christmas tree

We have a red and silver tree this year! It looks lovely when it gets dark and all the lights are twinkling! I have done nothing more to decorate the house this week due to working so much but Amienke called this evening to say that she has got a lot of 'green' that we can pick up, so I hope to do some more this coming week. I feel so behind!!! And I have to do so much more! Sunday I will do the marzipan on the cake so that it has time to dry before the weekend when it needs icing. Monday housework and writing the last cards I hope! Tuesday out with Loes and physio, and then two clear days at the moment to get the greenery etc and take presents around; friday to Schagen to work and have a little time in the shopping centre as I need to get some small surprises still for the dinner table presents. Since I have just ordered something from Scrapbook.com that I hope will arrive next week, I guess I can wrap a bit of that up for myself........... Last night I really enjoyed singing and it has led me to make the decision that in 2009 I would love a keyboard as my birthday present and then lessons to learn to really play it well. I learnt piano as a child so I think I know the basics still, and I can read notes etc. We were only with 4 of us last night but we still tried to learn 2 parts for 3 christmas carols. We have decided to have a drink together next Thursday to celebrate Christmas before we go home which is super. I like the other choir I am in too, but this is so personal and friendly as we are so few, and I actually really like that! Maybe we don't need anyone else to join us?!!!!! Tim is training at basketball again for which I am very pleased about. He has got some problems with his knee and the physio is going to treat him finally so that is also good news. I think it has become a 'crutch' for other problems/issues he has, so to clear it up would mean that he has to face up to those other issues and deal with them. Hard I know, but worth it in the end. bye for this evening, Sue x

no time.............

I am working every day this week and it reminds me why I don't do this on a regualr basis!! I am getting ready tired!!!! I enjoy the work whilst I am doing it and it will be better next year when I have given up my homework supervision job etc. but I seem to leave the house early and get back late wanting only to sleep!!! I shouldn't complain, I know, as I am lucky to have this job, but I am not cut out for it anymore - the hours I mean!!! I am definitely going to keep next week free apart from one afternoon which I have agreed to work... I know, softy! Loes and I are going to see whether we can track down a lovely christmas 'farm' on Tuesday and then I have my physio, which this week has led to a really painful neck and upper back, so I am in more pain now that ever!! I am sure it will pass, but right now it hurts! The cards are slowly coming in the post, and the game I ordered for Tim is on its way early so he will be surprised! I am going to see the cat portrait this evening on my way home.......so can't wait to see it! I am reading Ali Edwards blog daily too, as I love her christmas daily album style and as I am doing a mini-version myself, it is very inspirational. I will take it with me on Saturday to the SCRAPFEVER DT day in Blaricum, providing I have printed some of the photos out by then! I have to take more....that is the key!! Since it is meant to reflect what I see around me this month, I must try to vary the photos more, and take unexpected ones too...so many things to think about all at the same time!! I have to get ready for another days work right now, so have a great one yourselves! Sue xx

getting closer!

Christmas is creeping closer every day! Especially now I have decorated the tree with Tim and started hanging the decorations etc. One problem.....can't find them !!!!! Well, not the ones I want! I bought some gorgeous glass icicles a couple of years ago in the Lakes, and usually hang them in our kitchen window, but they are nowhere to be found!!! I am wracking my brains trying to think where I put them..................but no luck yet! It is so frustrating isn't it?! But the tree went up ok. Had to buy new lights as of course last years ones didn't work. 200 lights in our little tree is super! We have gone for a red and silver look this year. And wonder upon wonder, Xander didn't seem at all interested in the tree ( as yet). Perhaps he is older and wiser now and less interested in shiny round baubles!!!! I think actually, the hot water bottle under his rug is where he most wants to be all day and night. And he doesn't want to give up his place to Genghis now does he?!!! I am happy with the christmas cake. It is baked and ready for icing but I was rung today to work an extra day this week so that is now Every Day!! and that is really too much for me, but they were desperate so what can I say? My reward is that Loes and I are going to try and find the mysterious farm in Nieuwe Niedorp that Willem says is all in English style........next Tuesday that is. I have to still make the mince pies but I am taking ready-made to the forum day as not that many of us will be going it seems. I think it is a pity but people are so busy this month that it is understandable I suppose. I will enjoy meeting other members as I am not that good at 'chatting' on the forum; I never know what to say! And I think I am quite a private person who doesn't mind sending out this type of message to an 'unknown world' but can't quite do it closer to home. Odd I guess............ I am going singing shortly. Last rehersal before Sunday when the choir is singing at mass. I hope to go along and listen to them, rather than sing with them for the first time. I don't know all the music out of my head and I prefer to see what they sound like from the audience this time. It will be quite interesting to sit through a service in Dutch for the first time. Well, not much more to say, recording Claudia this evening so that I can see Erin and Austin's 'highlights' as they are now out of the competition. I do so want Rachel and Vincent to win! My friend Jackie is routing for Tom so I think it will be a very close call simply down to who is the people's favourite! Did you see Cliff Richard this weekend on Songs of Praise? He is aging now but has been around all my life, so he is kinda special for that reason if for no other! This coming Sunday is their big carol service from the Albert Hall so that I don't want to miss!! My december homesickness needs to be catered to as usual! Going on rather so will go! cheers, Sue x

4000 visitors!!

A huge thank you to everyone who is visiting my blog - we have reached 4000 visits which is frankly AMAZING!!!! Just noticed the count and wanted to say I appreciate you all. xxx

what was I doing at 4am this morning?!!!

SCRAPPING!!!! My husband was snoring his head off and I was just lying there wide awake which is kind of time wasted in my eyes, so I got up and went into my little room and painted some magnolias and made 4 tags a la Tim Holtz style cum my own. I have finished one off but the other 3 need thinking about! I have to be up at 6am anyway to get my son off to work on time, make his lunch etc and see to the cats, so what is an extra hour or two anyway.....! We celebrated Sinterklaas yesterday - we only had a nice dinner together, no presents as we save that for Christmas, but it was nice. This weekend we are getting the decorations out and deciding the colour scheme etc and what will go where. Always with a sherry in hand and the carol CD in the background! I am so in the mood!!! Nearly all cards made ready for posting, last parcels etc, and then it is the baking that takes over. Love it! Tim is going to stay with his sister in England between Christmas and New Year so maybe Peter and I will go to Germany for a couple of nights, especially if there is snow there. He likes Sauerland but I think that is a very long drive from here so a bit closer to home would be better. But nothing definite planned. What are all of you doing? Who is coming next weekend to the Scrapfever day in Blaricum? I hope everyone turns up and we have a great time there. I have persuaded Peter to drive me there as I cannot see well enough to drive in the dark. I have that night blindness problem actually. It is a pain but I don't know anyone else who is going from this part of the country so no choice! Well, time for my shower and the day can start properly from now on. Boys are off to work so we have the rest of the day to ourselves and to await STRICTLY's quarter final this evening!!!!! I do so want Rachel and Vincent to win!!! bye, Sue x

Take a look!

www.timholtz.typepad.com Tim is creating his 12 tags of Christmas again this year, and they are fabulous!!! I hope you all rush over to his site and find them, and start creating your own as I plan to do too!! I love all the detailing in his work and how he adds layers to the paper to such great effect. I have to find time to try it out this weekend! When you have seen what he is making, you will feel the same, I promise!!! cheers, Sue x

the hunt is on!!!

The things we do first thing in the morning!! My friend is searching for the Wii Fit game for her son and it is sold out everywhere she tries. I got a mail from her this morning saying that her last hope was also gone, so I sat here and googled!! And low and behold, I think I found one for her!!! She is busy trying to order it now, at her house, and they promise a delivery time of tomorrow so our fingers are crossed that this one arrives on time! I remember years ago my neighbours ringing around all the shops whilst I was working because Becci wanted this dog on a lead that would waddle along behind her - but from Father Christmas! And he cannot disappoint a child can he now?...So when they had found one and reserved it for me, I had to drive miles to the shop to pick it up after work!! She was so nosey when it came to finding her presents that I always had to hide them at our neighbours house until late on Christmas Eve when I felt it was safe to fetch them for under the tree! Since she gets her desire to know what she has got for Christmas from me.....yes, I am just the same!...I could completely understand her feelings. Half the pleasure for me is knowing what is in that package and imagining what I am going to do with it before I even get hold of it! Same as going out and buying presents: I love deciding what someone will love, and trying my best to find something suitable for them. I don't see the point in giving for the sake of giving something; it has to be meaningful. Well, now I have to go to work, so can't wait to hear this afternoon whether she has got it or not!! cheers, Sue x

Our hotel in Denmark

I took these photos early in the morning when Peter was still snoring soundly in bed!! It was impossible to sleep given the noise he was making so I got up and went for a wander around the hotel and park. There was no snow but it was jolly cold!!! I am not sure exactly where we were - but it was about a 3/4hour drive from the airport in the direction of the German border! It was pouring with rain when we arrived but on the Sunday it was better. Anyway, that is that for another year! I enjoyed seeing the wives of his colleagues again - they are really nice women.

I hope to get some cards made today as I seem to be falling behind in my schedule!!! Ann is coming to help me clean the house as I cannot do that right now with my shoulder problem, and for a chat of course! So lots to do today folks!

Have a good one where ever you are!

Sue x

happy monday!

The First day of December - time to soak the fruits for our Christmas Cakes! I am making one large one to be cut into four smaller ones as I want to give them away to friends this year. It is the Whiskey Cake - yummy! One week in the fridge before I make the cake itself so it is slowly fermenting away now........smells wonderful! I am quite tired after the weekend away in Denmark. I have got photos of where we stayed etc but now yet got them from the camera. I have been busy copying my Cd's onto itunes so that I can get them on my Christmas present when I get it: Peter has bought me an ipod touch for Christmas!!! I didn't know I had so many I wanted to copy - it takes a while but seems to work ok. Has to be easy for me to do it! My list-making 'tick' is coming in handy for the month - writing down everything and doing a sort of daily planner really helps me get organised. Without it I get bogged down in the details and grind to a holt! We had to vote for the 5 people who can go through to the next round of the DT call at Scrapfever, and I am delighted that there were enough entries to make it worthwhile. It was hard choosing the 5 I liked the most, but I have made my choice and I can't wait to see what the others have voted for too!! And then the next round will be exciting as well as there are so many different styles of scrapping out there. And there is room for every one of them! That's the fun! Well, I am rambling on about something and nothing here so I think I can't put off making preparations for dinner any longer! Before I go, have you seen the 12 tags of Christmas Tim Holtz is repeating this year? Take a look over at his blog and you will see the first one is up. I think I will have a go at making my own as it is great to experiment etc. I have made almost all the cards I want to do, and written nearly all the others, posted some parcels but have still one or two to do....so I can afford to do some scrapping in my spare time! Only problem being my shoulder, which is as painful as ever and stops me doing too much of anything really. The housework needs doing as it is getting behind here but thank goodness Ann is going to help me out this week! What would I do without her?!! Enjoy the frenzy of the last few days before Sinterklaas here in Holland - the shops are heaving and the kids in our street are already hyper! so it is a countdown to Friday for one and all here! cheers, Sue x