What's Rocking Your Friday?

Good evening bloggers and Rockettes alike.

Well, what a busy old week it's been since we last met up! My first and most obvious grateful is that DS arrived home last Friday for an extended stay of 6 days and he was sooooooo excited, believe me. His normal stay is Friday to Monday every other weekend. This time he stayed until Thursday (yesterday) to let him have his birthday at home on Wednesday. He loved being at home, as you would expect, but boy were we all exhausted by yesterday. Autism is really hard work, but combine it with an energetic thirteen year old and you really start to feel old! Thirteen years - where have they gone?

This was my second week off work and still no crafting was done until abut 7.30 tonight when I summed up the energy after an after-dinner nap! More on that next week as the work is intended for one of my fellow bloggers *wink, wink*.

When Ross is home, he's not really keen on venturing out much. The staff at school are the first to remind is that he's under constant and quite heavy pressure all the while he's at school and that's why he's happy to have his own "me" time and do as he pleases. Fortuantely his doting Dad and my wonderful OH is quite happy to be wherever Ross is which is probbaly just as well.

To my darling daughter, Alexandra, or "Wubbs" as she is known often - don't ask my why, the history of that one is far too old and silly and would take be half an hour to explain. At school her friends call her Alex but if I'm talking to her in any seriousness, or about her, I always say Alexandra. She started back school on Wednesday - early start for us up here in Scotland. So needless to say we had the mad last minute rush to pick up all the odds and ends she needed as well as nipping into school to collect her new blazer. It seems to be on the first day of each new autumn term that I notice more than at any other time how much she is growing up and she is definitely becoming a young lady - and not even 15 yet - a few weeks to go. Love you gorgeous girl!

A big grateful to my hairdresser Scott. My hair was getting way too long and I decided it was very unbecoming to a woman of my advancing years. So, yesterday morning I had an appointment with Scott and asked him to take it up from halfway down my back to something more reasonable. I would always trusdt his judgement so asked him to cut it without no mirror for me until he was finished. The only stipulation was that it wasn't to be too short. Long story cut short (pardon the pun - none intended), I now have a jaw length curlyish bob which I absolutely adore. It is so so different and makes me look so much better and so much less tired. Even my darling dad, who isn't known for his opinions on female matters, was heard to comment, unprompted "Who's the dolly bird?" when I stuck my head round the door after my appointment. Praise indeed from one of life's most important men.

SO here I am with only a couple of days left before I go back to work. It's been a good couple of weeks and I have more time off in September so that's not so bad. Thanks to my OH for surviving us both being in the house for a whole week and more precisely coping with the ensuing shopping trips LOL!!!

A photo-free blog this week as Alexandra, like her mum, hates having her photo taken, Ross's self injury to his face isn't something I'm ready to share yet and so precluded any photos of him and no crafting to show for my time away from work. Next week will be different I promise.

On this note I'm going to go before we head into Saturday. I feel the need for a little Team Edward fix before bed-time!!

HAve a safe week all and look out for my blog challenge which I'll be posting about this weekend. Nothing too serious - just a bit of fun.

Gillxxx

Friday - where has the week gone?

Good morning Rockettes and bloggers alike, and welcome.

This morning finds the skies clear with just a few clouds although I gather it's not so great in other parts of the country,so fingers crossed it reaches you all this weekend. Good weather always makes me feel that little bit brighter, sort of lifts the spirits a bit, despite whatever else is going on.

First on my list is my fab few days up in St Andrews with my mum and Alexandra. We had decided to take the big tent (6 man) for just the three of us and we eventually set off with the car packed to the gunwales on Sunday lunch-time and got there just an hour and a half later. We booked into a gorgeous site just three miles outside of St Andrews in a small village called Strathkinness.



It's a small but very pretty village, beautifully maintained with flower baskets and tubs everywhere. It's a common feature of these East Fife villages and make driving around this area a real pleasure.

Anyway, we had a few fab days and St Andrews was looking at its best for the many,many tourists who were thronging the place.








We had a fab few days wandering around, visiting the usual attractions, doing some shopping (more on that shortly!), eating and generally just chilling.

On the shopping front, some of my crafty buddies will know that if I have a real weakness in life, other than for stash, it's for handbags. On Tuesday I found myself standing outside a shop called Ness. Now, I'm proud to be a Scot and love tartan in the right context but wouldn't sell my soul for it. However ........ must to the amusement of Mum and Alexandra, I was literally stopped in my tracks by a bag and knew that I had to have it, right reason or none.



Needless to say the bag came home with me and I adore it. Each to their own and all that.

Well, we had a fab time and came back on Wednesday, more out of necessity than desire it has to be said.

Today, a big day. My darling some comes home today and will be with us until next Thursday. During that time he'll have his 13th birthday. Where does the time go?

Yesterday was spent finalising my daughter's courses for her Highers (Scottish term, not sure of English equivalent), collecting her new school blazer, catching up on housework and the dreaded "i" word - sorry if you're reading this Sue-Bubbles! However, it's all done now so I can settle to the joys of the day with a clear conscience. For one day only I am, to all intents and purposes, a domestic goddess!!!

Another grateful, and a really big one, is to my darling husband who stayed at home while we girls went gallivanting. He was well aware that I wouldn't go away while Ross was in school and have no-one on-call at home for the school. Although we were only another hour and a half further away from the school, I just wouldn't have risked it. Thank you Jim - you spoil your girls!

Facebook - I know people have mixed opinions on this subject. I personally love it for the ability it gives me to maintain relationships so easily over distance and time. Facebook on mobile web is even better when you're travelling and arranging to meet with friends.

Right - crafty stuff planned next week when I'm not dancing attendance on my darling boy. Alexandra starts back school on Wednesday and other than the trauma of finding shoes for a child who has ankles like a sparrow at the age of 14 years and 11 months - I think we're all sorted.

This post's been a bit of a ramble so if you've made it this far, congratulations and thank you for sticking with it.

Until the next time, and don't forget to pop over and visit Virginia at the Celtic House. Even better - why don't you join us - it's good for the soul!!

Gillxxx

So What's Rocking Your World This Friday?

Good morning Rockettes and bloggers alike!! It's a very dull, grey and damp Friday morning up here in Stirling, but do I care? Not a bit!!!!!!!!! Why - because I finish up work today for two whole weeks of R&R - YIPPEEEEEEEE I suspect that if life goes along it's usual pattern then there might be slightly less of the R&R than I would like but it'll be nice to spend time with my darling daughter before our schools start back on 18th August.

First thing on the agenda is a girlie camping trip up to St Andrews - how much do I love this place!!!!!!!!! My mum, daughter and I are off tomorrow for a few days and we'll come back when we feel like it.









This place has all the things which are important to me on holiday:

1. Good beaches
2. Fabulous ice-cream
3. Lots of history

We will be back mid-week next week at latest as Ross comes home on Friday for 6 days, and Alexandra and I are helping out here in Stirling at the University's first Scootathlon next Friday - more on that one later!

Crafting has been non-existent this week as I've been feeling a bit under the weather with swollen glands and just being generally exhausted. I do however have a not inconsiderable to-do list forming so hopefully I can make a start on that at some point.

For now, I must go and get on with some work if I want my desk cleared by 5 tonight. So I will wish you an safe and happy week until we meet again.

Gillx

What's Ricking Your World Friday?

Happy Friday afternoon bloggers and Rockettes alike!!!

First things first - as I type my precious boy has arrived home for the weekend so all will be well and normal. Junk food, loud music, no computers free - just like any other household with a 12 year old and a 14 year old in residence. So similar but so different. As is the case every other Friday, that is my BIG grateful!

I am so glad to realise that this time next week I will be winding down at work for two weeks off - bliss. I haven't done much crafting this week but was delighted with the response I got from the recipient of the engagement book I featured in last week's WRYF post. Also, thank you for all your kind comments.

Following hot on the heels of last week's WRYF, came the post about my current love and obsession - the Twilight Saga. In an effort to avoid sounding totally demented and obsessive, suffice it to say that I am most definitely Team Edward and no amount of written word or celluloid images have managed to sway me from this decision. I am just so glad that there are other like-minded people, including my Facebook and online scrapping buddy Susie.

Another big positive today - Payday - thank goodness. Have already ordered myself a set of much coveted Tim Holtz stamps from Cuddly Buddly and am hoping they arrive very soon. The stamps in question are........



I've been after these stamps for a while and managed to pick them up with a few pounds of the usual price so I am well pleased!

Right, need to go now so will wish you all a happy Friday and an even more fabulous weekend, whatever it brings you, planned or otherwise, and will catch up with you soon.

Gillxxxx

Hands up - guilty as charged!!

Well.........

For the past year or so I've been wondering what all the fuss was about, after all it was only a kid's series of books about a vampire! Wrong, wrong, wrong!!!!!

Over the past ten days or so I've found myself with some unexpected me-time and my all-time passion is reading. So, bought myself, admittedly very sceptically, a copy of Twilight. Couldn't put the damned thing down. I forsook sleep and food to read the book every chance I got. Did it in 36 hours and absolutely adored it! By midnight last Friday I was a firm and committed member of Team Edward. That young man has more sex appeal that I would have thought possible to commit to paper.



By last night I'd managed to finish New Moon and Eclipse and watch Twilight on DVD. Have to admit that I found the DVD a tad disappointing but I'm always the same if I've read the book first.



Finally, I wouldn't say that I'm one for carrying my obsessions to any serious length. However......... this afternoon OH and I decided that given there were still no children in the house, we would head into town to do some bits and pieces of shopping. While we were wandering I commented that I needed a new everyday watch for work etc. Went into one of the jewellers and there it was - shouting at me - come buy me Gill, you know you want me!!!!



The delectable Sekonda Twilight no less! So, I confess, I've finally lost the plot but hey it's all good clean fun and will be even better when I settle down later tonight to start rereading Twilight - I loved that book sooooo much. Carole Griffin - I blame you and Tinks, and thank you at the same time. A little escapism has been a wonderful thing following on some of the stresses of late.

Gillx

What's Rocking Your World Friday

Good evening Rockettes. Hopefully you've come to visit me via the wonderful Virginia over at Celtic House where she has a really wonderful list of things to be grateful for. I can but hope to hold my own over here.

First things first, thank you dear reader for stopping by!!!!

Next, well I actually had today booked as a day's annual leave and, unlike the previous two Fridays, didn't set foot over the University gates and I have to admit it was just fab!!!!!!! I woke to lovely blue skies and a very mild breeze. Felt so invigorated that I stripped the beds and got all the linen and flannel washed and line dried by midday - how virtuous did I feel LOL!!!!!!

As I sit typing tonight it's a gorgeous evening with very little cloud, slight breeze and a gorgeous view of the hills - simple things dear reader.

I am grateful that I felt motivated to continue with a little project I've been working on - an engagement book/album keeper thingy which I mentioned last week. Today I nipped out and picked up some final bits of ribbon and some charms and hey presto - complete!!!!!!!!!!!! Those of you who know me from Facebook will have noticed that I had a bit of a dilemma over the level of embellishment required. My style, despite attempts to change it, is really quite simple so I'm adopting the adage "Less is more" as my line of defence. Hopefully I've managed to load a small slide show to demonstrate my point

Another free photo slideshow by Smilebox

Let me know what you think please - confidence in my crafting is never that great at the best of times and I usually conveniently "forget" to photograph my projects!

My darling daughter is off in Wick at the moment with my parents and niece and by all accounts they are having a lovely time with fine weather, visiting family, beaches, sites and generally having laid back fun. Roll on Sunday when she is returned to us safe and sound. If I'm honest, not that it happens very often, I can't say that I like my house without children. It's way toooooo quiet and three years down the line I still find it strange not having my little man around every day. I'm honest enough to confess that I love the noise and disruption he brings home with him every other weekend. Thanks, as always, to the staff who do such a fab job of caring for him in between his visits home.

It's been a busy old week at work and I'm glad that we only have a week until our financial year end, anew staffmember joins us on Monday to cover for my colleague on maternity leave, and best of all, only two weeks until I'm off on holiday for two whoe weeks and my precious boy will be home for 6 days during that time. As with so many people affected by autism, he depends on his routine. As much as we know he loves being home amongs his belongings and family, we have learned that he can only be with us for short periods if we want to maintain his progress. C'est la vie, but a hard one!!!!!!!

Right, enough for one night. ooooooooooh, justremembered, tonight is Grey's Anatomy night and one of my little weaknesses. It's the only TV programme which I make any conscious effort to watch - love it. Thank you Channel 5 for bringing it bak to me.

Definitely off this time so stay safe and well and let me know that you've been to visit. Until the next time..........

Gillxx

OK Peeps - so What's Rockin' Your World Friday?!!

Well peeps

I have no excuse for missing last weeks post other than that life really just got in the way of blogging. I was supposed to be on a day's holiday last Friday and ended in at work -nuff said!!!

Same has happened again today so I suppose my first grateful should be that I have a job which brings in the pennies which allow me to craft?

My next grateful is to my mum and dad. They know how hectic things are for me at the moment and have asked DD to go off up north with them next week while OH and I are stuck at work. DD is very very happy about this as she loves the chance to visit our family up in Wick



On the craft front I am working on a surprise for one of the girls at work - a sort of scrapper keeper album as she became engaged recently and I wanted to make her a little piece of frippery. I will try and remember to take photos before I pass it on - I'm hoping to finish it this weekend. That said, DS is home from school this weekend so that plan may go west!!!!

I am every grateful to the people who developed Facebook as this is sometimes my only constant link with some of my not-so-nearest and definitely dearest, and is generally a much-loved window to the big wide world out there. It serves well to remind me that there is a world outside of work.

As ever I'm grateful to Virginia over at Celtic House for coming up with this wonderful way of reminding us of all the things large and small which we do have to be grateful for and perhaps forget about.

I started writing this post and felt as angry as a bag of rattlers, not a great deal of it justified I have to say, but am calming as I write and have decided that nothing about my work is so important that I can't finish early and be home for my DS arriving home.

On that point, my final grateful in a somewhat short list is, as every, to the staff at Ross's school. They continue to be the most fantastic people and never fail in their support, even when things are getting a bit scary.

Right, dear reader, that's me over and out for this week. Why don't you join us - it's good for the soul!!!!

Gillxxx