The Paddling Pools - Cockle Row

On Monday 21st July it was glorious weather - a first in a couple weeks as we seem to have had endless clouds and rain.

I took the opportunity to take the children to the paddling pools to have a picnic and a splash about. Its a few minutes easy walk for the children yet it felt like we were going camping with all the paraphernalia we had to take with us.







The back ground in the above photo is of some old cottages called Cockle Row. They are old fisherman's cottages which have been developed into a little tourist centre. The cottages have not lost their original charm, with the Heritage cottage showing what Cockle Row would have looked like around 1910 - a typical fisherman's dwelling, complete with settle (the old name for settee), baby's cradle, fire crane and open fire and fishermen's baskets. Info from http://www.ispyni.com/

This was the view I was enjoying whilst the children played.



Seb showing off



Sol was not too sure at first but she quickly got used to the cold water.

Glitter Fills

These can be taken free gratis for your personal use. I have made these using animation shop, they are simple to do. I do actually have these on another site but I noticed a few searches coming here to my blog because of my tutorials. I thought it would be nice for anyone who searches to actually get something they are looking for.

Other names for these files can be spakles, glitters, glitter fills. These can be used in Photoshop, PSP8, PSP9, PSPX, PSPX1 & X2. If you need to know how to apply these fills then click on the tutorial link over at the left side of the page.

I also take requests for graphics made or if you need a special glitter fill. Please use the comments form below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Five minutes of Fame For Mag

Yesterday the 19th July was Roy's Birthday. I had been out shopping on Thursday twice, that's was another story, and got him some gifts and a card or two. One of those cards was a radio ...

Cool isn't it?

The next night, which was Friday, Mag, Toni and myself were hidden away upstairs in my craft room wrapping presents when I came across the card in a bag. I had forgotten about it, so hadn't tried it by this stage. We opened it up and realised it actually worked, we tuned in to our favourite station Cool FM . We often listen to Cool, especially in the mornings and have entered many competitions and won a couple too ... so knowing that there was a good chance Roy would get a birthday mention we decided to text a birthday mention in. We Said "Hi, Conner (it was Conner Phillips) we are listening to your show on a radio which is actually a birthday card. From Mag PS the birthday card is for my dad whose birthday it is tomorrow". We sent Toni down stairs to tell Roy to switch the radio on and listen in, hoping Roy would get a happy birthday. There was nothing at the end of the song that was playing then out of the blue my phone rang! It was a private number but I answered it anyway, a voice said "Hi, is that Mag?" I stuttered knowing who it was and said "no, hold on" handed the phone to Mag saying "oh my, its Connor Phillips". Connor Phillips was live from the Odyssey Cool Pod.

Connor spoke to Mag for several minutes while he played two songs back to back, he chatted and made Mag feel at ease. He said Mag sounded nervous and gave him a few 'radio' tips. He then asked if he would like to go live! Mag said yes! He gave a 20 second countdown for him then ....

Mag was live on the radio and Connor was chatting about the fact that not only do you listen to the show on the radio but now on birthday cards. He asked Mag who was there with him. He asked his dad's name, and his mums name gave us a cheer. He asked Mag what his plans were for the weekend and other chatty things. Then he said "just for your dad and your mum I am going to play the new Cold Play single"

Roy had tears in his eyes as he listened to Mag on the radio, so impromptu and unrehearsed he was touched that we did such a thing for him.

After the 'live' interview Connor said the live good bye and played the song, he stayed on the line then Connor came back and told Mag how great he was and said good bye to him properly.

We sent a message of thanks over to Connor later on, telling him how touched Roy was and that we really DID enjoy his show.

Busy Day Saturday - SNOW?!

Saturday 12th July

The 12th of July was actually a holiday day here where we live. With it being a holiday and people headed down the coast to see the demonstrations we figured that it would be a nice quiet day to go out.

Our neighbours, who we are very good friends with came with us. We headed to the Marina in the next town ...



We walked along the coastal path past the marina and round to the kiddies play park.




The two girls are great friends with our children - I took this photo not realising that Toni and one of them was holding hands. awwww











We had a lovely morning then lunch and ice creams before we headed home.

Did I tell you it snowed while we were out?



Just Kidding - someone put a bottle of bubble bath inthe water fountain




That afternoon we went to a barbeque then home again for tea time. It was hard at the barbeque, Roy and I already knew we had an evening invite back at our neighbours for dinner -they were going on holiday and we wanted to spend some time together. So we let the kids munch their way through the barbeque food while we politely pushed a salad around our plates.

Thursday 10th July

It was a busy time the last few days.
Last Thursday found me 'popping' out to get some new dinner plates. I mean every day dinner plates not the sort you put out for guests, the sort the kids can drop and you wont cry too much. I actually liked the cheap earthenware ones in a catalogue shop so I ended up getting two sets.
Here they are ...


Whilst we were in the shopping centre Toni noticed a girl getting her ears pierced in the jewellery shop, she stood and watched with a mixture of envy and curiosity as the girl cuddled a bear during the procedure. The last few months she has been asking what pierced ears felt like, asking about different ear rings you can get. One of her little friends had her ears done too which added to the curiosity. So we had a few minutes and went in to look at the set up. The girl in the shop was lovely, Grace explained everything to Toni and made her feel at ease. We went for a walk round the other shops to talk and ponder over the fact it was fairly simple to get her ears done, Toni decided to go for it. Back in the jewellery shop, she found her self perched on the chair clutching that same teddy bear and me filling out consent forms. GULP. Then she backed out, and that was fine by me.

That evening at home the conversations about the ears came up again, so a brave Toni with new found confidence wanted to go back tot he shop. With a promise that it wont be a wasted journey we went off to get her ears done. Another girl was in same the chair when we arrived and she too managed to survive the procedure, Toni was reassured by this. Meanwhile the mum to the girl just stood with tears in her eyes and her hands clasped tightly over her mouth. Smiling, not knowing what lay ahead I reassured her.
Toni being brave hopped on up and gave the bear a big hug, Grace and another lady pierced both ears at the same time so there was no backing out for her. For a few moments I was thinking "Oh my God, my little girl, I let them put holes in her ears!" Now I realise it was Toni's choice to get her ears pierced and that I am not such a bad mum after all. We chose a little gold stud with a fuchsia colour stone, small and dainty.
You can just about see them in this photo...

Scrapbook Pages

A couple of scrapbookpages, I have 100s so perhaps I will share some more.

TOPPERS

Just some toppers & tags I have made for cards :)
I thought my fellow card making and scrapbooking firends might like to see.