Race for Life

Not sure if I am insane or not, but I've decided to sign up for Race for Life again this year.  I've basically not done any exercise since I managed to drag myself out of the chair to complete it 4 years ago.  That time I did it to celebrate mum only having a few months to go until the 5 year all clear.  How things can change though, as we lost her 3 years ago last week, from a combination of cancer/heart failure/dementia.  So this time I will run (and I mean run, the whole way rather than half of it) in her memory and raise money to help fund more research into this cruel disease.

If you would like to sponsor me (and I would be very happy if you did!), then my Just Giving page can be found here.  Thanks in advance for donating to such a good cause.

More LOs

I'm trying to keep the pace up on finishing my LOs, so here's another one....

At long last I have finished a DLO I started at our Crumblies retreat in October!  It's using another sketch from sketchsupport - this time using photos of Liam's school trip to Sandbanks.  I'd never been before and it's a really lovely beach - will have to go there again.  Obviously Liam had to be the first one to fall into the sea fully clothed (he ALWAYS does that when near water - apparently he takes after his Gramps in that respect).

I've also been trying to do the weekly challenges on UKS, so here's January week 2, criteria was to use the sketch, new stash and 5 of something....

and week 3 - which was again to use the sketch, sewing, paints and/or inks, and a line/quote/title of a poem. 

Quite pleased with how this one turned out, nice and bright.  Did hash up the chicken wire stamping but as most of it is covered, it's OK ;-)  This is why I hate stamping, but I do love that set of stamps that I got for Christmas, must practise more!

Cruising the Danube

It was my work's kick off meeting again last weekend, only seems like yesterday that I was in Venice!  This year to mark their 25th year since founding the company, we had a 3 days cruise on the River Danube from Vienna to Linz (and back again) on MS Mozart.  I think in the (almost) 15 years I have been working there, this was the best kick off I have been to.... so much more relaxed than the usual long coach journeys and strict schedule to make sure we were are the different venues at the right times.  We arrived in Vienna and had a taxi take us to the boat and then the weekend began because we were already all together.  The weather was pretty drab, cold but not a lot of snow or sunshine, but the traditional architecture along the river bank was nice. 

 

And the locks were pretty impressive, when you think that we were on a boat 23m wide and 120m long!  There was only about a foot clearance either side....

We had a fancy dress evening on the Friday night and a free bar all weekend as it was a special celebration :-) 

We visited Melk monastery on the way back on Sunday which was really interesting and the abbey was simply amazing.  I took a few more photos but the outside ones are better on their website as you can see more of it in one shot.

Back to reality now and rushing around like a headless chicken again this week with meetings and catching up on other stuff.  Hoping to get some scrapping done this weekend as haven't had the chance to do any since my initial surge at the start of the year.

It's been and gone!

Well the manic rush up to Christmas has been and gone, as has the holiday period itself.  We have a lovely relaxed time, we spent Christmas Day at home in total peace and quiet while the boys busied themselves with their new lego.... if only it would take weeks to make the stuff ;-)  They were very pleased with their presents:

 

and it finally stopped raining on New Year's Day so they could get outside and play - on our new grass, woo hoo.  Needs a bit more brushing, but it's looking more like 'normal' grass every time I look at it.

Clyde is so funny with his little ball control paw.  Bless him. 

Dave and I only got a little token gift for each other from the boys, he got hair clippers (he'd been moaning about the ones we had for ages!) and I got an ATG gun.  Think I definitely got the better deal lol.  I have even put it to good use already, and finished a couple of LOs that I started back in October....

Really want to try to get back into scrapping now that everything is back to normal at home and I have sorted out my stash into my new area.  Let's see how long that lasts....  Got so many mini books and LOs half done, and a backlog of kits to work through - could take me all year just to catch up!

All finished!

I didn't want to post photos earlier because I wanted to wait until our furniture had arrived before posting the finished pictures.... so without further ado, here's the completed room:

and outside the patio is all grouted, and the paths round the front and side all done. 

 

Really pleased with how well this turned out - when they first started digging out, they discovered the raft foundations for next door's house under our original raised patio area... hence the little row of raised slabs on the new bit to cover it again!  You can see all the turf is up ready for the sand base and the artificial grass to be laid this week, can't wait :-)

We both can't believe how perfect everything is, well worth the 10 year wait lol.

Almost there!

Well the builders have had another good week, and we are right on schedule to finish next week.  Here's this week's photos:

the inside is all plastered :)  

and the patio is coming along nicely too....

Can't wait for it to be finished, it's exactly as I pictured it in my head before we even got the plans drawn up.  I am one happy bunny :)

3 weeks on.....

... and our extension is built!  The roof just needs cementing but it's on and the velux windows are in.

The builders have had to wait for the electrician, plumber and window supplier to do their bits before they can carry on with the inside.  We have cables and should have pipework for radiators this weekend.  Window being fitted and patio door moved middle of next week.  In the meantime, the retaining wall is built (just the copings to go on when they arrive) and the patio has been started.  And the huge pile of mud that was on the grass has been either used to back fill the wall, or dumped.

Another week of good progress!