Last Lessons!

DAY 29


I learned that it doesn't matter where in the world you are, when you have a day of rain and thunder and lightning, everything just looks bleak!


DAY 30


I learned that I need to learn and accept, that as we approach Stuart's birthday I become quite 'down' and tetchy!...that I need some 'me' time to wallow and let go. At the moment, I feel quite  resentful that I can't do so, because mum and dad are here (and they have their own sorrow, which I  have to leave them to get on with- so I feel guilty too!)....next year I have to try to plan better!

Thanks for dropping by!
Take care of you
Alison xx




  

LSNED DAY 28

Today I learned that I was still as hooked on jigsaws, as I was when I was younger! Dad has developed a taste for doing jigsaws recently, and we borrowed one from one of my neighbours....there is constantly one or other of us sitting at the table!

My scrapping mojo has been working on all cylinders this week, as I managed another LO  last night, for a Quote Challenge over at SCRAPBOOK CHALLENGES and also for a Colour Challenge over at SCRAP FRIENDZY.

...and today it was weigh-in day! After gaining a pound last week (which I was actually quite pleased about, after 'the girls's' visit and my Barcelona trip!), I had lost two pounds...so I'm back on track for having lost three stones by Christmas!

Just a reminder that this is STORYTELLING SUNDAY over at  SIAN'S BLOG....lots of interesting stories to read, from some lovely bloggers!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

LSNED DAY 26 & 27

DAY 26


Shimelle's prompt today (yes, I do try to read them, though haven't really followed them), was about the environment. I realised  that I didn't have to look too closely to find that Autumn is on it's way. Even though it's still warm and sunny, there is a definate change in the length of the days. When I took Boo out tonight at about 7.30pm, I learned that by the time I was returning half an hour later, the light was already dimming.....lesson learned: remember to start taking her out a bit earlier!


DAY 27


Still with the change of seasons: I took Boo out earlier tonight, walking for the first time in a goodly number of weeks (we haven't walked far over the summer due to the heat!) through the almond and olive groves. I learned that the almond trees are just about 'over', with most of the almonds already picked...and that the olives are just about ripe. I also learned that I should ALWAYS take my camera with me!...the light was perfect for taking pics , and of course said camera was at home!!


I also had some lovely 'HAPPY MAIL' today, but didn't get around to photographing it...I will do so tomorrow and let you all see what came to  me as part of  GINGER'S  'Mail Art Exchange'.


Thanks for dropping by!
Take care of you
Alison xx

LSNED DAY 25 and Shimelle's Sketch of the Week

DAY 25


I learned that it doesn't get any easier seeing DH off at the airport.....even though I've had to endure a week of 'man-flu'!

Sleeping off 'man-flu'...don't know what Boo's excuse was!

Boo features in Shimelle's  SKETCH OF THE WEEK too!

The inspiration for the alpha frame came from a challenge at SCRAPBOOK CHALLENGES  (and particularly from a lovely lady called Lori Pinkerd), in conjunction with Design Challenge #10 over at SCRAP FRIENDZY!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

LSNED DAY 24

DAY 24


Today I learned that a night's rain is so much more beneficial to the garden, than half an hour's watering by me every night!

I also managed a layout yesterday, from our few days with mum and dad in Barcelona

I used  sketch  #10 from SIMPLE AUSSIE GIRLS....it also worked for Sketch # 266 from SCRAPBOOK CHALLENGES and Challenge #8 at SCRAP FRIENDZY.

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

LSNED DAYS 22 & 23

DAY 22


I learned that going to have your hair done doesn't just make you look and feel better, but that the two hours of being unable to do anything but just sit and read magazines really helps recharge the batteries!


DAY 23


I learned that some days I just need to give in, and have that hour's siesta in the afternoon...I felt ever-so-much better for it!


Hope you all have a lovely weekend..I'm hoping to get a bit of scrapping done!


Thanks for dropping by!
Take care of you
Alison xx

LSNED DAYS 20 & 21

DAY 20


I learned that a tour round a Football Stadium isn't QUITE as boring as I expected!

 Barcelona FC Stadium- CAMP NOU

Some people found it riveting!

DAY 21

There's no place like home!!!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

LSNED DAY 18 &19

DAY 18


I learned that there is no way I could live in a city....visit, yes...but actually live among all this noise -no!


DAY 19


I learned that it is more exhausting to walk around slowly, than it is to do so at a fair pace.....and also that DD has infinite amounts of patience with my dad. She walked around Barcelona with her Grandad attached to her arm- and wouldn't let either mum or I help him.


We have managed to see quite a few things...and dad, though very slow, has coped well with the walking. As long as we have plenty of stops for him to have a little seat (and a cup of tea), he is doing much better than  I anticipated...a recurring lesson methinks-don't underestimate the determination of my dad!


These are a few of the day's highlights

La Sagrada Familia

DD and her Grandad

Mum, dad and DD

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

LSNED DAYS 16 & 17

DAY 16


I learned that walking is most definately the best way to see a city like Barcelona...and to do so with someone who lives here (i.e. DD) is better yet- I think the fact she gets lost so much (see LSNED 15), but can, amazingly, find the right route again, means you actually stumble upon lots of places you would never normally find on a short break!

The corner of the street in which DD currently lives

BATLLO HOUSE...one of the famed Gaudi houses

Arc de Triomf

An unexpected find!!

DAY 17

Today I learned that there are lots of places round about DD's apt, where mum and dad will be able to find something to eat!...this is very important, as they arrive tonight and are both quite 'plain' eaters! I also learned that DD has been worrying about this...she loves her grandparents dearly, and has been racking her brain trying to think of suitable 'eateries'.

Thanks for dropping by!

take care of you

Alison xx

LSNED DAY15 and Serendipity (or' Two more pics for the Scavenger Hunt')!

The lesson was that my DD has absolutely no sense of direction!!


 We drove up to Barcelona yesterday (which we had no problem with at all) and she had made an appointment to view an apartment at 6.30pm (her current Landlord has decided to sell the one she's in just now, and wants her and her flatmates out by Oct 15th!...this does not fill me with joy). Anyhow, off we went ....we had already parked the car for the night (costing 30 euros...it has been moved to a cheaper site today!), so we walked then took the Metro, with DD assuring me that she had checked GoogleMaps and knew exactly where to go....until we got there! Let's just say that we still haven't viewed the apartment......(oh yes! forgot to mention she had left her phone and wasn't able to ring the agent for directions!!!)


After that, we decided we needed to eat and why not go to this great Mexican place she loves....'sounds great' says I and we set off through a warren of streets off the Ramblas. Twenty minutes later she 'fesses up that she is totally lost.....BUT (this is the 'serendipity' part), we turned a corner and discovered....not only a student demonstration, but it entailed throwing leaflets in a fire burning in a bin (I know it's not a campfire, but it's the closest I'm going to get). For those not keeping up, these are two of the items I had still to find on RINDA'S Summer Scavenger Hunt! 

This girl was shouting at the top of her voice and you can just see the drum which was being banged in the bottom LH corner!

you can just about see the flame!

and here are said leaflets being burned...though you can't see the flames!

And to  top it all...we turned the corner and there was the Mexican Restaurant! We had a lovely meal...accompanied by a much-needed-by -that-time Margarita!

After being fed and watered, we walked back to DD's apartment...stopping for coffee AND ice-cream (diet?...what diet?)!

So really we didn't do so bad at all from DD's dreadful sense of direction....we had a lovely evening together, had a yummy meal (and ice cream!!), had a few laughs and got another two pics for the SH!

Thanks for dropping by!

take care of you

Alison xx

LSNED DAY14

Today I learned that I am getting to that point in my life, when I panic about how much I have to do the day before I travel anywhere! This has happened to me a few times recently....it's as if I expect the day to have lost about ten hours! I woke this morning, sure that I would never get half of what I needed to done. In the end, of course, I got it all done and managed two LOs (as well as then re-tidying my scrap space!)


I'm only going to show you one of the LOs, as the other is for a certain Bloghop on Saturday

I used Sketch #265 from SCRAPBOOK CHALLENGES to scrap the pictures of Boo looking as if she was being abandoned!

Thanks for dropping by!

take care of you

Alison xx

LSNED DAY 13

DD tells me that I didn't really have to go to the class, to learn that I may not be a 'line dancer'!


To explain; I have been looking for a form of exercise to partake in, once it becomes too cold to use the pool. I am not an aerobics or Gym person, but I do like to dance, and a neighbour of ours goes to a line-dancing class on a Tuesday night. I've been thinking about it for a while, but when Pam mentioned it was starting up again last night, I reckoned it was time to take the bull by the horns and agreed to go with her. 


So off I went, wearing (what I very mistakenly thought!!) was a comfortable pair of dancing shoes. The members of the group were all very nice, and assured me that I would 'get the hang of it' in no time.....and Linda (the instructor) went through the steps of every dance nice and slowly, and it was all going OK- till the music started!! Could I make all these steps fit in to the routines...NO WAY!  My feet suddenly belonged to someone else and wouldn't move at all in the  any way I wanted them  to...there was much tripping and apologising I can assure you.


Everyone assured me that they were all exactly the same when they started....but to me, most of them look like Professionals! Anyway, I did enjoy myself and I shall go back....but I need to find something to put on my feet that don't make me feel like I'm 'clumping around'....to be honest I am always better doing these things in my bare feet, I seem to be able to control the movements better! ....Watch this space!

I need something with more 'give' in them...and also some magic dancing dust!

With 'the girls' gone, yesterday was a 'normal' day......DD and I went and got some Banking business done and a bit of shopping...and between that and the laundry, I managed some scrappy time :)

The sketch was from Scrappy Thursday and the colour combo is from a challenge over at SCRAPBOOK CHALLENGES.


Thanks for dropping by!
take care of you
Alison xx

LSNED Days 11 and 12

DAY 11


Today I have learned that little white(ish) balls of fluff can make you feel guilty, when everyone is going out and 'abandoning' them!

DAY 12

Today I have learned how quiet it seems when 'the girls' leave!

'The Girls' decided that going home was a necessary evil, but left thinking that maybe next year we should have a Spring AND late Summer get-together! We're just not sure if our waistlines or livers can take it!!....I've had a blast girls- thanks for a fab 'weekend'!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

LSNED Days 9 &10

Hi everyone...am still having fun with the girls, so it's just a quick LSNED catch up!




Day 9


I learned that baby geckos' tails snap off when you lift them by them (trying to rescue them from little white balls of fluff!)

Day 9

I learned that if 'the girls' were left to their own devices, they prepare a very nice lunch buffet!

This is the last full day, and we are all trying to think up good excuses to ring the OHs with, to allow them to stay on!! The paint is out ready to paint chickenpox spots on !

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

LSNED Day 7

Today I learned that you shouldn't take the binbag out of the bin before you are actually going to the communal bins, unless you want the dog to rummage through it to find the previous night's smoked salmon packet!!....I was so annoyed that I  forgot to take a pic!!


Thanks for dropping by!
take care of you
Alison xx

LSNED DAY 6 and Shimelle's Starting Point Saturday

Today I learned that sometimes it doesn't matter how many times you do something, it never looks as if you have done so!...specifically the sweeping and mopping of our pool area- dust just seems to attach itself and then get walked in with the wet feet!!

This week, Shimelle posted this picture as a starting point for a LO...and this is what I came up  with

I have also used it for a Challenge to use the colours, black, grey and yellow over at Scrap Friendzy .


Am off to pick 'the girls' up from the airport this morning, so might  be MIA for a few days!


Thanks for dropping by!
Take care of you

Alison xx

LSNED DAY 5 and Shimelle's Sketch of the Week

Today I learned that setting the alarm and getting up early, is the best way to get outside jobs done in the heat.......this is not a new lesson, just one I have to re-learn every other week!

You will, of course, have noticed that I have the oldest phone in the world!!

This is Shimelle's Sketch of the Week.....

......this is my 'take' on it...I cheated and used the border strip instead of paint...I still never like the effect when I try it (though love it on other peoples' LOs!).

I have to say I am far happier with it, than I was last week's!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

LSNED-Days 2&3 and Pass the Book

We have had a busy, but good weekend. Both DH and DD were here, as it was DH's birthday yesterday. We went out for lunch, and then last night went to the Cinema to see 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' (which, I have to confess, I cried at!)


Lesson 3


I learned that when Craig is home, I yearn for us to have a 'normal' life again!...it feels good to walk into the living room and see him in his 'usual' spot, with his laptop on his knee!

Lesson 4

I learned that I hate cruelty of any kind.....even to fictional animals in a fictional  movie!!

Pass the Book

DD chose the lucky number again...and the book goes to DEB of 'Deb's World'! Congratulations Deb...if you send me your address to: alison290atlivedotcodotuk Iwill get it on it's way to you!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

LSNED Day 2

Today I learned that the blogland 'sisterhood' are the best! I had more advice and ideas sent to me about cooking with my new crockpot/slowcooker, than I could have found by searching the internet for hours!!

just a few of the replies I received!

Thanks everyone...I cooked chili in it...didn't brown the beef, and it was just as tasty as ever! I just need to remember  to put less liquid in - thanks for that advice Amy (unfortunately it came after I had 'chucked it all in' as per your instructions, but I shall remember next time).

Remember there's still time to be put into the draw to be next to receive 'Good Mail Day'...details on THIS POST and that tomorrow is STORYTELLING SUNDAY over at Sian's Blog..hope to see you there!


Thanks for dropping by!
Take care of you
Alison xx

Learn Something New Every Day (LSNED) Day 1

The lovely Shimelle  has a new (for me!) class starting today. For more info on it, check THIS POST.


There are many ways to approach and record the responses to the daily prompts, and I have decided that blogging is going to be my best option. This is mainly because I have realised that I am either away, or have houseguests for most of this month! I am hoping that I will be able to blog  about something I have learned (with a photograph), each day...and maybe be able to create something more tangible at a later date- though no  promises about that!


So for today:

I received my shiny, new slowcooker (crockpot) and learned that I cannot simply just throw ingredients into it ....it would appear that you actually have to brown your meat before putting it in! I was always under the impression that you literally just placed things in it and switched it on! Tomorrow I am going to cook chili in it, as DH and DD both arrive home tomorrow night-and they just don't appreciate salad as much as I do!

I also learned that my weight stayed the same this week!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx

P.S. If you want to be entered into the draw for 'PASS THE BOOK', please leave a comment  at the end of THIS post!