got him a tuxedo, dress shirt and bow tie for he's prom next month, it bought tears to my eyes when he tried it on, he looked so grown up, I think I tend to forget he's 19...

Update on new project...

Well today I started to rub down the lilac paintwork, and it was so...

hot, hot, hot...

Last week I had the plumber and builder in to look at the old central heating unit, and it sounds promising that it can be ALL removed, so fingers crossed on that, but have not found out how much it will cost yet...

I've also finished covering 80 beer mats, so I now need Steven to add he's magic touch to the front covers before I can add the names (which have not been cut out yet, lol)... and then make them into books...

Steven's future is still in progress, I've had appointments yesterday and today, and also have another one tomorrow and 2 on Thursday...

but to top it all, we have a dentist check up on Friday :-( arhhhhhh....

Quick Cards...

YIKES, yesterday morning I suddenly remembered it was my cousin's little girls first birthday today, as well as Father's Day...

So I quickly stamped out a few images, then during the day managed to colour then in using colouring pencils... and after Steven went to bed, made them into cards...

They were both made using clear stamps from a Kanban 'Simba & Bamboo' kit...

Charli's was finished off with the Fiskars punch 'Lace' in the corners, and 'Rose Petals' Queue chalk ink round the edge of the white card, which was put onto the pink gloss card using 3d foam pads, the name was done using peel offs from my stash...



and with the Father's Day card I used the woodware punch for the corners and 'creamy brown' Queue chalk ink round the edges, which again was put on top of the backing paper from my stash using 3d foam pads and a father's day peel off...



I hope you're all having a lovely Father's Day today and to those that may not have their dad's still around, hope you're remembering the good times you had with them, like I am...

Have a good weekend...

New Project...

Yes, I have a new project, while I'm still helping Sam out with things round her house, (today I met her for lunch and we bought some hooks and nets, but we forgot the curtain wire, lol) and am still sorting and putting things back in Steven's room...

But this new project is a tough one...

I'm to plan my very own craft room...

in fact a whole attic conversion craft room,...

Thought I would show you the before photos, as you will see there are still a few bits of Sam's things in there, (the bit's she did not want), I'm not sure what to keep and if I do, how I can use them for storage of stash, so any suggestions welcome...

and even though I do like the sexy pink and mauve walls with a hint of gold, and the lilac paintwork... I feel it needs a new fresher look...

This is photos of the far end of the room, looking in from the door...





The next two were taken from the far end and taken towards the door...





The photo below show the unit that houses the central heating pipes, (we've now got a combi boiler, so they're not needed any more), so I'm in the process of getting a builder in to see if they can be removed or reduced in size, but most importantly how much it will cost...
As you can see though, I did make the most of them, by adding a mirror for Sam on one side and made a cork noticeboard on another, but really would like them gone (or reduced) as I think it will let more light into the other end of the room, as it's only got 3 down lights in the ceiling.





Not sure how long it will take as still having meetings for Steven, I did get a phone call back from the social worker to say she has managed to secure some funding for when Steven leaves, so another meeting will be arranged for next week (to fill out more forms)...

But my mind is still so frazzled to where I want him to go and what to do, I saw another centre today which was near Petersfield, it looked good and am due to go back to look at another part of it on Monday, but decisions, decisions :-(

Chubby chops....

What do you think of hubbies birthday cake, he was about 18 months old, it was taken in he's garden with he's older sister, wasn't he a cute chubby chops, lol...



As hubby did not want a party, Sam suggested us all going round her house for a Birthday tea, and to be honest I think her and Matt did a good job, as they had only moved in a few days earlier, and were still putting together the garden furniture and BBQ an hour before we arrived, lol... we had a lovely buffet and BBQ... and it was so nice to be not only waited on, but also both be able to have a drink, as they only lives 5 minutes walk away from us, lol...

She had also invited he's brother, sister and one of he's school friends, but due to short notice only he's sister and partner could make it (yes she was the one in the cake, so was surprised and shocked too, lol)...

Hubby got a surprise with he's cake, but I also got a surprise with a lovely bunch of flowers as a thank you from Sam and Matt for helping with the house...



wasn't I a lucky girl...


I've been crafting again, well if you count covering beer mats as 'crafting'... have done 24 so far, they are for some post it books for Stevens assistants and teachers for when he leaves...

So what have I...

been doing these last few weeks....

Well have been be sorting out what Steven will be doing when he leaves school in 6 weeks time... I've been visiting places, asking questions and talking to people that are already out in the community...

I've made a choice of few private day centres, and now the social worker has to take it to panel to see what funding we can get towards it... but the way things are going, I'm not sure the outcome as they're already been cut backs, starting with the social services closing their doors to new intakes. So hence why I've had to look at private day centre (The Government want the venerable out in the community, so have been closing their day centres)...

Also I've been helping Sam move into her house, well started and finished helping her, I did 5 cars loads before the Bank Holiday weekend, which looked like this when I left it in her spare bedroom...






(I'm still surprised at what you can fit into the back of the Micra)...


then hubby, Steven and I nipped off for the weekend away to a steam railway (Steven's belated 18th Birthday present, so only a year and 2 months late, lol)...and left Sam and Matt to carry on moving her stuff, then this week I've done another 2 car loads to finish it off, also a couple of trips to the tip, so am nearly left with an empty attic... There is still her wardrobe, ottoman, bedside cabinet and her dressing table/desk up there...

and lastly, have slowly been sorting Stevens things back into he's new look bedroom, I'm are nearly there, it's just the changing of he's bedding now, but will keep he's Thomas the Tank rugs on the floor as have not found anything to replace them yet....

So most evenings I've been falling asleep on the settee after Seven has gone to bed, as going up and down 2 flights of stairs with Sam's stuff and lugging it into the car, then lugging it out the car and up one flight of stairs to their back bedroom, gets you a little sweaty and tired, lol... also it's been emotional as well as draining, with all the meetings for Steven :-(
(the not knowing)...

I am slowly trying to catch up with all the blogs I read and my emails, but sorry if I've not got to yours as yet, I will get there, lol...

Half a century...

Well I actually did some crafting, YIPPEE, it might have taken me 2 days, but managed to make hubby a card for he's birthday...

as you can see he's now half a century,



He's birthday treat, hopefully will be driving a steam train, but it's only certain weekends they do it, so it's finding one that we're free on and can get some cover for Steven...

so as yet, a date has not yet been set, but we live in hope, lol...

(The card was done from the Patchwork pal clear stamp set called Train for QVC...)

Haven't forgotten....

about me doing a May Bank Holiday give away, it's just, have had a busy time of late, and to be honest, crafting has been the last thing on my mind, but I am still up for it, but not sure when it will be, sorry...

...but watch this space, it will be done, lol....

I also hope to get back to blogging, reading blogs and catching up with all my emails very soon...