Another week over...

Well last week has been another busy one, but not because of Steven, (I know, shock and horror, lol)

Last Monday I first did my weeks shopping at Asda, then went shopping with Sam to Southampton, for our annual Christmas shopping trip... She was not 100%, had a migraine, I did suggest us going home, but she knew it was the only day she could do it, (for getting any more time off work)... So she sat down for the first few hours and I was going in and out the shops for her, but she perked up later and even managed a little bit of lunch before coming home.

Then in the evening Sam and I went with my sister to see the new Harry Potter film. It was fab, loved it, brilliant, I think it was one of the best, if not the best, it played on all my emotions, sad, happy and anxious... I would highly recommend it.

On Tuesday I nipped to the gym first thing, then went to Chichester as it was the only place that had a chair that Sam and I wanted to get Matt for Christmas, this time taking mum with me. Also managed to get a couple of things, but also didn't managed to get some things, so came home and ordered them off the Internet.

Wednesday morning was catching up with the book work that didn't get done on the Monday and Tuesday and in the afternoon I had the second part of the PECs course (OK something for Steven)...

Thursday was a visit to the dentist as when I was at Chichester I had to get some chocolate marzipan, so while in there I treated myself to some Thortons toffee, for one of my fillings to come out while eating it on the Tuesday.
Yikes this time he had to inject me as there was some decay where the filling had been (that's why it came out so easily). In fact the dentist actually said 'it was a blessing as would have been worse if the filling was left in'. That was the first time I've ever been praised by a dentist for eating toffee and loosing a filling, lol. Then it was a quick run through with the hoover before Steven came home for lunch. Then in the afternoon was boardgames and PECs homework with Steven.

Friday was the gym first thing, followed by the hairdressers (this time treating myself to foils, copper coloured) and then a little shopping and paying bills, before coming home and doing some paperwork before littlen and Clive got home for the weekend...

Saturday was a photo shoot that I was given as a present last Christmas but not had time to use, so did an informal family one with Clive, Steven Sam and Matt. Then it was PECs homework again, as Clive was home to help out). Then in the evening, I went to a candle party round my daughter's house and came away with a coconut reed refuser, (smelt like malibu, lol) and an Aroma Melts Warmer (for the left over yankee candle bits, quick tip... if you have any wax left in the glasses, place in the freezer for a few hours, then they just fall out, the glasses then can be cleaned and used and the left over wax pieces can be put in a Aroma Melts Warmer)

Sunday was the visit to Moors Valley Country Park to meet up with Clive's family again, this time Matt came too, which was nice and we got to meet hubbies cousins children too. We had a lovely time going for a few walks, having lunch there and going for a ride on the train, oh and also 2 stops into the barn for their 'yummy' hot chocolate, lol.

Which bring us back to today, Monday and the start of another weeks chores, but also catching up on all the things that didn't get done last week because I was out gallivanting, lol...
Oh well, life is too short to worry about the extra layer of dust (till the community nurse comes on Thursday, yikes)...

Saying of the week...

'Housework is something you do that no-one else notices, unless you don't do it'

Saying of the week...

'A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks'

A small world...

A few weeks back, hubby got an email from Gene's reunited to say they might have a match to his family tree, but he noticed some dates and names did not match up. But he looked into it and it seems it was his cousin on his dad's side of the family, now that was a bit of a shock, as he did not remember them, as his dad died when he was just 2.

Well we then found out not only does hubbies auntie live near Southampton, but she lives just two minutes drive away from Steven's Out of Town Day Centre he attends 3 times a week, talk about it being a small world...

Well last weekend we met up with hubbies sister at The Lapstone pub where we had a lovely lunch before dropping Steven off at his Out of Town Centre (first of all showing hubbies sister and our daughter Steven's centre) Steven was quite happy to wave us goodbye... We then went round to meet hubbies aunt and uncle and 3 of their 4 children. It was a bit of an emotional meeting for hubbies sister as the last time she had seen them was at her dads funeral some 48 years ago...

We had a lovely few hours talking about all the families and of course some more of the family tree which had bought us all back together, then I went and picked Steven up so they could meet him and we stayed another hour or so, before we all went our separate ways...

We are hoping to meet up again at the Moors Valley Country Park next month and maybe meet some more of the family members...

Saying of the week...

'If God had meant us to talk more than we listen, he'd have given us two mouths and one ear'

ATC

Sorry was again behind with them, but am happy to say have caught up...

This one was for the September 'Things that make you smile' theme which was set by Donna and I was to send to Val... the reason I chose the snowdrop was because when I see them it brings back memories of my sister and I always trying the first one to give our mum a bunch of snowdrops. But not sure how and why it started, but if I see them today I always buy my mum, sister and myself a bunch. The photo was of the one and only snowdrop that I had in my garden this year, lol...


This one was for the October 'Autumn' theme which was set by Val and I was to send to Alma. The idea came when reading a post on Do-crafts about how Alma loved to go for walks and kick the fallen Autumn leaves as a child. So I cut a load of leaves out using sizzix and spellbinder dies, then just dropped them onto the card and glued them where they laid...


The last one was for November 'Nature in Winter' theme that was set by Fiona and I was to send to Carole. It was NOT allowed to be Christmas related as we have that to look forward next month. while thinking of winter, thought of the bare trees and snow, then remembered the stamp set I had...

Count Down to Christmas

Well last year I started a couple of Count Down to Christmas advent calenders, but they never got finished and also was doing the Count Down to Christmas album, again sorry to say, didn't get done...

BUT in my defence, I was helping Sam and Matt with their house buying, while they were both working, I was the one running around the estate agents, solicitors, financial advisers and banks. (well it was the only way I could count on her moving out and me getting my Arty Attic, lol)....

Well I have now finished the advent calenders, but you're have to wait to see them, as they are drying after having a coating of mod podge...

But have also finished the front cover of the 'Count Down to Christmas' album and seeing I've added the year now, will have to start to fill it on 1st December.



It is made from the Brenda Pinnick pocket page album kit, which has got enough sides and pockets for the 25 days, but if I decide to extend it till the 6th January which a lot of people do, (till the 13th day after Christmas) I can add more pages as it's suppose to have ribbon holding it together, but I will be using 2" rings, in case I decide to add more.

A few of my crafty friends are also doing it this year and by knowing that, it will be the kick up the backside I need to actually start and finish it. You can check out their books on their blogs Carole, Alma, Sue and Gill...

A little tied up...

with appointments/meeting at the moment and cannot see it letting up, lol....

I thought life was suppose to get a little easier when Steven left school in July, but so far have had 47 appointments/meetings either with or about Steven and lost count of the phone calls I've made or received in that time for him too. Got another 5 appointments/meetings this week and so far got 2 phone calls to make...

Also last week I made the decision to let the lad on Thursday go, it wasn't an easy decision to make, but I felt Steven was not getting anything out of it... The first couple of times he took Steven out was fine, he was using public transport, (trains, buses and even a boat ride), so doing social skills I asked him to do, then the last 4 times, all his done is taken Steven for walks. He also said he couldn't do some weeks, so was looking at the dates he gave me, and it seemed he could only do every other week from now till Christmas, so also no continuity, so poor Steven won't know if he was coming or going.
Another thing I noticed was Steven never seem to get excited when Jonny turned up, but then would you, knowing you were about to walk solid for 4 hours with no stopping for a cake or drink in that time, I too would not be pleased and there was no social skills required with walking across fields and bridges.

I don't seemed to have had a lot of luck with the Thursday person, the first one handed her notice in before starting, so then got a girl for a few weeks before she went off to uni, then I get Jonny...

I didn't realise it would be so hard finding someone to give my son some 1:1 for social skills, for going on buses, trains, going across on the ferries, stopping for a drink, choosing a cake, handing over the money...

am I asking too much?

Saying of the week...

'A hug is a great gift; it costs nothing and one size fits all'