Dolly's Dreamings

Thank goodness for a great health service

It was quite a day yesterday.

First thing in the morning Nigel just casually dropped into conversation that he thought he might get his eye checked out! He said he had developed a huge floater like a spider's web in his right eye yesterday and it hadn't gone overnight and so he thought he might like to get it checked.

Um -yes!

We both knew that a change like that, a sudden increase in floaters etc, was a warning sign of something like a torn retina or even worse a risk of a detached retina. We got up straight away and went to Poole.

We figured, rightly, our best shot was the optician where Nigel knows the manager at Specsavers well. He was fab and booked us in for a couple of hours later with one of the specialists there. We went back and Nigel was dilated and examined and yes, he had a possible tear and so they phoned the hospital and checked us in there. A drive across from Poole to the Eye Hospital in Bournemouth (highlighting the fact that when the two hospitals merge and Poole loses its A and E department people are NOT going to survive that journey if they are critically ill - but that is another story)

The hospital was fabulous and we were seen within the hour. They confirmed a small tear which had taken a bit off the disc at the back and so it would need to be lasered which acts as a sort of welded seal to stop any more fluid leaking and stop a detached retina. It sounded horrible but Nigel said it wasn't bad. It was a bit scary but it didn't hurt. His eye is safe now but the big floater is still there and whilst it might lessen a little it is unlikely to go away however his brain should learn to compensate for it.

Once again we are left amazed by the quality of our NHS, the service we received, the care of everyone involved, their kindness and their expertise. We are truly lucky in this country and yet again we cannot speak highly enough of the NHS. 

No scrapping yesterday but I do have new things to share

 

This is a page documenting the amazing PATH station at World Trade Centre - it looked like a dove of peace

It was breathtaking

 

 

This is a page about St Augustine and how pretty the huge number of B and Bs were

 

and this is another page made for A Trip Down Memory Lane using Simple Stories Simply Vintage Botanical and shows Thomas Hardy's cottage in our home county. Love Dorset!

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a happy and positive resolution yesterday
• great stuff to play with from such super people at A Trip Down memory Lane
• retirement - we were able to deal with yesterday without any letting people down at work. For that we are both so grateful.

 

 

Happy 18th and 21st birthday

Ok

I am the first to admit it might seem a little odd at my age to be celebrating my 18th and 21st  birthday - but such is life.

 

Let me explain.

 

When I was 18 my mom and dad bought me a beautiful gold bracelet made of three colour gold links. It was beautiful. I wore it rarely as it was 'for best' For my 21st birthday they bought me an antique gold necklace with an antique locket. I wore it every day but I lost it - somewhere between Thurrock cycle speedway track and the toilets in South Mimms service station. It had been a filthy daya nd I was in layers - all wet. We stopped ont he way home at the services to go to the toilet and when I was in the cubicle the chain dropped on the floor. Clearly it had broken at some point and fallen down inside my clothes. I stipped - everything - in that cubicle but I couldn't find the locket anywhere. Two other ladies helped me. But we never found it. I reported it and with the insurance money I eventually bought another gold necklace. It was never the same.

 

About twelve years ago I stopped wearing gold. I have no real idea why. I just didn't like it any more. And eventually - for my 25th -Nigel even bought me a new wedding ring and engagement ring when we renewed our vows that were platinum. I only ever wear silver jewellery. And not a lot of that!

I had always - for years and years - wanted a Tiffany bracelet. Now we are not 'designer' people. I don't think between us we own anything that is 'designer' or expensive. It just doesn't float our boat. I have friends who have designer bags and shoes and clothes but it's just not us. We are not interested. Apart from a Tiffany necklace. We went to Tiffany in New York back in the 90s and the only thing we could afford to buy was a Tiffany pen (which was beautiful)  But I had always wanted a Tiffany silver bracelet but of course I'd never buy one - such a waste of money and the one I bought from a craft market for £20 worked just as well - almost!

A couple of months ago I decided to sell all of my gold jewellery - I never wore it, it sat in a drawer as a reminder I never wore it. So I sold it and decided that with some of the proceeds I would buy that Tiffany bracelet - an 18th and 21st birthday present from Mommy and Daddy. I knew they would approve of me having something I would wear everyday instead of something that sat in a  drawer.

Yesterday Nigel took me up to Tiffany in London and we picked my bracelet and it was such a lovely experience. The staff were lovely (I was worried they'd realise we were not 'real' Tiffany customers and not be very nice. They were loevly. And I LOVE my 18th and 21st birthday present and the perfume I also got.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simple things really - but the fulfillment of a dream. Thank you for my birthday present Mommy and Daddy

 

And in other news - some new scrapping.

A digital page for a challenge on Pickleberrypop

 

 

and the first page for my DT work for A Trip Down memory Lane this month using Simple Stories Sunshine nd Blue Skies.

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a fabulous day fulfilling a dream

 

 

Celebrating us

Happy 33rd wedding anniversary to us!

Nothing big this year - but a nice trip out in the sunshine this morning - which has gone now. A hobble around Wimborne and a visit to the Minster to thank God for the blessings of each other. An ice cream in the sun and we were done.

I count myself so blessed to have married my best friend and I truly am thankful every single day. We have done some amazing things, seen some amazing places, but the best bit has been the ordinary everyday life together.

Just started dating - trip to America - start of a lifelong love for each other - and America

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and us today - 33 years on, certainly older, maybe not much wiser, but even closer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I better share some of the scrapping stuff too eh!

 

This is the title page for the Fabulous Fall album. I never do title pages first - it takes me a while to get into the zone.

 

 

 

Nigel being a good student in the Amish one-room school house

 

 

Skilled costumed craftsmen at Jamestown Settlement.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• waiting patiently for Nigel for quite a few years! Proves all good things come to those who wait.
• Being best friends for almost all of my life.
• a perfect marriage -we do the mundane, we travel, we work, we care for our home, we argue, we play, we do our own hobbies, we parent our fur babies but most of all, we love and we laugh, every single day.

 

 

well look at the ups and downs of life

The last time I posted I was full of the joys of spring - quite literally. We had had an amazing day out and I was so thrilled by my life.

As it happened - I am even more thrilled but in a different way.

 

Not half an hour after I posted I suddenly had chest pains and they got steadily worse. I felt sure they were not my heart but the pain int he centre of my chest was intense and after two hours where it was getting worse and worse we decided to go have it checked out.

 

We are so blessed to have a wonderful national health service in this country.

 

Nigel dropped me off at the door to A and E and went to park. By the time he had parked, I had been triaged and was already in a  cubicle. I explained I felt sure it was not heart-related but just felt I ought to get it checked and was very apologetic. They were lovely and said NEVER leave chest pains, ever.

 

They were lovely and apart from a couple of hitches, it was all very smooth. I had an ECG almost straight off and was given morphine. Then we hit a snag. A and E policy is stick a cannula in so they can get whatever samples they want. It's the sensible and usually the easiest option. One procedure and then the cannula is there for whatever they need. Um - not so good if you are me. Getting blood out of me for even a blood test is a heck of a procedure. I have been told over the years all sorts of things. I have 'deep veins', I have 'small veins' I have 'wiggly veins'. I think it could be summed up by just saying I have crappy veins actually. Anyway, the nurse came to take the blood and said she was going to do a cannula. I explained I had very tricky veins and she didn't really listen but said she liked a challenge. Now bear in mind at this point I was sitting down. Tip one - never do a medical procedure on me unless I am lying - I am a fainter.

She tried my arm, my wrist - no joy - so hit the back of my hand. The worst place for me really. The worst place for my veins too. Apparently, they collapse real easy in my hand. Nigel stood by me and held my hand and oh my goodness it hurt like hell. For a long time. And I got fainter and fainter and sicker and sicker and apparently whiter than white. Even poor Nigel who was watching looked uncomfortable and said it was horrible as she forced it in and wiggled and pulled and pressed and he said he was sure the needle was going to come out of the other side. He said (I don't look) it was a very big needle. Anyway, she failed. She got some blood out for the blood test but the canula failed and the bruise is massive and it still hurts like mad now. I had water and sick bowls and gradually the colour started to come back.

We were about another hour and a half before the doctor came (he had had to wait for the lab result on the blood)  to tell me the ECG was clear he didn't think it was my heart but the blood had clotted before the lab tested it as it had been a poor sample and so it had to be repeated. I was tearful at the thought of another cannula but he listened and said he would do it himself and he would just take blood and not try a cannula. He did get blood but even he struggled and I have another massive bruise on the other arm. He then said  I had to have a chest x-ray, another ECG and then I would be transferred to the acute admissions ward to await the result. I was very sad. I was sure it wasn't heart. The ECG was clear and I wanted to go home.

I did bump into another doctor who recognised me and was a past pupil so it was lovely to chat with her.

Anyway - chest x-ray done, ECG done, all obs done and I was moved - by wheelchair (no need I could walk but it is procedure) to acute admissions and told to get into bed. I explained I wasn't staying so as a compromise I lay in the bed. After another hour or so the bloods were back and another doctor saw me and said they were clear, it wasn't heart but they thought it was costocondritis.

This is from the web site

Costochondritis is the medical term for inflammation of the cartilage that joins your ribs to your breastbone (sternum). This area is known as the costochondral joint.

When the costochondral joint becomes inflamed it can result in sharp chest pain and tenderness, which may develop gradually or start suddenly.

The pain may be made worse by:

• a particular posture – such as lying down
• pressure on your chest – such as wearing a seatbelt or hugging someone
• deep breathing, coughing and sneezing

physical activity

can be difficult to tell the difference between the chest pain associated with costochondritis and pain caused by more serious conditions, such as a heart attack.

Costochondritis may improve on its own after a few weeks, although it can last for several months or more. The condition doesn't lead to any permanent problems, but may sometimes relapse.

It's not known exactly why the costochondral joint becomes inflamed, but in some cases ,it's been linked to:

• • • an injury to your chest
    • physical strain from repeated exercise or sudden exertion that you're not used to – such as moving furniture
    • an infection – including respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and wound infections
    • wear and tear – your chest moves in and out 20 to 30 times a minute, and over time this motion can lead to discomfort in these joints

Before a diagnosis can be confirmed, some tests may need to be carried out to rule out other possible causes of your chest pain.

These may include:

• • • an electrocardiogram (ECG) – which records the rhythms and electrical activity of your heart
    • a blood test to check for signs of underlying inflammation
    • a chest X-ray

If no other condition is suspected or found, a diagnosis of costrochondritis may be made. Costochondritis often gets better after a few weeks, but self-help measures and medication can manage the symptoms.

 

So there we go. I was finally home after nidnight, sore, shattered, doped up on morphine and relieved. Life really is good. A little bit of pain is a msall price to be paid for NOT having somethingt he matter with my heart and, yet again, the NHS are wonderful.

 

I spent most of Wednesday out of it as the morphine really doesn't agree with me and I felt dreadful (I'd never make an addict) but today I feel so much better and am so grateful.

 

I have new scrapping to share too

 

This was another for a cyber crop challenge - a very old photo of Nigel and I. The challenge involved quirky and we were certainly quirky in this. It was our first christmas together back in 1983

 

 

and this was to use an oversized element - this was a great cut file and is another for the Fabulous Fall album - which is now three albums!

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• our NHS
• doctors, nurses, receptionists, porters - all wonderful
• Nigel - my support - always

 

 

In Memory of My Friend

You will all remember that my good friend Dawn Inskip passed away suddenly last year. There are still many days when it just hits me and I think of her so often.

I wanted to scrap something special but couldn't think what and how and then I saw a page posted for inspiration on FTLOPP and I knew I had to scraplift it for Dawn.

 

The defining thing that always stood out with her designs was the colour. I am a vanilla person ... I fear bright colours (not that you'd believe it if you saw my car!) and Dawn's designs always made me explore so much more than I would have done. They were bright and vibrant and lush and so this was the perfect page for a tribute to her. 

 

It took an age to find and cut all the coloured petals, ink them, punch the stars and circles, but it was very therapeutic. The photo is Nigel and I on her bench on the day we went up with Paul and Carly to unveil the bench.

I think Dawn would have approved!

 

 

In addition, I have been painting today.

Our focus at art this month has been to look at pop art - not a genre I like or really understand.

I have had a couple of dabbles but this one - copied not my own design, but obviously painted myself and made my own a little - I was quite pleased with.

Works better if you are further away from it and squinting helps too.

 

Very interesting exercise in negative space. Doubly proud as I painted it in acrylics which I hate using. 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• the friendship I had with Dawn
• colour
• people who share inspiration so generously
• the scrapping community I am so proud to be a part of 
• time to be able to create

 

 

Just forgot

We have had a very interesting mix of days ranging from very busy too so chilled we did nothing and, as a result, I just forgot to blog. Clean went right out of my head. It is that simple.

 

I have caught up with a friend I used to work with, which was lovely. She loaned me the three Jeffrey Archer Prison Diaries and that is part of the problem. I have just been busy devouring them. It's been a long time since I have read three books in three days! They were very interesting reading. 

We went to visit Alice's new babies - two adorable little kittens we fell immediate;y in love with. They are beyond cute. She wanted two sisters so badly and they have found a wonderful fur-ever home. 

We went to see Bumblebee at the cinema which was OK - just a bit of a filler really, and we have been for lots of walks and caught up with the latest seasons of Suits.

 

Today I tried to sort my patterned papers but to be honest, it was too daunting a task really. I have way way too much stuff. Far too much paper. I need to start making a dent in it and NOT buying any more.

The room looks tidier and I have at least familiarised myself with some supplies I had forgotten and will now use.

I do have a couple of pages to share though.

 

The first was made for the template challenge over at Pickleberrypop and showcases the incredible Roundabout Diner we loved so much. We have since heard people travel from quite a distance to visit it so we were very lucky it was, quite literally, on our doorstep.

 

 

This page is paper and one I am actually really pleased with.

The side of the building in the first picture is our hotel and we were on the hotel deck taking the pictures. You can see what an amazing view it was.

The lower photo was sat at what would be our table for dinner, so you can see what the view was like from the dining room. I would recommend anyone to stay there. It was amazing.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a tidier craft room
• a new year resolution to NOT buy new stuff other than essentials like glue and ink.
• Chilled days - love retirement (Though I am invigilating again later this month)

 

 

 

All shiny and new

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE.

I HOPE IT IS FILLED WITH HEALTH AND HAPPINESS, LOVE AND LAUGHTER

FOR EACH ONE OF YOU AND FOR YOUR FAMILIES.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS BLOGGING JOURNEY WITH ME.

 

 

A new year is a new start, right.

No I am not talking resolutions. I have made a couple but they are not for sharing.

I am talking an all new shiny Pickleberrypop.  Check it out HERE 

I have been a Creative Team member on PBP for the past almost 7 years! I am as thrilled now as I was then. There are awesome designers in the store and I am privileged to work with all of them and showcase their design. Do go and have a look at the new store.

 

The site has had a complete refurb and looks lovely and there are loads of special offers.

There is a gorgeous kit FWP that is a Berry Blend from two designers, Heather T and Pavlinka called Winter Horizons 

 

 

 

 

I also worked with Foundations Circles 1 by Fayette Designs to make these two pages. These basics are less limiting than a template and so much fun to use 

 

 

We are still buzzing about our visit to Carlo's Bakery - and not because of the sugar we ingested (though we did indulge)

 

 

 

 

 

And I also worked with the new collection from Natali Designs called Hope and Dream

 

 

 

Do have a look at the new website. The store is wonderful but the forums are also great. There are lots of new Mojo challenges and this month there are incredible chances to win a HUGE prize

 

check it out HERE

 

I also want to add that there are new and exciting challenges coming to UK Scrappers so don't miss out on those.  I organise many of the challenges and am hosting a new monthly as well.

And finally new challenges over at A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE and their blog CREATED BY ATDML - two of which I am hosting each month.  And talking ofATDML the dates have just been announced for their next retreat. These places always go incredibly quickly so don't delay. They are really really good. You can find all of the details HERE

 

 

 

So as you can see I have been a busy girl. 

 

Apart from that I have also been general paper  scrapping just for me and this is a page I made about one of our favourite days of the year - Boxing Day

 

 

 

 

 

And Jackey I promise the Disney travel reports WILL come - just not for a few more days as things are full on at the moment.

Today I am thankful for

• scrapping - it is a hobby that brings me endless pleasure and boundless opportunities
• new year - new start
• friends across the world I have made through this amazing hobby we all share

 

 

 

We need to become ducks

It has been utterly filthy weather here the last couple of days - really seriously grim. 

We have had quite a lazy couple of days. To be honest it is the weather for staying in snuggly warm and dry. I love this time of year though. I like the early dark evenings, the lights and Christmassy things. 

 

We finally braved the beast and put our tree up on Friday. I swear Fiki was in it within five minutes. I know we need to let him get it out of his system but still - he is a nightmare and he is a big heavy boy so he topples it easily. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today we went out for a late lunch and called in at the cemetery on the way. I always take a wreath for Mommy and Daddy. I really don't know why as I know they are not there, but I always have, every year, and it will be an unbelievable 30 years soon since I lost Mommy. The wreaths have gotten nastier and nastier as they seem to have so few berries on them by the time I go to buy one and they are silly money. I have always bought a fresh wreath, a real on. This year I made an artificial one which might last longer and at least has some colour on it. 

 

 

I spent yesterday making Christmas presents that turned out quite well but I can't share them yet in case the people who are due to receive them see them. I also did a mess of scrapping but as some of it is for Pickle Barrel release next week and some are for my class for January at ATDML I cannot share those at the moment either. 

 

I can share this though that was made for the use it all mojo challenge - you got a free mini kit by Lorie M. 

 

 

 

And this is one of my December design team pages for ATDML. 

 

The photo was taken int he studio at Disney Springs and I wanted the page to echo a hanging wreath 

 

 

 

 

Lots of fussy cutting and I liked adding the real-life bow 

 

Today I am thankful for 

• staying dry 
• making my parents a new wreath this year 
• a lush Pizza
• Christmas and lights and Christmas fragrances 

 

 

 

 

32 years in the making

A little while ago there was a challenge on UKS to scrap siblings. 

I don't have any of those. Just me - an only child - now an orphan!

 

So I searched what I could make. I debated Nigel and his brothers but it didn't float my boat so much and then I thought of a picture of my Mom and her sister. It was all the more poignant because Aunty Betty passed earlier this year.

 

So I dug out a photo of them that was from my wedding - just such a happy picture of them together. And I prepared to scrap it. And then I stopped and thought what I was going to do with it and - well inspiration struck.

Nigel and I have been married almost 33 years and apart from the odd photo for a specific purpose I have never scrapped my wedding.

 

There were reasons for this - and they were pretty stupid reasons really. Firstly I feel my photos are very old-fashioned. Well, they would be wouldn't they. It was the 80's. That's practically vintage! What I mean is they are very formal. I think wedding photography is gorgeous now with artistic shots, informality etc. Ours was of its time - formal and staid and, quite frankly, boring.

The other thing is I was very nervous on my wedding day. I don't like my photo taken now and I am so much more relaxed these days. I look scared and stern in most of them.

But I have come to accept that they are what they are and they ARE my wedding day - one of the happiest days of my life. And I haven't recorded the day in any meaningful way. I just have the professional pictures in albums and no stories are told. So I set about addressing that.

 

I didn't want a huge album - so I went for 8" x 8" as I figured I would want very little embellishment and really just wanted to tell the story of some of the day.

 

It's not going to be finished quickly as I dip in and out of it but here is the work in progress so far. Dated and simple but mine!

 

 

 

 

 

 

These two form a sort of double

 

 

 

   and this is the companion page to the one of the three of us. Nigel worked on a local radio station - just once a week for sports reports - but knew all the staff so it was no surprise that I ended up Bride of the week - the bride they called on her wedding day! He just didn't give me any advance warning so no surprise but I was very surprised!!

 

 

 

and this was the page of my Mom and her sister that started it all off and I am so pleased I am working on this album

 

Thursdays - I know today is Friday but I missed yesterday - are art class and so I will share my latest picture. It is not my style was not my choice and is not the medium I like! It had to be acrylic and was from a very poorly copied picture off t'internet. But never let it be said I wouldn't do a challenge.

We had to paint it from scratch in 2 hours. The idea was to be free with paint and just flow. Not detail.

Um, I don't do free and flow and not detail. I did get it done in under two hours though - even with the details

 

Today I am thankful for

• deciding to record our wedding - better late than never
• scrapping time
• 32 years of being married to my best friend

 

 and finally - just to show we are as happy today as we were 32 years ago. Well actually I think we are way way happier to be honest

 

 

yes - still happy and still in love and still very very stupid

 

 

Tropical Travelogue Part Two

It's been a lovely day here today - just a nice chilled relaxed day with a long walk and nothing much happening. Not every day needs to be amazing. Truly! But every day can be lovely. It's just that some days you have to look a little harder ... today I didn't have to look far.

 

I shared some of the Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue work the other day so this is the remainder of the things I got to create

 

This was different again - very much a water theme with the aquarium at Seaworld

 

 

 

 

 

 

and this was another 'wild page using lots of the leaves. One thing I will say about this collection was that I used a LOT of fussy cutting ... but I do like fussy cutting.

 

 

 

 

A tropical Travelogue set had to have pictures of the Caribbean Beach - our tropical paradise ... well, it used to be. They have ruined it now. It is no longer just tropical with gondola monstrosities and huge towers and it certainly isn't our idea of paradise, but it WAS

 

 

 

 

 

And I couldn't resist using it for a Pismo page - still my favourite ever sunset. Sandbanks and evening hill is close, but this was perfection 

 

 

 

 

This is my favourite page made with the collection and I confess this one is framed in the hall. I have a lovely frame - I think it is a Ribba from Ikea which is about 16" square with a 12" x 12" opening inside the mount - where I change the pages regularly. This is in the frame at the moment.

 

 

 

and finally three more cards I made with the left overs

 

 

 

Do check out the collection HERE

 

Barb you asked if I always do pages quickly. I never leave an unfinished page... I generally spend between an hour and two hours in a page ... any longer than that and I lose interest... I also have to clear my desk and put away everything after each layout even if I am doing another page that day. I am terribly OCD 

Today I am thankful for

• being married to someone who gets the simple things of life too
• nice days - not just special days. Although it is true what they say, every day you are alive is special

 

 

Finally - some people made things a little more special by painting the ordinary and making it extra-ordinary