Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Well I know its been a long time since posting, I just can't believe we are nearly at Christmas, kids broken up from school and snow to top it all off.

I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and look forward to seeing some new faces and old ones at my demos next year.

Take care
Helen

My Summer ..

Well what a summer we have had so far!

The first week didn't quite go as planned as Ashley was rushed into hospital in Norwich whilst on holiday with his grandparents with suspected Menigitis and we had to drive for over 5 hours to get there in the middle of the night arriving at the hospital at 3am, for them to eventually tell us that it was a really bad viral infection that mirrored Menigitis (stressful or what!!!) then we had a normal week everyone back at work and the kids safely at home (thank goodness).

The next week my mum was taken into hospital with chest pains and had to have another angiogram to see if a stent could be put in or not but it couldn't so they kept her in for a few days before discharging her.

Then I had to take Vanessa to Swansea for a tennis tournament and we arrived on the Monday afternoon in the pouring rain at our campsite which was lovely but on the side of a hill and we had to put our tent up in the torrential rain and the tent almost took off over the top of the car and it took us nearly 2 days to dry out completely.  The tournament eventually went really well despite her having three start times the first being 11.30am on the Tuesday morning and she finally played at 6.15pm that evening, the rest of the week finally got better as did the weather and she got through to the quarter finals which was really good as it was a 64 draw in U14 and 32 draw in U16.

Then last week was the first week of my holiday from work and I ferried Vanessa around to and from the Burnham on Sea tennis tournament, unfortunately she got knocked out in the first round on tie break but was able to take part in the Plate event where she managed to get through to the finals, the weather was better but still quite windy (where has our summer weather gone?), during this week at Burnham tennis Vanessa also celebrated her 13th birthday (oh no a teenager, now I have 2 of them - god help me!).

The weekend just gone Vanessa and I went and did some girly shopping whilst my husband and son went to the Bird Fair at Rutland Water and now we are back to another week off work and more tennis this time in Taunton.

So there goes my Summer and my two weeks off work have nearly come to an end already!!

Helen xx

Wimbledon - Deadline or Deadline - Wimbledon

Well my daughter and I had a lovely day at Wimbledon on Monday despite the 6.30am start, we had centre court tickets so saw Federer, Sharapova -v- S Williams, Andy Murray and a mixed doubles match and after that then went up to Murray's mount to watch the rest of Nadal's match but before all of this we managed to get down to the practice courts and get some signatures, Nadal's in particular for all those fans out there!!

When the day was finally over at 9.40pm we then had to drive home :( which at least didnt take as long as the drive up (4 hours) and very arrogant drivers in London!

Whilst I was in London my new kit turned up, so despite being extremely tired, I started making samples for this weekend's demo but with the sun blazing outside it was very difficult to make Christmas Cards (yes I said Christmas!) but did manage some, but with the dilema that Wimbledon was also on the telly, so kept running back and forwards to see what was going on ....... unfortunately on Wednesday and Thursday I had to go back to work so now tomorrow (Fri) I have a major deadline to reach (gulp!) but also want to watch the men's finals ,so will have to get up early and get busy before the tennis starts - normally I love deadlines!

Anyway will try take some piccies and upload this weekend (I promise)

Helen x

Wimbledon, Football & Glastonbury ....

Well I know I love Wimbledon but what with all the football and coverage of Glastonbury Festival I just don't know what to watch or follow.  The trouble is I start watching the football then switch to Wimbledon then Glastonbury and so on and then end up never knowing what the score is on anything or what I have missed - why do they do this to us, can't they spread it over more weeks as time is so precious as it is!

Well I am off to Wimbledon next week which I am really looking forward to plus I have several demos for July coming up, so patiently awaiting my kit before the panic sets in that my demo is next Saturday!

Plus I am really enjoying the nice weather and just hope it continues despite being at work and not being able to enjoy it to its full which hopefully I can do this weekend.

Anyway that'ts it for now hopefully will be back next week with some photos etc..

Helen

Half Term hols

Well I can't believe that the half term holidays are already over. I have had a lovely week off with the kids and family. Ashley turned 15 at the beginning of the holidays and for his birthday we took him to the Three Sisters Race Circuit in Wigan so that he could drive a Lamborghini as part of his birthday present.

Getting ready to drive

In the driving seat!

We also went to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and the kids enjoyed the rides including hanging upside down on "In Fusion" one of the largest rides (which looked scary) but they thoroughly enjoyed themselves even got wet on the flume rides

Second pair from front

Nice and wet!

We also went to the Sea Life Centre near Birmingham and Cadbury World just to finish the week off nicely before having to come back to reality

23 May 2010

And one last photo which I meant to put on earlier of the kids stood outside Claridges where we went for afternoon tea for my mum's 70th Birthday, don't they look grown up!!

Cards made for May demos

Herewith some of the cards I made for my demo's in May, hope you all like them!

I had a lovely day yesterday at Trelawny Garden Centre in Barnstaple where I was demonstrating for the day, the staff and customers made me very welcome and I can't believe how fast the day went.  Here are some of the samples I took with me.

Henbury Lane Papers and Decoupage kit

Hawthorn & Bramble papers

Henbury Lane Decoupage kit

What a weekend.....

What a weekend we had, we left on Friday evening for the U14 County Cup tournament at East Glos tennis club and got back yesterday evening.  We had a lovely weekend and watched some fantastic tennis from all of the teams.  The teams at East Glos were Somerset (us), Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire and Channel Islands. 

The girls had to play in some really windy conditions and wait til nearly lunch time on Sunday for the rain too stop, but despite all this they won most of their matches over the 3 days and came in second place.

Erika, Vanessa, Anna, Natalie (Coach), Alexia, Beth

U14 Girls Somerset Team

Having fun before the last day despite the weather!!

Picking on the Coach (Natalie loves it!)

Well I look forward to next year's County Cup as at least three of the girls will play again next year, whilst the other two will probably play in the U16's

Lots of Well Done's

Well it has been a really good couple of days, as my daughter, Vanessa (12) won the U14 tennis tournament at Wells on Saturday and then on Sunday she came runner up in the U14 tournament at Taunton.  She has some more lovely trophies to add to her cabinet.

U14 Tennis Tournament - Wells

(Vanessa is in blue dress)

U14 Tennis Finals - Taunton

(Vanessa is in red on right side)

Today my son, Ashley came home saying I've got the results of my GCSE's, my heart went into my mouth, I took a deep breath and asked "Well how did you get on then?", and thankfully he replied I got an "A" in Physics and an "A" in Chemistry.  Well done Ashley.

Now we just have to wait for the results of his Biology exams to come in!!

So what with the lovely sunny weather this has been a great start to a new week!!

Spring at last ...

Well the sun is shining the daffodils are out and the garden is beginning to look lovely!

I just wish I had another week off work to enjoy more of this lovely weather, especially as the kids are still on Easter holidays.

Since last posting I have been really busy and I can't believe that we are nearly half way through April already, before you know it we will be talking of Christmas again!!

Well Ashley is back on crutches as he dislocated his hip the Friday before they broke up for the holidays, during a PE lesson at school, so now waiting to see Orthopaedic Consultant to see what the next step is.  As for Vanessa well as usual she has tennis during the holidays next week, so hopefully will have some news to put on here after next weekend.

And if you haven't noticed I have updated my blog background and hopefully changed my profile photo so that it matches the one on facebook (with the new hairstyle)

Just added ...

Some new samples from my demos that I made for January.

Goody Bag card


Stepped Card


With Love


Floral Decoupage


Tri Stepper card


These are just a few to give you some ideas. For the rest of my cards please go to my gallery through the http://www.docrafts.co.uk/community/profile/profile.aspx?buddy=548

Hope you like the above

Helen
- x -

Proud Mum

Just wanted to say what a proud mum I am, my son Ashley just got the results of his first modules of GCSE exams that he took in November getting an A* in Biology and 3 A's in Physics, Chemisty and Maths.

We are all really proud of the hard work he has put in considering he has dyslexia!!

Well Done Ashley

New Year Wishes for 2010

Well here we are in 2010 already, where does the time go? I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and Happy New Year, I know we did despite some snow, icy roads and colds. So I suppose now its back to reality in a couple of days when the decs come down and the house appears bear despite all the new presents the kids had! Now its time to look at what the new year has ahead for us all and hopefully things will be better this year than in 2009. Love and wishes to you all Helen - x -