A little bit of news

I've finally bought a house!! I made an offer on this house around Easter. Its been dragged out for so long and I assumed it was the solicitors not pulling their finger out in getting things done quicker. What was I supposed to think when they claimed to close at 5pm 4 days a week and 4pm one day yet when ever I phoned after work the person I wanted had gone home at 2pm.

Its only this week that it came to light that its the actual sellers that were being a pain in the backside. I was supposed to have the house on the 18th July but the seller wasn't ready! Then it was said on Wednesday 23rd, only I got told that one of the sellers still had things in the house that they wanted to sort out yet the last 2 times I went to the house it was empty!! My messages to the solicitors were ignored as no one got back to me and then finally at 9:30am today I got a phone call telling me to go and collect the key.

I got a really rude note from the seller at the end of it all, the estate agents got a telling off but hopefully that is the last of the negativeness.

It doesn't feel the least bit real, there is so much that I want to do on the house but its going to have to be a gradual process. The garden is something I'll either get to tackle next spring or in about 2 years time... I want more paving, less shrubs at the front, a bigger sitting area at the back and a not so thorny back garden as I got stabbed, scratched and attacked by them.

I hope to share many more adventures with you involving this house.

Happy New Year!

I hope that you all had an amazing start to the new year! I sure did... I made 1 postcard, 1 birthday card and wrote a little more of a letter I started on Tuesday. Whilst I was doing that the fireworks started, actually they started at about 8pm but its really quite something when everyone does it at the same time. It sounded like popcorn popping! Bonfire Night just isn't the same as people let fireworks off a month in advance and by that point you're just sick of them, they can last right up until the early hours of the morning.

 

I don't really usually keep new years resolutions, I just hope for a healthy year and for the last 5 a house (the first 2 years we didn't really look as my husband was in and out of work so we wanted him to have a more concrete job)...  of course this year I have the same hopes but as Yoshi sent me this list I decided to fill it in...

I've written simple things that I will be able to maintain rather then just writing things that can easily be forgotten.

 

Last year was supposed to be a positive year, I started keeping a happy jar but with the jar being upstairs and me downstairs it soon became difficult to maintain. I'd sit down at weekends trying to think up nice things but I couldn't remember which days they happened etc... that I decided it wasn't going to work. Towards the end of the year I started looking for a diary but I couldn't at all find what I wanted, it went on and on that eventually I found one on eBay that I think is what I am wanting. I now have to be optimistic that it will arrive tomorrow because I don't want to have a big chunk missing at the beginning of the year. Its just unfortunate I didn't come across it earlier and that its coming all the way from Australia...

I've no idea which cover I will receive as its sellers choice but I am quite excited about it. I hope to write all the incoming and outgoing mail, a happy moment, thought or quote each day. I really only wanted a monthly calendar one which is why I couldn't find what I wanted but when I did come across one the sections just looked too small for my writing. This diary also doesn't have the days and months by the looks of things so even if it doesn't come tomorrow its not such a bad thing as I can carry it on into next year, its just that I'd prefer to start it sooner.

 

Health wise I'm doing a lot better but its just a few niggling bits that I feel I know what is causing them and I need to start on another cleansing diet which I'll do once I go back to work on Monday. Its just easier when I work as I eat much better then. Once that's done I'm hoping to have more energy and with the days now getting lighter to try and fit in a 20 minute walk at least everyday as I've found in 2013 I did a lot of sitting on the couch once I came home from work just staring into space and not even really reading anything which is why I put that I'd like to complete a book a week.

 

The last one I need to remind myself of, being content with what I have. I want to do more, be happy, healthy etc... and at times it all squashes together in my mind. Then there comes a point where I have to remind myself that their are people/children worse off then me due to wars, illnesses and poverty. My problems are only small ones compared to theirs.

 

I hope that you all have a wonderful 2014 what every you decide to do.

I'm around here somewhere!

Dear Nobody in Particular,

How are you today? I am around, I'm well to a point and missing all of you. I've been working on my intolerance's and have found I can not eat a lot of things despite only doing a quarter of my list only so far. Some things I will never try some I will try as they come a long so it could be a year before I complete it. Now I'm cooking for myself separate and my mum and husband separate which really sucks up a lot of my evening and I'm hardly finding time to blog despite having many book reviews and lollipop sticks still to post. I will however do a better health post another time as I'm still working on things, my biggest obstacles of course are all the doctors at my medical centre... so many stories to tell but nothing amazes me anymore!

 

I've had holidays this week which is such a relief but also quite sad as its back to work on Monday. I managed to make my way through all my letters, relax a lot and plan my Christmas postcards, I just now need to make them but I've decided this year to just make them for friends rather then everyone on Make My Day this year. The weather up until today has been nice but all other times its been dark and rainy... still we're so lucky that we got nothing like the south did!

 

I'll probably continue to be here less and less until I can manage my time better or even better buy a house! We have made so many offers on so many properties but only came close to buying one. I just don't get why its not happening but I really need to keep faith as its so easy to lose it especially after 7 years! 

 

I am however active on Instagram at least so if you are on there look me up, I'm Samash81! I can't wait to meet you :).

 

Have a good weekend!

Bubbles!

 

 

 

How are you?

I know it is quite dull reading these health posts of mine, I had always intended to keep this a happy, work free whinge blog but I feel the need to post about my health in case others are going through the same thing. Also I keep hoping that some people will come forward who may be able to help me... these are my previous posts.

 

So when I last wrote in June I was so pleased to say that I'd been diagnosed with Helicobactor Pylori. I started a course of 2 antibiotic for 7 days and a gastro resistance one for 45 days which wasn't at all a nice experience. I've hardly ever taken antibiotics so to take 2 types was a lot and I suffered the usual of metallic taste, sore throat, hot flushes etc... but I continued as my head felt so clear. Once I stopped that and continued with the gastro resistance it was awful as I suffered extreme bloating/trapped wind and swollen painful ankles that I had to go back to the doctors. He advised me to stop taking the medication as I didn't have long left and to watch everything sort itself out which it did. He told me to wait 2 weeks before doing another test and not before... I ended up waiting 3 weeks which was agonising as the stomach pain was slowly coming back, the tiredness, the seriously painful ears etc... They tell you to wait 10 days but I knew it wouldn't take long for the test to come back as last time I gave it on a Wednesday and heard from them on a Monday. This time it was a Monday so I knew if I didn't hear from them by Friday it would mean it was negative... Friday came and went... I ended up waiting until Wednesday the following week and then went to see the receptionist who told me it had come back. The next morning I got an appointment and went to see the doctor.

 

I knew straight away on seeing him that he was no use to me, he looked like the type of person you'd have a joke around with and not in the least bit serious. Well I went in, asked about the H.Pylori, as imagined it came back negative, so I was completely devastated as I'm back to square one of my battle. I mentioned my symptoms were the same and I've probably still got it, I was made to feel like a complete idiot because if the test is negative... it is negative!!... its not the case at all as I've read on many forums since I found out I had it that it can be negative but actually still have it. The doctor I saw in July said as much himself but he was on holiday at that point so there was no way I could just as easily go back to see him (why can't things be so straight forward!). He wouldn't move off his view of this. I then asked him to explain my symptoms as I'm in agony, he then went on to say I should take Lansoprazole, that's the best thing. Well that is the gastro resistant tablets that I had to stop taking, I was confused so in the end I said that I'm sure those are the ones I stopped taking due to the side effects. Again I was made out to be lying or a complete idiot because he claimed they have no side effects, he said it about 4 times 'they don't have any side effects'. In the end I got him to check a) if those are what I had taken ~yes~ b) what the side effects of it are which you click on that button to do... oh! It does have the side effects you mentioned on it. Never once did he apologise. By this point I'd already said I think I will need to see someone else which he said by all means get a 2nd opinion (insert colourful offensive words here). He then turned to me and told me I was really indecisive about what I wanted... excuse me! You are the doctor, not me, what do you suggest? Eventually he agreed to having a complete stomach scan to check all organs etc.... but I'm not sure if it will show me having any kind of bacteria still there, I hope that it can as I'd hate to have to push to have a camera put down my throat. I also asked him about maybe having allergies, maybe something like Lactose Intolerance and is there a test, he told me to stop eating certain things as no tests were available. I said to him I could just stop eating altogether then. Reading up later I found Lactose Intolerance has a fasting test available where you have to drink something to see what your levels do! Shows how much he knew.

 

After this appointment I came home quite upset. I came online and decided to have another attempt at trying to find a local place I can go to to have an allergy test done. I'd found some online that wanted around £150- £400 which I wouldn't mind spending but its a lot of money to put trust in a company on the internet but also its quite hard to image having to take your own blood. Anyway I first came across an article that said know the difference between an allergy and an intolerance. That got me thinking as I'd really struggled finding allergy testing places. I typed in Intolerance tests and the first one that came up was The Intolerance Test Group. I was completely taken to this one as it was so simple, you send in hair, all communication is done through an e-mail so no need to worry about waiting for a phone call and trying to find a time for them to phone me due to my hours and you pay through PayPal. The bonus of it all is that the intolerance test is £45 to test 600 food and none food items. I paid an extra £5 for the nutritional test too as they test a further 80 things your body needs and to be honest I've never even heard of 85% of the list of things listed so its worth it.. I'm now waiting patiently to see if anything comes up. Its something I've considered a long time but didn't know how to go about it until this year to be honest when I started looking things up.

 

For a week I was in absolute agony as to put it nicely I'm seriously constipated. On the day I went to see him it felt like I had a brick in my lower abdomen, I couldn't sit, walk and was so uncomfortable. I've always had pain in my lower abdomen or on the side which is maybe why it was hard for them to pick up I had H.Pylori before hand as I didn't have the typical heartburn, indigestion and I can eat like a horse (which shows!). I had some Senokot which I bought in February so I took one for about 2 days which eased things a little but I didn't want to take too much as the doctor had completely ignored that I was in pain and didn't even tell me what to do. I knew that now with the scan being agreed to, none of the doctors will do anything until that is done. I've forgotten to mention that my ankle pain has been one thing that has never been sorted, there are days I can't stand up first thing in the morning and have almost killed myself by almost falling. These were absolutely horrendous in this week so by the following Wednesday I had spasms all the way up my left leg that I was practically dragging my leg. I went back to the doctor as imagined he didn't want to do anything with a scan on the list. He also refused to even consider that I may still have H.Pylori, he said it will be IBS which I will only now consider if all tests done don't come up with anything. I'd mentioned I'd taken some Senokot which he was pleased with and told me to continue with it for another 10 days! That just showed what a joke the whole thing was... I took it for 2 and on the 3rd day I woke up with a slicing pain in my abdomen. I've not taken any since but can you imagine if I took it for 10! I feel at a complete loss as they haven't helped me in the least bit. I also mentioned to him about the test just to see what he'd say. He told me to save my money as these things are pointless but its not any better then what you are doing for me.

I now need to wait until this scan is done but I haven't in 2 weeks received an appointment so who knows when it will be done.

 

I've been keeping on top of my blood pressure and actually purchased a machine to check. The reason was that my ears were so painful I also couldn't bear it but my 24 hour check isn't until 2 weeks away (I've had this appointment since June which is such a long time to wait). I knew the doctors wouldn't do anything so on buying my machine I was shocked to see it was normal (117) so it didn't make sense. I typed in painful ears on the internet and came across this website, I decided to try the one where you hold you nose and breath. To start with it worked for an hour or two then started hurting again but after doing it a few times its helped a lot.  Since all this stomach problem its slowly going up again so probably by the time I have my test it will be on an all time high. I will then be given a prescription to deal with that instead of the actual thing causing it.

Oh! I will just have to wait and see how things go. Wish me luck!

Splashing and Spolshing!

I haven't shared an adventure of my niece and I for a while. Its often hard doing that as I know that the internet is a big wide world I'm exposing her to if I share photos so I try not to which means I can't show you what we're up to.

Last weekend my niece was so excited about going to City Park which is in the city center with school.  Only come Monday we had the heaviest rain fall imaginable with thunder and lightening. The school cancelled because children would be scared even though by 9am it had all cleared up and was another scorcher of a day.

 

I promised her that I'll take her on Friday after asking her mum. So on Friday I phoned her to ask if she wanted to go, she was so excited when I went to collect her and my sister made her a picnic too. I encouraged her to eat it in between her paddling in the water....

I don't have any reason to go to this end of the city anymore so when I turned up it was such a surprise to see majority of the children in their swim ware playing in the water. I didn't have any spare clothes so told my niece to keep away from the water fountain when it was high and to stay in the shallow water. That went pear shaped as we ended up being squirted by the water fountain but also by the children running through it. She ended up totally soaked from head to toe and thankfully I'd taken her dress off so could put that on and go in search of some clothes to buy which I did.

 

Today its my birthday and my niece turned up with this...

a birthday card of me and her at City Park 'Having so much fun!' I hope the weather perks up again as its been another heavy rainfall day which lasted all night and on and off all day. I've promised to take her again with spare clothes this time so that she can go slightly further and run through the fountains like other children did but I can't if our summer is over already... I hope not!

My Health Right Now

In November I posted this blog post about my health. Today I'm going to continue from it as I have spent the last couple of months continuing to search around on the internet for things that could possibly be wrong but nothing quite fitting.

 

After I had many blood tests etc in November, the only thing to come back was that I had a none existent amount of Vitamin D in my blood. I wish I had paid more attention to exactly what the number was but I'm convinced the box was empty and the doctor had told me that their lab can only test to a certain point and mine was below that. I have now taken the vitamins for 6 months and last week had a blood test to see how things are going... I have had the most horrendous experience with these vitamins and when I mentioned it to the doctor last week he said it couldn't possibly be the vitamins... I'll get back to him in a minute! Having read most of the websites and come across some of the forums it has made me feel so much better knowing that I wasn't going insane. As I learned from these websites Vitamin D is also a hormone, so me once upon a time telling a doctor that I thought I had a hormone imbalance was right even though he made me feel stupid and told me there was no such thing. Due to it being a hormone it resulted in me feeling like I was going through my menopause, it started with hot flushes, the extreme tiredness where I'd yawn my head off and think I was going to pass out because I couldn't keep my eyes open. Then by February I started to suffer phantom pregnancy minus the sickness and cravings, I put on a little weight, my breasts felt huge and tender, bloatedness etc... it was awful (reading the forum most women complained of this). This lasted until the beginning of this month when I finally decided to buy a pregnancy test in case I was in denial, it said it would tell me in 5 minutes but told me in less then a minute that I wasn't. It flicked a switch in my brain and my body started calming down and I feel so much lighter even though I haven't lost the weight. I did go to the doctor in February also as I was running out of vitamins and still felt rough, he told me that they prefer people to take 6 months worth before they will consider anymore tests so I knew it was pointless going back until then.

 

Despite all that though I was convinced there still wasn't something right and still with my digestive system, I was struggling to breath, my back was hurting, the pain was and is so bad with my stomach, rumbling stomach but the weirdest of all is that I could taste mint in food that doesn't contain it. I waiting until last week to see the doctor and the nurse, this turned in to a big mess but at least I finally got to see both. The conversation with the doctor was one in a dream (nightmare) as I couldn't believe what was happening or being said... so I went in, mentioned a few symptoms, asked if I'd had an under active thyroid test done in November as that is the only hormonal thing my symptoms fitted in with and the answer to that was yes. I went on to the digestive side as the only thing to come up for tasting mint in my food was Gerd but it turns out in the UK its called Gord (I just said acid reflux to the doctor), my symptoms matched to a point with that but he wouldn't accept it as I wasn't being sick. This time I'd made a list of all my symptoms and when I took it out, he took this as 'its time to have the depression talk', fold arms, look relaxed and ask about...'work, family' and my response was 'I am not depressed', he nearly fell off his chair. It was a case of you are the doctor, I am the patient, I have a problem and you are the only one that can either suggest what's wrong or send me for tests.... 'oh but there are millions of tests', Grrr... He then sat up a little straighter and asked if my niece was mine! Well hello! If I had a child wouldn't it be on the system, he told me it wasn't reliable and its best to ask these things. The only reason she was with me is because my mum is in hospital for a routine stay for her skin and my husband wanted a break from looking after her. Anyway after both of us looked like an idiot for a second, he stuck his big fat foot in it again (he's actually slim and probably has a slim foot but still!) by asking about my Kidney problem... What Kidney problem? I bellowed at him, almost ready to have something explode inside of me at this point. He meant my fibroid but had just glanced at the subject titles on the screen (so like all doctors he hadn't read up on me before I went). Eventually he told me to give a urine and stool sample, I got a phone call later for an ECG as he probably thought of my struggling to breath. I am asthmatic by the way and have been since I was a child, his specialist subject is for patients with asthma. My inhalers aren't helping my breathing though so I thought he might do the routine asthma tests to see what level my breathing is at but no. I had my ECG test today which was fine thankfully, I also got a phone call before going for a prescription collection... it turns out I have helicobacter pylori antigen. The thing is that last month my sister mentioned my symptoms to someone we know who is a nurse and she told my sister this very thing, I looked it up but only 2 of the symptoms matched but it just shows you can't believe everything that the internet says.

In November everything was tested but my blood pressure. I mentioned this to my sister so this time I went and got it checked, it was high. I had it tested again today and its still high (average is 130 mine is 142) so I've been booked in for a 24 hour blood pressure check in September. This is the last possible thing of my symptoms being sorted as I've been suffering from headaches and pressure in my ears. I am however hoping that now with my stomach problem finally (and possibly) being sorted it may calm things down there as I've felt so stressed by it. I have hardly gone outside, read my kindle, as you know blogged, wrote letters etc... I just couldn't and still can't focus on anything. Its really getting me down as all the things I enjoy I can't do. I have had to force myself to take part in swaps in order to get some mail but also to keep busy in some way rather then sitting around and with those I hardly have to think. I'm now also awaiting my vitamin test results back so lets see how things go there.

I hope now that this is now my road to recovery... I do not have IBS and I'm so glad I didn't just accept it as being so even though its been an awful 9 years where I have been forced to believe it was.

One of you must have said a really good pray for me. Now I need you to do the same for a house as we saw one recently, tried to buy it but the seller isn't interested (I have other viewings!) Basically she's hoping for a bidding war but it hasn't happened and we are the only ones to make an offer so far.

I'm still Alive!

I know I've been quiet here lately, I just haven't been feeling well... still lacking energy and anything else that I need, I've another month of vitamins to get through though before the doctor will take me seriously (or not!). Last week was my week off and I had the most hideous cough that only flared up at night and I couldn't sleep so was falling asleep around 4am-5am and then I couldn't wake up. I did however make the most of my holidays but as always its sad when they end... 7.5 weeks until my next big one... yeah! Even though Ramadan will start in July.

Anyway I decided to share some pictures of life lately via Instagram...

My baby brother turned 30 last month, it never bothered me getting older but it really hit home him turning the big 3-0. It's weird to think we'll be 40 before we know it. I bought him a lovely fresh cream cake which he photographed but I didn't... I was really puzzled as to why the bakery charged me £2 extra even more so as my husband bought one for his sister this weekend which was.

I'm still enjoying my graze boxes and I can feel the difference with my body in the weeks I do have one. Last week I got a box with a segmented macaroon style on which is the closest thing I've had to one... I didn't enjoy it or my box this time which was so disappointing.

I finally got around to purchasing nearly all the equipment I need to make another 2 sweet trees. I bought plain white pots which I'm going to decorate myself so I hope it works out well. The only thing left to buy are some sticks and sweets. I now need a wedding or event to make one for as the wedding I had hoped to make one for has been and gone. They only gave their invites a week before which left me no time to get organised and as I mentioned I wasn't well so it wasn't worth killing myself for anyone. I've bought the little flowers in case we decided to choose sweets that don't tessellate well then I can put those in to cover up the green foam. We were to have other weddings but so far they are hear say its a case of watch this space.

As I mentioned I had a wedding to go to and when it came to taking a bag, I searched high and low but couldn't find where I'd put any of my bags. I thought maybe I'd thrown them all away when I had a real clear out last year. So when I went shopping I came across this and bought it only then to move some thing and find my other little black bag! This one is far prettier though :D.

Today was such a glorious day that we went to the park to enjoy it after work. The only downside is my husband went too and he wanted to go home after a short while or else I would have spent 2 hours there.

Beauty

A peachy keen day asked on her blog if anyone would like to exchange some doodles. As I was enjoying creating doodles for a doodle a day I decided to exchange with her. Only I made completely new doodles for her to receive inspired a little by the topics of personal topics concerning everyday life (periods, hair removal etc...) on her blog.

Do you need beauty products to look beautiful? Can you leave the house without any of these on? I can I'm so lazy, I even forget to put handcream on.

I added in some other bits and pieces too and this is what I received in return.

I've taken part in some other doodle exchanges on Swap-Bot so I'll be sharing those with you as soon as I start receiving them.

Wedding Day Bliss?

Here are some of the items I wore at my sister in laws wedding... I say some as I had a clothes malfunction so to speak.

 

1. My dress had to be taken back 3/4 times due to some missing gems. Then when it came to sewing it my mum found it so hard to peel off the ones that needed to be peeled in order to sew it so many needles broke. The dress ended up a little wide but worst of all so low that I revealed a bit more then I desired and had to make sure I covered myself up.
2. My purse I noticed in the car had some beads missing a long the top so after using it (as I had no choice by then), I gave it back but the store only does credits and not refunds. I now need to go back and chose something else.
3. My sister had rushed us in to getting ready and leaving even though when we got there I had a long wait. In my rush I was fastening the strap and it broke! I could no longer wear those sandal and had to give them back. I liked them too much so got an exchange... hopefully those will survive.
4. My ring is an old one but by the end of the night the main gem in the middle had fallen out. My sister wore my blue one in a similar style and the gem fell out of that too.

Still it all turned out alright on the night so to speak but doesn't it make you feel so damn unlucky?

My weekend...

This weekend I received a gift voucher from a friend with the cutest spring birds.

It shocked me a little at first as I couldn't understand what I had bought but thankfully it wasn't anything I accidently bought. I also received a gift code for a free graze box and since I've been thinking of buying one for ages I finally got around to getting it and it should be here Wednesday. I hope I enjoy them all.

My niece has chicken pox at the moment so what better card to make her then one with spots. I ended up doodling on some of the spots and I was wondering if I should stick some buttons on too as my niece loves them but I'll have to do that quickly as she will be well before then.

I bought a couple of washi tapes because I really wanted a musical one but as they were on offer for 2 I got the spotty one too. I'll probably soon use them as I've been making little samples to share too.

I'm giving away some washi tape pegs at the moment on make my day, why not pop on over to try and get them!

Sunday Celebrations....

On Easter Sunday it was my nieces 4th birthday, it is such a weird feeling knowing that she is 4. She has been saying to me for months now that she can't wait to be as big as me so that we can play with each other. I told her one day after the millionth time she said it to me that when she is my age I will be older then my mum, this upset her so much that she didn't want to be 4 for a while. Then on her 4th birthday I said something and she told me she was still the same and hasn't grown now that she is 4. She really surprises me though with her conversation and what she has picked up.

I bought her a dress

I saw this in the market and liked it a lot. I told my sister to buy it as we've got some invites to weddings and some possible weddings coming up this year that its nice to have some dresses for her to wear. She was in 2 minds about it and then in the end told me if I wanted I could get it for her birthday so I did. We had hoped to get some sparkly leggings and maroon shoes but we didn't find any anywhere. The shoes we found a pair in Debenhams but they didn't have her size, not even on the Internet.

Apart from her 3rd birthday I always make her a card, I didn't for last year as every time we went to the post office she admired the 3D Disney ones and one day she told me she wanted one for her birthday when she knew it was close by so when she wasn't with me I chose one.

She recently got introduced to Tatty Teddy Bears so I knew she would love one of the decoupages I had created and she saw them on my phone and picked the rabbit. I made up the card, wrapped the present and gave it to her mum for a family party in the morning where she'd open it all. When I went later I was looking at her cards and she came running to me saying look you gave me that one and I love it!

 

My mum was annoyed that she forgot to get her a card despite having bought her gift so I made the forever friends bear one for her to give. I haven't been to see what she would say about that one.

 

I hadn't planned on going over to see my niece for her birthday as my sister had planned a sleep over for 2 of her cousins and she didn't need all of us added to the equation too of sitting around and taking up space. My sister ended up phoning me and asking me to go round and from there we'll go to the fair which we had realised the day before was on so we went....

I mentioned to my niece this was a Ferris Wheel and she turned round to me and told me she'd seen a big Ferris Wheel like this in London... she went to London a couple of weeks ago and will have seen the London Eye.

You can't go to the fair and not get some sweets...

I bought my niece her first bag of candy floss, we went last year but we didn't get any then. I don't understand why they don't make it fresh anymore and hand you it on a stick but then again I wonder if it has something to do with health and safety. I love Fruit Caramels but for some reason they don't sell them in shops anymore so when I see them at the fair I have to get a tub even though it is so expensive and you don't get many. I almost ate them all in one go. I bought my mum a caramel nutty bar which she ate before I could photograph it.

 

This time last year we went to the fair for the first time with my niece, it had rained cats and dogs that year so the grass was muddy, slippy and it was freezing. This year they placed the rides along the pavement but there were still huge piles of snow and it was once again absolutely freezing.

 

My niece however had a wonderful time and sat on nearly every ride she could. We left earlier then we wanted as her cousins were waiting for her outside their home to stay the night. She had a great night and apparently couldn't stop crying when they went home the next day so her dad took to the fair again. Today though she asked her mum to take her again.... I think she's got a feel for rides, she's like her aunties and uncles after all :).

 

She didn't just get a dress as my husband bought her a slide too.

 

I hope that you had a good Easter!

oh my!

This year with not feeling so great, things just don't seem to get done around the house but there are 4 other people who can deal with that but my bedroom was something else. I had orders sitting on the bedroom floor waiting to be put away. Things I'd put down on my desk were growing so it ended up looking something like this....

Yikes! I know. I couldn't cope with it being like this so yesterday morning I got up and put all the clothes in the washing machine. Dumped everything on the bed so it looked quite similar to my desk and got sorting it out... that it eventually looked like this.

My desk was always as tidy as this so I need to get back into that routine again. I only have my stickers, pens, envelopes, a letter I've made a start on and some decoupages for cards I need to make as well as some other bits. At least my desk can breath now. I usually have a plain sheet of paper on my cutting mat as whilst I write letters I tend to doodle a bit too.

 

I also organised all my tapes and as someone asked to see them I took a photo of all my tapes.

I put all my washi, paper and fabric tapes in to this box which I received my yozocraft order in. The diddl are the smallest tapes that I have.

I only had one draw full before my last purchase from angoo-mart but now I have 2. I decided to organise the tapes in to themes... hearts, stars etc... because that is how I tend to choose my tapes when decorating my letters and envelopes anyway so its best to have them all together so that I can see exactly what I have.

I have got 2 of some tapes and most of these are still closed so some of them may end up as gifts or in giveaways. Also quite a few of them are almost finished especially the transparent ones as they don't have much on them but they were from my very first order 4 years ago and I don't like the designs all that much which is probably why I still have them. I will try and use them more often though so that I can clear some space.

I have put some of my tapes with my letter sets also and that was already organised as I think it was in December my younger brother and I went to the local store and bought lots of boxes as my previous boxes had no lids so all the dust was collecting in them. I have one for envelopes, craft supplies, letters, rubber stamps but need to get one more for my craft paper.

Here is what my letter set/pad and now my big rolls of deco tape are kept.

Do you always have a tidy desk and are you organised?

Guarding Angel...

Today was such a busy day, I went all over especially to places trying to sort out things for mother's day tomorrow. At one point I noticed that my fuel was almost reaching the red line, so once went to the petrol station and it was heaving so I decided to go in to the city and come back in the hope it would be emptier which is thankfully was. I pulled up behind a car and as my brain is mush at the moment, as soon I stopped I turned my engine off.  Big mistake! As soon as I turned it off I wondered why on earth I did it so tried to turn my key again and it said no way... my car just wouldn't start. I was stuck in a lane with no where to go. I tried straight away to phone my older brother as my younger one said he needed to go to work to sort a few things out, my older one didn't answer... I tried phoning home and my mum was on the phone.... eek! Last call my younger brother! "Where are you?!" "At home"... Thank God! as that means he was only 5 minutes away rather then at the opposite end of the city... in the mean time everyone has ignored me now sitting in an empty lane with the possibility of filling up my car. One person looks at me through his window to ask if he could drive into the lane... go for! I then went up to him a bit later and asked if he'd push my car which he agreed but he only wanted to push it back which would have meant blocked a lane complete where as I wasn't doing it now, I wanted him to push it forward to an area that they have vacuum cleaners but he wasn't willing to do it and went off to pay for his fuel and drove away. I didn't care, I just sat in my car waiting for my brother when someone pulled up behind me... goodness can this person not see I'm not going anywhere, I got out and went to tell him to go around me. He just took over completely in getting my key off me, checking my car and telling me my battery had died... I kind of guessed this but I wasn't sure if it was my petrol because of it almost being on the red mark but not quite as the light hadn't come on but I've had a car with a faulty petrol meter thing once and it always told me something different so you just filled it with a couple of pounds each time. I told him I was ok as my brother was on his way but he wouldn't have any of it saying he could be 5-10 minutes and I'd be sat there the whole time, he called to a man in the next lane to help push it and he said he'd be over as soon as he filled his car (but had originally ignored me). I got back in the car as I never mentioned it was raining and freezing so I couldn't bare to be outside.... I also never mentioned that the zip on my new coat burst this week and even though I have another winter coat its without a hood and isn't as warm so I've been suffering for it.... anyway at that point my younger brother came, they pushed the car to where I had originally wanted it... the man walked away and I assumed he was going to fill up his car with petrol so got such a shock when he whizzed by me and felt suddenly really bad as I never even said a simple thank you! He had stopped especially to help me! I was and am completely touched by it and in my moments of losing faith which I have done a lot since last year something like this happens to remind me that someone somewhere is looking out for me. My brother soon got my car started and we came home... I am now suffering from the most hideous cold and feel like crap but I am so made up by this gesture today... so a virtual thank you to whoever you were I really appreciated it... the other nice thing about this man was that he spoke so nicely to everyone, referring to people as sisters and brothers... it was kind of  a surreal moment!

 

I've no idea why that happened to my car, as I mentioned I'd had a busy day going all over and had just driven there from the city... my brother said maybe it was my stereo system but I told him I doubt it as I never had it on. It's a manual one where I have to turn it on, search the channels for what I want to listen to or take the CD out to get it started and put it in... its not one with a memory system to save stations or my place on a CD which is why I forget to listen to music. He then said maybe I'd left a light on but my car buzzes when I get out if I do leave it on or my indicator.... maybe it was nothing or maybe it was something but the car is only acting the same way as its owner.... never feeling well!! Well anyway this person has really made my day, Thanks Again!!  

Things right now...

Things I've been up to...

1. Finally getting around to posting The Secret Pen-Pal Scavenger Hunt on my Bubbles blog, I've been bursting to do it since I posted mine out.
2. Taking part in a Doodle A Day Project, I'm not the best at drawing but I'm quite enjoying thinking of things to fit in with each theme.
3. Having fun using all the fancy stamps that I've spent a fortune on buying.
4. Reading the Garden of Water by Alan Drew
5. Writing a super long letter on the cutest bear paper I came across in the city. I haven't found cute stationery here for years so it was such a surprise to find something affordable, cute and of great quality too.
6. Crafting for my Make My Day blog, it felt good to post something after 3 months of posting noting.
7. Waiting patiently for some letters to arrive, I haven't had all that many this year and its been really weird. It just typical though that I always get a whole bunch on the same day or the same week.
8. I came across a really nice snail mail magazine on Wreck This Girls blog which she is one of the workers on. I would have loved to have done the monthly challenge on it but I don't want to burn myself out by doing too much. Hopefully they'll do one in the next issue that I can take part in. Maybe some of you will join me?

What have you been up to lately?

I think I've mastered it...

I thought I'd do a post on life right now...

1. I said this year I was going to try and stay positive, in some cases I am but in others I am really starting to flag. I will try and keep it up as much as possible.
2. My niece keeps begging me to bake. I was talking about it at work one lunch time when a few of us were sat there. Someone asked if I used a hand held whisk which the answer was no as she thought that I might be over whisking it. It was after this conversation that I wondered if I wasn't mixing the mixture enough. I bought 2 packet mix cake mixtures. I made one lemon drizzle cake and it was so nice and baked amazingly after I used a normal hand whisk. I decided to look up a recipe for a sponge cake and have made a couple since using the food processor, I even included blueberries and chocolate chip. They were so nice that my family demolished them and my mum said I should make a couple so she can have with her tea. The other packet mixture was a carrot cake one, I think I'll just make that one and then no others are as they are so fatty that with having made so many so far we are all going to end up even fatter.
3. My health is still not so great, I am just so extremely tired that I can't even focus. Its not even worth having a conversation with me because I end up saying something really stupid or doing something really dumb that I feel quite embarrased about it later. I have 5 more weeks for my vitamins to finish and I've only noticed a small percentage of change. I guess we've hardly had any sun lately with so many snow and rain storms.
4. Someone I know is selling their house. I went to see it and I love the actual house but not the way the garden and road are set out. I'm so stuck in what to do and my husband just won't talk about it. Then this week my sister and her husband stuck their oar in once again, this time by telling my husband that their neighbour came round offering to sell their house and he should buy it. I've always made it clear I hate the area but my husband is really considering it. I'm going to go and see the first house again tomorrow to decide if I really want the house and if I can live with the way its set up outside.... I just feel really fed up with this whole house searching and buying thing now that I just want it to end. I actually wish someone would just go and choose one and then get me to buy it.
5. I feel bad that I haven't commented on any of your blogs even though I have read your posts but I have been spending more time trying to search for a house and just relaxing. I haven't even read a book for a while but hopefully tonight.
6. I now have a weeks holiday so hopefully I'll be able to craft a lot :). I've already made a start on writing lots of postcards for the boys on PostPals

How are things with you?

Liebster Award

 

I received this wonderful award from xkawaiicutiex this week and almost forgot about it until today.

 

So the rules for the Liebster Award are :

*Post 11 random facts about yourself

*Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger asked you.

*Ask 11 questions to the bloggers you will nominate.

*Nominate 11 new bloggers (with less then 200 followers) and link there blog in your post.

*Make sure you notify the bloggers you nominate.

Simple as that! I would love it if you could leave me a comment on this post with a link to your Libster Award post so I can find out how you answered my questions.

11 Random Facts about me

 

1. When I was born the hospital staff had a hard time deciding which day I was born... 28 or 29. If I was born on the 29th I would have been the first baby born on the day of a royal wedding but if it was the day before it wouldn't count for anything. In the end it was decided the 28th, weirdly when anyone speaks to me about my birthday they always assume its on the 29th even though they don't know this little fact.
2. I haven't been abroad for 6 years now and I miss it a lot. I can't justify going on holiday though when I don't even have a house yet but my husband doesn't care and has been back home every year since the day he came.
3. I trapped my pointing finger in a gate at school when I was a child. That nail died and in its place a harder nail has grown so if I'm ever at a loss as to which is my right or my left (it happens sometimes when giving directions), I take a quick peek at my finger.
4. I'm really struggling with my concentration lately which is why I haven't created anything for make my day. Today I made 4 simple postcards and it took me a whole day because things were taking so long to come together but also I suddenly felt really cold and I still haven't warmed up. I hate this feeling as there were so many projects I wanted to do but just can't face going into my bedroom to do it. (I have an electric oil heater which my husband turns on before going to work in the morning so my bedrooms not cold)
5. I'm doing really badly in trying to eat healthy because my husband keeps buying cakes and biscuits to eat when I come home from work... I'm starving due to when I last had lunch so will eat more then I should.
6. I can't remember the last time I watched any English TV. When my mum wasn't here I didn't put the TV on at all but when she is she has Indian Channels on all day everyday (and really loudly too) so I just watch that. I don't enjoy the Indian Dramas though as they are so exaggerated.
7. I never wanted to learn to drive but my mum forced me to as soon as I turned 17. I'm now glad she did as it is so expensive but also it takes so much time off my day that means I can come home sooner to do my own thing.
8. Even though I have a Kindle I still always have to have a look at the book sections in shops. Sometimes I even save the names of interesting books on my phone to come home and check out but rarely end up buying. I think because I browse these books it doesn't make me miss paperback books at all when reading.
9. When I used to read paperback books I was one of those awful people who would take a peek at the ending to see if it works out the way I want but now I can't do that with me Kindle as I'd lose my place so the suspense almost kills me sometimes. I can of course check the end and maybe should when I don't enjoy a book to see if its worth it to keep reading.
10. I feel guilty that I don't spend enough time doing fun things with my niece anymore. In the morning I'm too busy sorting her hair out and getting my work things together. Then when I come home I'm too tired or making dinner so we just both sit curled up on the couch. She keeps wanting to bake, play with playdough and craft. There is of course so much I want to do but it comes down to having the energy to do it.
11. A few people I know have had laser hair treatments done on their face. I'm now debating about doing it as this is the only thing I have always wanted to do. There faces look great so hopefully it won't affect me in anyway if I do decide to do it.

Now on to the questions that were asked

 

What is your favourite TV Series/Film?

As I mentioned earlier I haven't watched all that much TV but with films I love Disney anything and Musicals.

Where is your dream job?

To do something in paper crafts or to work in doing something with words. I recently read on yahoo news about the way people advertised themselves in order to get jobs, I feel like doing this in order for someone to offer me my dream job :). I don't have a degree so its hardly likely.

What is your main hobby?

It will always be snail mail. Over the years I've stopped and started reading books but I haven't had a moments pause writing letters.

What is your fashion style?

Traditional Pakistani clothes.

If you won the lottery what would you spend it on?

Depending on the amount I win, I've told my siblings I'll split it 4 ways, only then my sister told me she wouldn't want it so I guess it means 3 ways. With what's left I'll buy a house, a car, start a monthly donation to a few more charities and invest the rest.

What is your favourite quote or saying?

I don't really have a favourite quote but I've now come to realise that I really like all of Dr.Seuss quotes.  

If you could change into any animal which would it be and why?

A bird as it would be nice to be able to travel all over the world when it suited me and then explore where ever I land.

What is your favourite colour?

I don't have a favourite colour, I tend to always love bright colours, blues and greens and autumn ones.

Would you rather live in a place that was extremely hot or freezing cold?

I can't cope with either but I'd probably go for hot as we tend to go to Pakistan at its highest temperatures and due to the materials used to make the houses they are cool. We would often be sat there without a fan and the people who lived in that country were the ones to complain.

Are you a cat person or a dog person?

I like both but wouldn't want either as a pet if I got a house.

If you could have one wish come true what would it be?

Only one? This may come as a surprise since its 6 and a half years since I first started searching for a house but the thing I would want to come true is to have a new job in a small place where you can do more as a team and the day to day running is more predictable then unpredictable. Also it would be easier to organise events and maybe even a groups.... like a book club, a nature walk club where you go to different places to explore and excerise etc....

 

Thanks xkawaiicutiex for this lovely award!