Dolly's Dreamings

Lovely day

It is so nice to have a three day weekend - I love Bank Holidays. I do, however, remember when I used to have to work the Bank Holidays. For many years school was open on Bank Holiday Monday when everyone else seemed to be off - so I try and spare a thought for all the people who do NOT have a three day weekend.

 

We went to Poole this morning, in beautiful sunshine. It was largely to take things back! Nigel had bought a shirt, all by himself without prompting, but it wasn't right. I had ordered two pair of shoes which were too big. However I did buy something I swore I never would. A pair of crocs. Well cheap copies actually. I bought them for our trip to the Isle of Wight with school as last year - as you cannot wear muddy boots inside - I struggled to keep taking lace up boots on and off. A colleague had crocs and they were perfect to slip on and off for pottering between the cabins, and dare I say it - they might be the ugliest footwear int he history of mankind, but they are jolly comfy!

I also bought some ludicrously expensive makeup. I am not a makeup girl really and never wear anything expensive but my nose needs coveringa nd so I have bought something that might do a better job. Trouble is Nigel make me buy something darker than I would and it is too dark.

I also saw an old friend Jo - it was lovely to see her although I did spend some time thinking 'I wish Aaron would answer' as I heard the shouting but didn't realise it was 'Karen' and was for me! It was lovely to see her and have a chat.

Other than that I have scrapped and just relaxed. I know I am going to take to retirement like a duck to water!

 

This is new scrapping but not from today

 

 

I had a new photobook delivered yesterday and this is the front cover. I probably get three of these printed each year now - each approx 60 pages. They make a lovely record and take up a lot less space than real paper albums.

Barb thanks for the advice and yes -I will try and remember that and get my retirement captured properly. I already have some things to include in the album.

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely day
• bargains
• time to scrap

and the last few bonsai trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Pretty Big Milestone

Today has been a pretty big milestone day and the first of the many 'lasts' to come.

 

As I prepare for early (yes a stress on the early) retirement after 29 years as Head of the Junior School I know that the 'lasts' are going to become ever more frequent and significant. Today was a biggie.

Our school is 130 years old and that is a huge milestone. We have an amazing birthday tradition of celebrating the school birthday with the same service we have had since moving to our current site in 1935. It is incredibly moving  every year. The service starts int eh Great Hall and as part of the service the whole school processes outside singing a hymn and the rest of the service takes place outdoors with the school standing int he quad and the sixth form, guests, governors etc standing on the balcony outside. There isn't a year of my 29 years when this hasn't moved me but this year was incredible and a very sobering experience. As I sat on the front row of the stage and then stood outside, I looked at 'my girls' ... the juniors ... and realised this was the last time. I may come back as an ex member of staff one day but this was the last birthday I would look out at them and know they were 'mine'. They were so good and such a  credit to the school and their teachers and I almost broke down. I KNOW I am right to be leaving, I know it is the right time for me and for school but goodness me there are going to be some tears along the way before I go.

 

After the service everyone except staff and sixth form go home and then the staff host a dinner for the upper sixth girls who will be leaving at the end of the academic year. I was sat for lunch with two girls who had gone through the school from Kindergarten to the age of 18 and we had such fun reminiscing. It is also the tradition for a member of staff who is leaving to give the after dinner speech. So I didn't each much - yes that would be me! I managed to get through the speech without crying, just, though the girls on my table didn't, but I was then so touched as the sixth form presented me with a bouquet and the Head girls said some wonderful words about me and how I was so much the school and remembered so many things we had done whilst she was in Junior School. To have the bouquet was marvellous but to have the bouquet because the girls wanted to do it and suggested it was so special. Yup - I cried then! It was even ins chool colours.

 

 

 

I am so thankful to have had the job I have had at the school I have been in and so thankful to have taught such incredible girls who have grown up to be amazing young ladies. I am privileged to have worked with girls I have taught who have become colleague (that's how old I am!!) and have children of children I have taught in school. Teaching really is the most special job int he world and I know I have been very fortunate to have been able to do the things I have done. Whilst there is much I WON'T miss like paperwork and policies, I will miss the girls terribly.

 

Today I realised quite how hard the next few months are going to be.

 

On to happier - but still floral - things. Dawn Inskip has a brand new collection out today here

 

and this is what I made with it

 

 

Today I am thankful

• to have one of the best jobs in the world. At times one of the hardest but mostly one of the most rewarding
• a long Bank Holiday weekend

 

 

 

 

How bizarre

It has been a most bizarre weather day - bright sunshine then sleet, then snow then an amazing hail storm then blue skies.

Still it IS England and you now what they say ... if the weather isn't quite what you want, wait an hour and see ... we have had the full gambit today.  Azaleas against a white lawn.

 

 

I have another page to share today made with the collection Beautifully Boho by Jumpstart Designs that I shared yesterday. This time of Nigel and I

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• variety in weather and seasons. I don't think I could live where there were not seasons - though maybe all of them in one day is a bit much

 

and today I have some amazing bonsai trees to share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and I love this bonsai hobbit hole

 

Last chance saloon

This is your last chance to snag some of the pickle barrel bargains.

 

I was lucky enough to work with a massive collection and add ons by Jumpstart Designs called beautiful Boho - the 6 pack is here

 

 

and this is the add on collection here

 

 

I made two pages with this so here is just one of them.

I was thrilled to be able to work with my friend's gorgeous two daughters again. They are lovely girls - inside and out - and it is a joy to scrap them.

 

 

Go and snag yourself some pickle barrel bargains before the promotion ends tonight. You know you want to!

 

Today I am thankful for

• being away from technology for a while - it's not been a good day either at school or at home. We come to rely on it so much and it is not always a blessing

 

 

Family time

Blogging early today as it is kind of a continuation from yesterday.

Apart from the  bluebells I also took A LOT of pictures of bucks - a serious number of pictures, most of which were not in focus as they were of ducklings and boy do those little ones dart.

I  hadn't realised quite how fast duckings moved.

 

Here are some of the pictures I liked from Coy Pond yesterday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the mommy ducks kept pecking the ducklings to make them go back into the water off the ledge - poor little things. I think they were tired out.

 

These were my two favourites

 

 

 

and because I couldn't resist - I even scrapped one of the pictures for a SLYMI challenge on UKS

 

 

Today has been mostly about sitting watching the sea drinking a frap and relaxing thus far. Hence why I thought I would blog before I started work.

 

Today I am thankful for

• a camera with a decent zoom
• sunflower and honey bread
• my nose finally starting to show some sign of improving

 

I waited a week

I drive by the gardens every day just round the corner from work and every morning I have seen the bluebells and thought I would try and find ten minutes at lunchtime to walk down there and take a picture. Every day I have driven by on the way home and thought 'bother'.

Today was a beautiful morning and so we set off together to see what it was like in the sunshine.

 

It was chilly but lovely and springlike.

 

Cue photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also have new scrapping to share and it is a bit of a landmark page.

I used a collection called Fresh Spring by Jen Yurko

 

 

 

Little Emily is little no more and she is NOT thrilled at having her picture taken any more but I did have a shot that I snaffled and couldn't resist making this page. The beautiful little girl is now a beautiful teenager. I love her to bits.

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely Saturday morning
• Spring flowers and sunshine
• grooming my little boy - he loves it. I never groom Kira ... I like my fingers!

 

 

 

 

How apt it is Purple

How appropriate -and sad - that today the Pickle Barrel release is Purple.

I am thinking Purple Rain as are so many people with Prince being another to pass in 2016.

 

What is it with this year - so many famous people dying. However, it is sad that so much is made of so few when I am sure that each and every day of every year there are so many 'ordinary' people dying  who are anything but ordinary to those who love them.

 

Never ever moan about getting old, about the wrinkles and the stiffness and the changes. It is a privilege denied to far too many.

It's been a long hard week and I am sure we could all do with something upbeat and happy - and you will certainly find that over at PBP for the latest pickle barrel releases.

The colour scheme this month is awesome. I love it. And you can snap up such great bargains with the six packs and add ons.

 

I have been very lucky again to work with so many of the collections - and hope to do even more

This was the first I worked with by Dita B called Harmony

 

 

In keeping with my earlier comments about age I scrapped a wonderful lady in our lives who lived to a ripe old age - Nigel's grandmother who was such a beautiful lady - inside and out.

 

 

The title of the page comes with a colleague I worked with years ago who said to me - and they were wise words - two of the most important things in life were grace and graciousness and I have never forgotten that.

 

Today I am thankful for

• the chance to work with such great digital creations - I am very lucky to be on Pickleberrypop's creative team
• every wrinkle and grey hair and aching joint. It shows I am here, I have lived and I am living. Praise be!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grown in Great Britain

I guess that is me then - grown in Great Britain ... and proud of it (though I have a secret ... OK maybe not so secret ... desire to be American.)

 

Having said that I am proud to be British - mostly - and proud of our country - mostly.

However, even though St George's day is looming ahead really soon, this is not just a patriotic post ... it is the name of brand new and amazing collaboration collection by Dawn Inskip and G and T Designs called Grown in Great Britain. It is LUSH

 

 

Dawn's collections are always mega and so this is even bigger than usual as it is a collaboration

I have the least green fingers that you can imagine. I love BEING in a garden but not so keen on doing a garden and we have such poor soil little grows except heather, rhododendron and azalea.

But I do love a nice hanging basket (don't like the after care mind you)

 

This page is a celebration of that.

 

 

I am also sad today as I write as I saw the news that Victoria Wood died today. I don't know what the heck is happening this year - way way too many people passing. It's been a horrible year and cancer is a vicious and despicable disease taking far too many people each and every day.

 

We were lucky enough to see her live and she was brilliant. She was funny and clever, a great writer and a great song writer too. I have to post this as it is one of our favourites ... and lots of people's favourites I suspect

 

 

 

God bless Victoria and Lord support your family x

 

Today I am thankful for

• comedy and comedians and comediennes - they make our lives brighter and bring so much joy to others
• people across the world working so hard to find a cure for this most dreadful disease.

 

 

It's England ... of course it's changeable

Yesterday I froze ...seriously.

There was no heating on and it was C_O_L_D

I felt chilled to the bone.

Today - Oh so different.

It was warm and bright and sunny and lovely and we even went for a walk which was a real treat.

English weather.

Nothing quite like it eh!

 

I have a new page to share today which is another for the digital album .. this time of our trip to Ghent and using a  fab kit by Heather T called A Taste for Travel

 

 

I loved using something really different like a candy stripe in a  lush pink on a travel page.

 

Today I am thankful for

• sunshine to warm the old bones
• someone to work through a problem with - we didn't resolve it - we still have number that don't add up - but we will get there.

 

 

and oh - those good old days eh!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring has arrived - well for the day anyway

Today has been glorious.

It was warm and wall to wall sunshine.

So we headed to one of my favourite places in the whole world, and it is right on our doorstep in our home town.

 

Poole Park

 

It is, in every sense, a proper park. It has a war memorial and beautiful flower beds, it has a putting green, tennis courts an bowls, it has a beautiful lake, boats, geese, ducks, swans, it has a miniature train, a playground, benches and trees and it lovely. It has always been my happy place, even int he winter, but on a Spring Sunday it is beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh and it is close to Starbucks too! We had a lovely morning.

 

And this is a page made this afternoon for the simple recipe challenge on UKS

 

 

I rushed the scan so the stitching together is a bit wonky

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• spring
• a beautiful day
• Poole Park