Still no cards ARRGGHHHH

But I have been busy crocheting that blanket... I'm just about to start the 6th 100 gram ball of pink, then it's onto the black eyelash. I need to get it finished by the end of next week!!!! It's quite heavy to work with now too. I will be SO glad when this one is finished. I still have one to make for Abby... 

Nothing much else has happened this week. I've still been wrapping pressies, and they're in black bags on top of the wardrobe... Matthew asked what they were and was told they're pressies for other people... he half believes it. I've also said there's a couple up there for us lot here, lol. 

I pick up his bike next Friday morning (so dad, that means no Tesco's for me that morning), and also get £20 worth of accessories free, so I'm getting him a pack that has a lock in it and various other little bits in it. 

We have Justin's dad and step mum up from Devon this weekend. I've got Saturday off work only, but they don't tend to stay too long on Sunday.

Well.... back to the blanket then!

Oh, I've also been given two more awards from Debbie! Thanks Debbie!!! I really will have to have a think about who to pass them on to, and also get the awards up on my blog.

Rememberance Sunday 2008

This is a repeat of a post that I uploaded last year.

In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

In Memoriam
by Ewart Alan Mackintosh

(killed in action 21 November 1917 aged 24)
(Private D Sutherland killed in action in the German trenches, 16 May 1916, and the others who died.)

So you were David's father,

And he was your only son,

And the new-cut peats are rotting

And the work is left undone,

Because of an old man weeping,

Just an old man in pain,

For David, his son David,

That will not come again.

Oh, the letters he wrote you,

And I can see them still,

Not a word of the fighting,

But just the sheep on the hill

And how you should get the crops in

Ere the year get stormier,

And the Bosches have got his body,

And I was his officer.

You were only David's father,

But I had fifty sons

When we went up in the evening

Under the arch of the guns,

And we came back at twilight -

O God! I heard them call

To me for help and pity

That could not help at all.

Oh, never will I forget you,

My men that trusted me,

More my sons than your fathers',

For they could only see

The little helpless babies

And the young men in their pride.

They could not see you dying,

And hold you while you died.

Happy and young and gallant,

They saw their first-born go,

But not the strong limbs broken

And the beautiful men brought low,

The piteous writhing bodies,

They screamed 'Don't leave me, sir',

For they were only your fathers

But I was your officer.

Inspiration for the Poem
On the evening of 16 May, 1916 Lieutenant Ewart Alan Mackintosh and Second Lieutenant Mackay of the 5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders led a raid on the German trenches in the sector of the front line north-west of Arras. By the end of the night there were sixteen British casualties, which included fourteen wounded and two killed. One of the two dead soldiers was Private David Sutherland.
Private David Sutherland has no known grave. His name is commemorated in Bay 8 of the Arras Memorial to the Missing at Faubourg d'Amiens military cemetery in Arras.

Taken from the website http://www.greatwar.co.uk/

Letters home: 'Pray for me'

Lance-Corporal Frank Earley was a young journalist from Derby who regularly 

wrote to his family from the front.

His letters were normally full of enthusiasm and excitement. In July 1918 he 

wrote, "As you see, I am still alive and well, and as usual enjoying life to the full."

It is only in his very last letter, on 1 September 1918, that he revealed his more

reflective side.

The next day Frank Earley suffered a serious wound to his chest and died

some hours later. He was 19.

Sunday afternoon, 1 Sep, 1918.

My dear Father, 

It is a strange feeling to me but a very real one, 

that every letter now that I write home to you 

or to the little sisters may be the last that I shall 

write or you read. I do not want you to think that 

I am depressed; indeed on the contrary, I am 

very cheerful. But out here, in odd moments the 

realisation comes to me of how close death is to us. 

A week ago I was talking with a man, a catholic, 

from Preston, who had been out here for nearly 

four years, untouched. He was looking forward 

with certainty to going on leave soon. And now 

he is dead - killed in a moment during our last 

advance. Well it was God's will.

I say this to you because I hope that you will 

realise, as I do, the possibility of the like happening

to myself. I feel very glad myself that I can look the 

fact in the face without fear or misgiving. Much as 

I hope to live thro' it all for your sakes and my little 

sisters! I am quite prepared to give my life as so many 

have done before me. All I can do is put myself in 

God's hands for him to decide, and you and the little 

ones pray for me to the Sacred Heart and Our Lady.

I hope that you will not move out of the old house yet. 

Write and let me know when anything happens. I see 

that you went to Preston a few days ago. It seems 

years and years since I tried to get drowned in the canal.

Well I have not much time left and I must end.

With my dear love. Pray for me. 

Your son

Frank. 

Frank Earley is buried at Bac-de-Sud Military Cemetery, Bailleulval, nr Arras.

His letters are held by the documents library at the Imperial War Museum. 

Extracts appear in 1918 Year of Victory by Malcolm Brown.

Letters home: Becoming a man EJ 'Ted' Poole was the younger brother of a  soldier who was killed at the third battle of  Ypres in 1917. The young Ted was conscripted  in May 1918 and trained at Aldershot, from  where the letter below was posted. It is clear  he was replying to the concerned enquiries of  his father, who, having already lost one son,  wanted Ted to become a good soldier in the  hope that it would improve his chances of  survival. Ted, who was sent to France in August  1918, wrote that he sure that the training  would "either make a man of me or kill me".  Scarcely two months later, on 13 October, he was  killed in action. He was 18. 28th May, 1918, Dear Father, Just a few lines in answer to your letter which I  received today.Yes I have got used to the puttees, as they have shaped to my legs by now. And I am  getting used to my other things now, as I have been dished out with a rifle and bayonet, and now when  I go on parade I have got to wear my belt, bayonet  and cartridge pouch and also take the rifle. They have been teaching us bayonet fighting today  and I can tell you it makes your arms ache, when you  make a point that is, when you lunge out at imaginary  enemy, with the rifle at arms length. I think with  this hard training they will either make a man of me  or kill me. You ought to see me in my Shrapnel Helmet  and Gas Mask, it would make you laugh, especially as  the helmet wobbles from side to side, every time I walk. Yes I got my food alright and you can have supper if  you like to go for it, and you can bet I always go for  supper. I am taking your advice and eating all I can. Yes I did remember Dolly's birthday and I have sent  her a little badge of my Regiment which she asked for  and which I expect you have  received by now. You will  have to tell Miss Farmer that I think she will have  to wait another two months before she sees me on leave. I will see the officer about the allowance in a day or  so, as I have heard today that two or three boys  mothers are receiving an allowance, but I don't know  how much. Well, I think I will have to close now. As I haven't  anything more to say just at present. Hoping you are  quite well. From your loving son, Ted. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX PS. Love to Dolly and Frank  After the war Ted Poole's family erected a headstone which  bore the inscription, "Out of the stress of the doing, into  the peace of the done". He is buried at Naves Communal  Extension Cemetery, near Cambrai in France. EJ Poole's letters are held in the documents library at the  Imperial War Museum. Extracts are also published in Malcolm  Brown's book 1918 Year of Victory.

The above letters were taken from the BBC website Special Report.

No cards so far this week...

I just haven't had the time. I do need to make my boss a birthday card though, so watch this space.

As far as firework night went, it was very quiet. Matthew had some sparklers in the back garden and there were hardly any fireworks going off. I think he saw them all at dads earlier, and that wasn't very many.

Last night we had a poker night. I'd bought some nibbles, and the winner was to receive a box of Jelly Babies, lol. Matthew won again!!! This time he didn't have any help!!!!!!!!! Either he had all the luck and is sort of understanding what are good cards, or we're all rubbish. 

I have been wrapping up more pressies, but that marathon wrapping day I had on Tuesday took me 3 hours! I had backache afterwards.

Christmassy day!

That's what I'm going to have today.

I've just been to Halfords and ordered Matthew's bike for Christmas!!! He has wanted a bike for ages, and he can't even ride one bless him!! He will be SO excited when he gets this on Christmas morning. Click here to see the one I've ordered. I think he'll be pleased with this one. His favourite colour is red, so I was very pleased to find this one this morning. I only went in to get an idea of what size I needed to order for him.

I'm also going to be wrapping up what presents we've bought so far today... I always start off enthusiastically but that feeling soon vanishes... 

And here is the cake!

Here it is, and it's definitely my best yet. The sponge rose perfectly and was fluffy and light. Excellent. I shall follow the instructions for it again next time. I normally make a sponge using the creaming method, but this time I didn't... click here to follow the same instructions. I do wish all ovens were the same though, coz I think this still could have done with a few minutes less cooking time - one side was just beginning to ... not burn exactly, but could of done with coming out sooner. I already cooked it ten degrees less as it's a fan oven, and 5 minutes less. Still, I'm very happy with this one.

Justin says I can quote him and say "The cake was tasty, yum yum" lol

I just found this blog, Cake Wrecks - there are some gorgeous and also very strange looking cakes on this blog, and some that will make you laugh so it's very much worth a look! 

One I particularly couldn't stop laughing at... Dalek cakes. And this pumpkin Autumnal cake is stunning! 

Dogs and Fireworks.

I have two dogs, as most regular readers will know. I have a labrador crossed with a greyhound called Sophie who has Addison's Disease and absolutely hates fireworks. She shakes like a leaf until she gets a couple of prednisolone (steriod) tablets in her. I also have a very batty Golden Retriever, Abby. (There are photos back through these posts of both of them) Anyway... Abby is like a big kid! She hears the first bang and runs up and down the lounge and whines to go outside. We let her out and she stands up the fence watching them wagging her tail. She gets so excited, it's really funny. Does anyone elses dog like fireworks or is my dog just odd?

I haven't made any cards today. I'm always tired on a Monday after working the weekend, but I did make another cake!! Mainly because the Halloween one was a bit flat, lol... it tasted lovely and Darryl said it was his favourite cake yet! Weird! So I had to prove to myself that I could get another cake to rise! And rise it did! I shall take a photo of it later tonight and add it to this post.

Background...

I had a go at making my own background...

I found a site that told you how to do it. But the size is wrong... and apparently when you upload it to Photobucket you have to make sure it uploads as a 1 megabyte file... I did, then it's too big for the page! So I've had to have it as a 17" page... oh well...

Oh yes, and thank you to Poppy for giving me two blog awards. I'm still thinking who I wish to pass them on to. Thanks Poppy! It's great to know that my blog is liked.

Halloween Brag Book

I made this tonight using our Halloween photos from last night, and a Fright Night Brag Book which can be FREELY downloaded from Just So Scrappy. You have to scroll to the end of the post to get to the picture and the download link, but hurry, I don't know when the link will expire!! 

I laminated each page and used one of those little ring thingies to secure it. I love these little albums, and have so far made two! 

Our Happy Halloween!

Here is the first Halloween cake that I've ever made, and the first attempt at piping all over a cake as well, lol, it tastes good, so it was a good effort. Darryl says he could eat the whole thing himself!

Above is Matthew waiting for his first victims to turn up at the door... and they started early this year - 5pm, so it was still half an hour away from getting dark. We went our at 6.40pm, in our street to just three houses, and then on to Merce's but she wasn't in, then on to his friend Jack's street where his mum told us to go to about another 5 or 6 houses, then we walked through the next street to ours and he got some more goodies. It was a good night. We only had 3 lots of kids turn up; I think they came while we were out for half an hour. We even moved the pumpkin to the window so people could see we were participating!

And now there's me and Matthew when we'd been out trick or treating... it's the first time I'd put any Halloween make up on myself... I know it's just a little bit of fake blood, but I felt more the part, lol.

Above is Matthew and his dad being daft - both tucking into the new goodies!

Below is Darryl just after getting home from work. One of his supervisors painted his face and gave him the hat to wear out of the shop - looks like I'll be wearing a hat next year too then!

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Dawny's Sketch #01

My entry for Papertake Weekly Challenge. This is my first time of entering a card with them.

I made the card for Justin. He'd already given me instructions for the rubber stamp he wanted me to use, and also the background papers, lol. Let's hope he likes it!

I used...

Stamp - Magnolia Santa, and Cuddly Buddly greetings stamp.

Dovecraft papers, and various cardstock from stash.

Two tiny bells.

Kanban jewels.

Snow writer for the beard etc and covered with glamour dust for sparkle., and red Stickles for the holly berries.

Holly punch.

Anita's Merry Christmas ribbon.

Click on the photo for a much better view.

Here is Matthew with todays creations. He got fed up pretty soon after this photo was taken.

Ok, so my end is on the left, and Matthew's on the right... which end is the tidiest?? LOL! He always has his stuff nicely positioned whereas mine is on top of each other, on chairs, and the floor... perhaps he should give me lessons.

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Sparkle & Bling challenge

This weeks challenge at A Spoon Full of Sugar is to add sparkle and bling! I love sparkle and bling... so here's my entry. I know there's two cards, but Cheryl at work wants two black and white Christmas cards so I made them together. 

I've added Stickles diamond glitter to the snowman, Father Christmas, and yellow Stickles to the star on the snowman, and both cards have the odd bling (jewel).

I used the snowflake cuttlebug embossing folder, again in my trusty old Sizzix. I cut the little reindeers, the stars, and the polar bear from the Joys to the Season Cricut cartridge, and the scalloped edge mats with the Storybook cartridge.

Stamps are Magnolia, and Cuddly Buddly greetings.

And here is Matthew making his cards as well. He coloured in a Santa card, just next to his mug on the photo, and now he's sticking a green felt Christmas tree to the next card. He is using the little kit that we bought for him in the pound shop yesterday. Bargain!

So the weekend came, the weekend went...

A&E was busy busy busy, well on Saturday it was. Cheryl had the mother of all hangovers on Saturday... so I had to "carry" her for most of the day. She finally livened up at 3.30!!! I REALLY do NOT understand why anyone would possibly want to get drunk every weekend and go to work. I'm not tee-total, I do like to have the ODD drink... you know, maybe a couple in the evening two or three times a week, and it really is a couple as well. Having said that, I haven't had any for over a week, lol. So... if anyone knows what the thrill is of getting so drunk every week that you can't remember how you got home, when you went to bed, and spend the next day like the living dead and having to throw up every hour or so, coz I think I'm missing something by not finding that fun??? What is it???? 

Aside from that...

Pat absolutely LOVED the mug, and everyone (I say everyone, but figure of speech really), came out to have a look at it. We also got a lovely big slice of cake in the afternoon. 

A father of one of Matthew's school friends was admitted to A&E (Accident and Emergency is what we call the Emergency Room here in the UK) unconcious. No one knew why he was unconcious and it was suspected that he could of had a stroke. He is 40 years old. 

Today me and Matthew have been into town and bought the pumpkin. I also bought a couple of other bits. Some small Christmas crackers for the Christmas trees, some Christmas present 3d labels, a glittered bag for Abby's presents to go in, and Matthew got a Christmas card making kit which he said he will use later. We also always buy a Christmas tree decoration every year, and today we found some lovely silver snowflakes for £1.50 so we bought those. 

I'm not sure what else we'll get up to today. I'm watching No Angels on Virgin tv's Video on Demand at the moment. I never watched it when it was first on, but I love it! Good job I have the whole 3 series to watch now.

Thanks to all the regular visitors of my blog. I try to visit lots every day, although don't always comment, but there are some great blogs out there.

A Ghost ship!

I just had to take a photo of this dad after school today. As most of you are aware, it was a day to dress up as pirates in school today - they've been learning about pirates this term. So when I saw Sean's dad, Will, I just had to take this photo. Will is a Ghost Ship! How fab is that???! I couldn't get over how great he looked. I love the lookout thingy on top of his head, and the gold ladder/rope thingies down his legs, the sails, just brilliant!

Friday Sketchers sketch 25

Here is my entry to the Friday Sketchers sketch 25 challenge. I used an old snowman stamp for this one, and Forever Friends papers with plain Bazzill cardstock as well. I'm making a lot of blue Christmas cards this year it seems, lol.

A mug and a pirate!

Here is Matthew this morning, dressed up as a pirate. The bandana is an arm sling which I got from A&E at work. I also drew a skull and crossbones on it just before he went.

And here is the mug that me and Cheryl had done for Pat who's retiring from our restaurant at the hospital this weekend. I have put some teabags, coffee, sugars, and various fruit teas inside the mug also... she'll love it! LOL!

I've been tagged!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG I've been tagged! First an award, now a tagging! 

Ok, ok... breathe in....... breathe out..... 

Right, here goes...

I have been tagged by Tab! Thanks Tab x (Check out her blog she has some really fab cards on there, with Magnolia's so even better!).

Here's the rules!

1.Link your tagger and list the rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your log, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of the post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

4. Let them know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here's 7 facts about me...

1. I met my partner, Justin, in an online chatroom almost 10 years ago, so it goes to show that we're not all weirdo's... or at least we don't let it show, lol.

2. I'm terrified of heights - which gets me out of changing any cubicle curtains in A&E, coz even a chair is too high.

3. My favourite place in the whole world is................. home! 

4. I HATE leaving any baked beans in a can... I have to keep shaking the can to get them all out.

5. My favourite song is Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd.

6. I believe I have seen a UFO.

7. I also believe I have seen a ghost, standing in the doorway of my bedroom when I lived with mum and dad, and no, it wasn't either of them!

And now, 7 people I have tagged...

Jeannie.

Paula.

Marion.

Winnie.

Totty.

Shell.

Debbie.

An eye and a fence.

Hmmm... well the wind finally won and knackered the fence, AGAIN! This is the view into nextdoors garden. The wind had been threatening to take it down for a few weeks and it had hung on for a lot longer than we thought it would. Justin had to remove the centre post and take down completely the two panels. Another panel and post need removing, but ex hubby is going to do that for us when he puts up another fence. Must go to Westend DIY tomorrow and check prices... I got the last lot from them as their delivery price is under a fiver, unlike Homebase and their £15!

And below is Matthew. He bumped heads with Ross at school just before they came out. He cried when he saw me. You can't really tell from the photo, but his eye is beginning to go black now... he's got to dress up as a pirate tomorrow at school, so that will save me making an eye patch!

OOooOOooOoo, and I'm so excited!!!!!!!! Just saw an ad on telly for Celebrity Scissorhands starting again on Sunday night... I hope Steve Strange is on it again, SO FUNNY!!!

Blog Award

I was awarded this from Marion Thanks Marion!!!

The Rules of this award are...

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve nominated. 

I am awarding this to... and in no particular order. 

Helena

Lynsey

Sue

Claire

Inge

Debby

Julie

I love all of the above blogs, and visit them daily, and more than once. I love all of the creative things that they have to show us, and all of the little stories too. 

I haven't awarded any of my friends, mainly because they know I love their blogs already.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge.

This weeks challenge over at Cute Card Thursday is to make a card with either stars on it, or something spooky. I chose stars. 

I used that favourite santa stamp of mine, and the Cricut Expressions came out to cut the silver glittered stars, and the corner swirly thingy top right, oh, and the other swirly thing on the bottom on the right. I also used my Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder in my sizzix.

Other news.

I still have "Man Flu" and I can't stop sneezing!! I'd lost my voice this morning which I'm sure pleased them here - stops me yelling at Matthew to "PLEASE go and clean your teeth!!" and "HURRY UPPPPPP!" lol. Anyway, it's back now, which is good coz I have parents evening at 4pm with Matthew's teacher later today. 

2nd card of the day!

Here is the second card I've made today. I'm surprised I've made two, being as I have a cold and not feeling that great. Justin had a half day so cooked the dinner for us tonight... awww. I'm going to make cherry crumble and custard in about 15 minutes, but thought I'd upload this latest creation.

I found the little Christmas tree charm in my stash and thought I'd hang that from one of the flowers.