...and things are going down.

When I look at the photos of our recent trip away, I am struck by one thing - how much weight I have put on recently.

I have not been to Slimming World for a few months now so do not know exactly how much weight I have gained but it is quite considerable - in just a couple of months. I would guess about 1 1/2 - 2 stones. My clothes are really tight again - I can only just squeeze into the size 14 trousers but they are so un-comfortable - that I rarely bother and stick to the size 16's instead.

People have started to comment as well - so I must do something about it. Loosing weight was easy - this is the hard bit keeping it off. It does not help that I am eating chocolate like it is going out of fashion - I have certainly made up for my no chocolate during my diet now. I am also eating a lot of carbs which I don't thinks help. I hardly ate any on my diet - preferring meat , fruit & veg, but now I can eat a whole box of Alpen in one day and have cereal a couple of times a day.

There is only one thing for it - I must go back on my diet. However there is no point starting before the Gogogetaway - we are staying in a nice hotel so I want to enjoy that. So I have set a date to start for the Monday when I come back from the retreat and I am going to stick to it. I hate myself for being so weak willed.

Crikey this Blog is going to be so confused - first a dieting blog, then a scrapbooking one, then a geocaching one and then back to dieting - well at least it should not be boring.

Things are looking up..

I have finished a layout, read another book and my laptop has been returned. So I have been very busy and the Norwich break laundry / ironing is still staring at me and being completely ignored!



I wanted to scrap some immediate photos so that my journalling could be more meaningful. Usually it says "I can't remember how old you were in this pic or what you were doing etc" so I wanted to document how I feel now, so chose this lovely photo of Jessica and Dad walking on the beach at Holkham on Monday. Jessica is a very touchy feelly girl and loves to hold our hands even though she is 19 and I wanted to record this lovely attribute. I hope this layout does it justice. I like most of it - just not sure about the journalling block. It was meant to go along down the right hand side with the 'hands' word along the bottom, but I could not fit in all that I wanted to say. I tired it on white printer paper first but that looked even more silly than this. I think I will have to dig out my clear acetate and try printing on that again.

I used Brown Bazzil cardstock, Basic Grey Arachaic PP and used the Sure Cuts A Lot software to cut the title on my Cricut - using Curlz TM font.

It is lovely to have my laptop back - now I can make a start on sorting out all my photos for the Gogo Getaway. Just had an email to say there are a couple more classes been added for Friday evening. These are sponsored by ScrapGenie so we won't have to pay for them - which is great -I have to find photos for 6 classes now which should keep me busy.

Having really enjoyed the Book Thief novel I thought I would read another one as my reading material is usually non- fiction.

This one was OK, but certainly no where as good as The Book Thief. This is a strange story about a woman who gives birth to twins, the girl having Downes syndrome. Her husband (a doctor ) delivering the babies, decides in the emotion of the moment to send this baby away and tells his wife that her daughter had died. The story follows the events of their lives, but it does drag on a little bit and I felt I had to keep reading just to get to an interesting part. I felt that the author was trying too hard sometimes. Anyway I have passed it on to Jess to read now - so it will be interesting to see what she makes of it.

Picked up a few scrapping goodies in Norwich...

Well I had to didn't I?
We went to the Range but it was very busy ( I think the rain and bad weather sent the whole of Norwich indoor shopping!) so only managed a short browse, but I picked up these DCWV papers stacks - Nana's Kids - they are so lovely that I bought a 12x12 and an 8x8 stack. The papers are really gorgeous - some have glitter on, some are embossed and the designs are just great - pure & simple but not slushy. I have found lots of photos of the children when they were little that I want to scrap so I hope I can use up most of these papers.

Then I went to the top floor (5th) of Jarrolds store and picked up this DCWV Rock star stack. Its a bit grungy, but I hope I can use them for Liam's teenage layouts. I also picked up some long cards & envelopes to stick my Penny Black stamped images on. I did some staming and colouring last week but they were too long for my normal square cards.


In Borders I picked up a Creating Keepsakes magazine - but again there was nothing in it that really grabbed me - I don't think I will bother with this again - the trouble is I keep thinking that the next one might be good again. They also had the new issue of Scrapbook Inspirations out - I did not get it as I have a subscription to it and so was sure that mine would be waiting for me when we got home - it was not, so I wish I had picked this up now instead of CK.

Lovely sunny, wet & windy bank holiday in Norwich!

We have just returned from a lovely 3 day break with Jessica in Norwich and what a mixture of weather we had. Beautifully sunny on Saturday, pouring rain on Sunday and gale force winds on Monday.

Despite this awful weather we manged to do 6 geocaches - 2 each day - which was not bad as we did not arrive in Norwich until 1.30 on Saturday. We were able to leave 5 travel bugs and geocoins, but only picked up one.

The first 2 were on the UEA campus, the first around the lake: The Ultimate Exciting Adventure (UEA) GCQA29. This one was really hard, we spent ages climbing through trees and through the undergrowth - sustaining loads of nettle stings. In the end Jess (who had been sat eating chocolate bisciuts whilst we foraged) found it right next to the path - a far distance away from the coordinates - but it turns out that it has been moved!

Jess was very pleased with herself as this was her very first geocache.

The second one was in the Yare woods on Campus: Yare, Yare, Yare! GC1AJMN and we found this one easily.
On Sunday the weather was so bad that we went into Norwich and hid from the rain in the shops. We left the children window shopping and dreaming of all the clothes they would love us to buy them, whilst Steven & I braved the outside to do a couple. We got absolutely drenched and even though there were more to do, we had to admit defeat to the weather and come home to a hot bath. The 2 we managed were in Chapelfield gardens: Peace Pole GCGZ1T and one near the cathedral: Tomb Raider 3 GCZE6Y.
On Sunday we drove to Holkham and did one in the woods next to the beach: Holkham Haul GC1984 - the children groaned when the GPS said it was 42 mins away from where we had parked - but it was a nice walk and we found it easily. We walked back along the beach - the gale force wind ripped up the sands so there was no sitting and admiring the view. Liam had the right idea having bought a blanket from the car to protect himself.




We then drove to Wells-next-the-sea for lunch and ate in an old fashioned cafe - I had mushroom soup and a roll and rhubard crumble and custard - it was delicious. We then left Liam and Jess to do the final geocache: The Noble House Cache GC1A1XW- as they were a bit fed up by this time so though it would buck them up a bit - it did and they found the area ok but - the cache was positioned in the middle of a busy road where 3 roads meet which Jessica thought was far too dangerous and she thought she was going to be left orphaned by the traffic as we found the cache - which made her all grumpy again - so I don't think we have converted her.

a bit of catching up

I have had a few busy days so need to catch up now.
Took my mother out for lunch the other day to Haughmond Hill. She did not know there was a little cafe there and she did enjoy this new discovery. We took a stroll along the yellow route - the easy one. She is quite mobile if she takes it at her own pace. She so enjoyed this little trip out that that she thinks that she might bring back some of the other ladies at her apartments for the stroll and lunch.
Mother & I nicely full after our lunch at the open air Pine Tops cafe

These are the veiws from her apartment - complete with pheasant in the gardens.

We went Geocaching the other evening - but I forgot my camera! We found 'A Mere Surprise' (GC1AKJ9). A lovely stroll around the mere and excellent hidden caches - our first nano ones - very ingenious! We did not find Shrawardine Castle (GC16Z7Q) though . I think this one may have been taken as we found the 2 flat stones - as given in the clue and a hole in the ground next to them where it looked like the cache should have been hidden - it was a shame as it had only recently been found and there was a travel bug in it that wanted to go to Lowestoft - so ideal for our trip to Norwich.

Liam's GCSE's seem to be going well - despite his lack of revision!

19th may photos - warning not very pleasant!

I am sorry but had to show this vile photo of my teeth but I have been and spent 2 hours at the Dentist this morning starting my dental treatment.

I am having 4 new crowns at the front to replace my old ones. They are about 20 years old and a bit past their best. One broke on Christmas eve but thankfully I was able to get a temporary one put on - so that I did not look too ghastly over the Christmas period, but it was a sign that they needed replacing. Now that the dentists are private this is a very expensive business! Therefore I wanted some before and after photos to prove that it was worth all this pain and expense.

I now have these temporary ones on and have to wait wait 2 weeks before I can have the proper ones on. Just had to have soup and a yogurt for my lunch as I am still quite numb. Even these temporary ones look better than my old ones - one has a bit of the template stuff on but I am assured it will come off soon.

17th May photos

Its raining today so no lovely outdoor pics, instead a photo of the book I have just finished reading today.

This is a fantastic read. The book is narrated by death, which sounds a very strange way to read and write a book but due to the author's (Markus Zusak) immense talent it works very very well.

The main character apart from death, is Liesel, a young girl growing up in Nazi Germany and through her we get to know her fellow sufferers. So clearly the subject matter is of a morbid nature but Zusak whilst making me feel very emotionally charged, did not make me dwell on the morbid or depressing issues in the book but rather be uplifted by the strengths of human nature when faced with such adversity.

Zusak is so clever in drawing parallels that I had not considered before - that books and words can be both wonderful and dangerous. The importance of books and words allowing Liesel to flourish and bring hope to others and also conversely terrible - Hitler's words and books for bringing such misery to millions.

I have always been interested in the Holocaust and issues around this and have many books about it. Another novel that had a profound effect on me was this one - A Past in Hiding: Memory and Survival in Nazi Germany by Mark Roseman

It was recommended to me by one of my tutors on my degree course, whilst taking the Dictators of Europe module. I have tried to get the girls and Liam to read it but none of them are really interested in this period - but again it is the strength of human nature which is the ethos of the book rather than the subject matter.

16th May photos

No new photos today, so putting up these lovely ones of my trip out to Ellesmere with Ali & Cherida last week.
This one was taken outside Horseshoe crafts cabin but we were looking directly at the sun - hence the distorted faces! We moved out of the sun for this one.
Collision course!

Some good news though - the computer man came and fixed the wireless router so now Steven & the kids can pick up the Internet wirelessly again. Not sure if my laptop can, as it has gone to be mended - in Germany!! Wonder when I will see that again?

first layout in ages ....

but I have had to work really hard at it and I am not that pleased with it!


I knew I wanted to use this Fancy pants transparency as soon as I saw it in the kit yesterday and the photos seemed ideal at first thought - but after I had cut them up realised that they were purple & green whilst the transparency was reds, blues and greens - so a whole different colour palate. I stuck with the colours in the photos in the end and used some K & Company paper. I had a lovely green die cut swirl I wanted to use - but it was the wrong shade of green so looked silly, I tried a black one and that looked silly too, so ended up stamping one out and heat embossing it and the cutting out the fiddly shape - twice.


Its true practice makes perfect as it has been a while since I have scrapped and I was so rusty. This did not come together easily - everything was a struggle. I had better not leave another one so long as it is only a couple of weeks before I go away on the scrapbooking retreat and if I have forgotten how to do it - I will look I right plonker.

15th May photos

These were technically taken last night but as I am in catch up mode and I am so pleased with them - I am using them!

We went and did a quick geocache at Moreton Corbett Castle GC16ZVW at Shawbury - where Prince William has just done his helicopter flying training. I have been there many times with the children but Steven hasn't so he was intrigued by the old ruins. Such a shame they were allowed to rot. But there was a picture of a 19th Century engraving showing that the rot had already started then - it did not have a roof but all the walls were intact.


The cache was easy to find but tracky to get to as there were loads of nettles and as Steven had his shorts on - I had to do the deed. Luckily there were plenty of dock leaves around to make me better!
I may even have a scrapbook layout to show later as I started one yesterday, with the lovely transparency in yesterdays Gogo kit, just can't think what title to use yet.

Right I have calmed down a bit now...

so will try and catch up on some photos.

Monday 12th May photo is this

Steven & I went Geo caching to Snailbeach - to do the puzzle cache around the lead mine there (Snailbeach Lead Mine GCQ9A2 ). Thelma - a fellow Shropshire Lass lives there and so does Pat - who wanted to know more about geocaching - I think she may be hooked now! We we made a nice little group wandering around the site. We found all 6 clues and the final cache. We left a Taz travel bug which I had found earlier in the day, when I had gone out geocaching by myself. Afterwards we went to Pat' s house - about 100 yards away from the cache and spent the rest of the evening chatting - Pat's husband Matt is a real entertainer - and admiring the view - it was a really lovely way to spend a beautiful summers evening.
Tuesday 13th May photos is this - my new toy!
I bought this on Tuesday- its a remote for my Nikon DSLR camera. I do like my new Panasonic camera but still like to use my DSLR sometimes and want to be in some of the photos of the geocache finds - but the self timer is a bit dangerous as Thelma and I have found out over the rocks on The Stiperstones!

I could not get it to work - so I rang Jessops up and said I think you have sold me a faulty one - the chap asked me if I had set my camera to remote settings - oops - I had not - so after I had fathomed out how to do this it worked fine. Trouble is - its very small - just hope I don't loose it.

Today's photos for Wednesday 14th May are these - my lovely yellow box of loveliness which has just arrived. I do like these monthly kits - though I must admit I don't use them very much - I have set myself a challenge to use them more often when I start scrapping again after this marathon photo organisation thing. Stacy Julian calls it photo Freedom - at the moment it does not feel like it - I am drowning under mountains of photos - but hopefully when I am organised and not broke after all these photo sleeves I have had to buy - I should enjoy the photo freedom she describes and have tons of photos to scrap - so therefore plenty of opportunity to use up all my kits.

Just to prove I am not exagerating here is my photo mountain - 3 weeks in and still more albums on shelves to add as well.

AAGGHHHHH!!!!!

First of all no laptop and then no Internet!!

We came back Monday evening from a lovely evening walk with friends and the Internet was completely dead. Tried again Tuesday morning - still dead - so contacted AOL and they said they were doing maintenance on the line - it was out all day. Got up this morning - now Wednesday and still no Internet - so contacted AOL again and they said the maintenance was finished so I should be able to connect - I could not! As my router was not an AOL one he could not help me any further until I put the AOL approved one on - this I have done and can get online on this main computer but not on any of the laptops - steam is coming out of my head I am so mad. I would change to BT but they have download limits and Liam downloads so much stuff he would have exceeded that in one night so I am stuck with AOL unfortunately and now will have to pay for my computer man to come out and fix it.

I had really hoped to post my daily photos each day throughout May but I can't now. Will try and catch up with the last few days that have been missed.

11th May photos more geocaching - sorry if this is getting boring - scrapping will resume shortly!

Despite it being a gorgeous day today we could only do one quick geocache today as Steven had to stay in all day glued to the telly for a big football match today - gawd I hate football. I did some more sorting out photos, but have run out of 6x4 sleeves and need a few 4x4 for old photos so I can feel another order to Arrow file coming on!

Anyway we trotted off to Haugmond Abbey (Haughmond Abbey Survives To Fight Another Day GC1A1Q6) this evening to find the cache there. The last 3 people have been unable to find it, but the owner checked yesterday and confirmed it was still there. I could not find it - but eagle eyed Steven did! he is much better at this lark than me. He was determined not to leave until he had found it. Excellent cache, when eventually found.
The Abbey was closed but we were able to get this nice photo of the ruins and also found this quaint little stone house in the woods - have no idea what is is for as they was no info next to it. But it clearly was very old.

Afterwards we went to for tea at Nandos - had lovely chicken, chips and coleslaw - very tasty. We dragged Liam along as he had not left his bedroom for 3 days, teenage boys are far too addicted to their computers these days. Though I am sure I would be worrying about him if he was off out & about and I did not know where he was! Anyway I bribed him with the promise of a meal out, he was very miffed that we had to geocache first - I had neglected to tell him that bit until we were in the car - so he sat and sulked and would not help us look at all - but did cheer up after he had been fed.

10th May photos - baking days!

Well not very exciting photos today - but delicious to eat! The top photos are fruit scones and their was another batch still in the oven when I took this photo - the recipe is very generous. The cake is a sticky apricot & almond cake and it is gorgeous. Anyway these should keep the troops happy for a few days!

I am having a home day today - loads of washing, ironing, cleaning, weekly shop and baking.

I really want to be sorting out my photos, but too much housewife stuff to do. Perhaps tomorrow?

9th May photo - more geocaching

Todays photo shows another day out geocaching with Thelma. We went back to the Stiperstones and found 2 more - 1 at Cranberry Rock and the other at Nipstone. No travel bugs at either sadly.

Thelma & Molly

Our heads are nearly cut off because we used the self timer on the camera!

Again stupid faces because we were not sure if the self timer was working! Not our best shots!