Dolly's Dreamings

A significant day

Today has been a significant day. Very significant.

 

Today marks the day that I have been retired for a whole year. Last 4th July I was emptying my office, packing away 29 years of memories and moving on. It's incredible how fast that year has gone and how much we have done. Some huge things like a mega road trip holiday and house renovations, some minor like picnics out, day trips and time with friends and family. Everyone said it would take me time to adjust to being retired ... especially at such a young age!!! It didn't. I took to it like a duck to water. I was very proud of what I achieved in 29 years, building up the school from almost nothing to the success it was. I have such happy memories of the children I have taught over almost 30 years, names and faces and smiles I will never forget, but I was so ready. I handed the school over with a happy heart. I wanted to go whilst it was doing well and whilst the choice was totally mine; not down to age or health or worry but when I was still on a high and could walk away with a happy heart.  I have no regrets and know, without question, it was totally and utterly the right time to go. We none of us have any idea how many days we will be blessed with and it is important to seize the day and enjoy every moment, and I am.

I have no idea how long my retirement might last, but if this first year is anything to go by - it is going to be a blast. I am blessed to share my days with my soul mate. We don't do elaborate things but boy to we have fun, boy do we laugh. I am very lucky - and I think he is too.

I have had a lovely time reflecting today. Nigel had to work and so I went for lunch with my bestie - blessed to have shared work with her and to still share things with her now - and then made the most awful scrapbook page I have ever made - seriously - but I love it as it captures so many of the moments from the year.

 

 

Happy independence day everyone - I am LOVING mine!

today I am thankful for

a wonderful year

a career I was proud of

my soul mate 

a future ... However long it may be it is a future

 

 

 

 

Very productive and totally lovely day.

I may have mentioned before ... I do like being retired.

 

It's been glorious here today. Bedding out on the line before I went to work at 8 am but I was home by 11 to sit on the balcony (well might as well enjoy it before it comes down!) and relax. Then a bit of scrapping, some very nice shopping and home again.

 

Days just evolve ... I love that!

 

Barb you asked if Nigel and I dance. That would be a huge NO! I do - he does not! I used to be a superb dancer and when I was 12 I was southern regional junior champion in Ballroom and Latin American. Then I smashed my leg to pieces ... long story ... and was in hospital for weeks and week, in plaster for months and had almost a year of physio and rehab. By the time I went back to dancing I was below average as I had lost so much ground (I used to dance 5 times a week and have three hours of additional lessons as well as the classes) With the typical stupidity of a 16 year old I said if I couldn't be the best again I wouldn't bother at all. Totally stupid and I regret it now. However, when we were reasonably newly married some good friends of ours started latin american classes and talked Nigel and I into going with them. Nigel has never danced and really and truly cannot dance at all - not even shuffling. So we went and the first class was the cha cha. He ended up collapsed int he middle of the floor rocking hysterically as he was so bad he thought it was incredibly funny. We didn't go back! So no - we don't dance. My Daddy was an amazing dancer and we used to go to a lot of dinner dances and balls with my parents and I would always dance with him. My Mom didn't really dance.

 

I have new scrapping to share today again ... another page made with Tiramisu's Tropical collection - Tigers this time.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• new clothes
• Everything seeming more positive ... nothing is different ... just my mindset

 

And I have been surfing again - those of you know me well know how I love puns. These are different signs a restaurant in Texas displays - I love them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More chilled but less chilled

Today has been less chilly though it looks like it is threatening rain again.

It has, however, been more relaxed as Nigel just worked a few hours this morning and we had down time. We have gotten so used to our down time.

I have new scrapping to share today.

The start of a new month sees the new Mojo Challenges at Pickleberrypop.

Oh my they are good. Lots of them have freebies either to use or to win and they really do kick start the mojo.

Go check them out here

I had a go at the use it all mojo first.

 

It used this mini kit by Kathryn Estry and you had to use it all

 

 

This is what I made with it - it just seemed right for what a difference a day makes. I cannot believe I have been retired for almost a year and what a year it has been. Do I miss it? No! Did I make the right decision? Absolutely 100%. Am I happy? Oh yes!

 

 

Dawn also has massive bargains in her sale today with great collections at 50% off including Space,  Slightly Imperfect, Optimistic and Dinosaur,

 

I made these with a couple of them

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely day
• scrapping
• sorted albums - have really gone to town on that today

 

I wish everyone well tomorrow as the UK sees its general election. I will be pleased when facebook ceases to be the House of Commons. I will be pleased to see interesting posts from friends and family not just propoganda for one side or the other. I have been shocked at some of the bias shown on TV and shocked by some of the propganda circulating on both sides that I am sure too many believe. I pray that people make good judgements tomorrow and that we end up with a government - whoever that might be - that will lead our country well, that will help us get back on our feet, that will protect us as we leave Europe and that the country can get behind the Prime Minister, whoever he or she may be.

 

And finally, because they were amazing - some more of those doodled pictures by the Korean artist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The weather has picked up again

After a couple of duller days it has been lovely and sunny today.

We managed to get a new suit for Nigel - the wedding needs black suits and it was the one colour he didn't have. He has one now!

Other than that - it's been quiet - which is good. I like quiet.

 

I have some new scrapping to share which is up and coming - The Pickle Barrel is to be launched soon and this was a collection called Time to .. which is by Eudora Designs and is due for release. watch out for that one - you can see her whole store here

 

and this is her 6 pack

 

 

I used a poem that my Mom used to recite a lot... it fitted in witht he whole theme of my retirement - time to enjoy, time to relax, time to stand and stare

Poem by William Henry Davies

Leisure

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

 

Today I am thankful for

• just a lovely ordinary day
• sitting out in the sun playing games - we are such kids!

 

and finally some lovely pictures from t'internet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Film heaven

We are loving having joined a cinema club - we probably went to the cinema all of twice in the whole of 2016. Oscars come round and if we have heard of one of the films we are doing well.

This month we joined a cinema club and have been to see 5 films in 10 days. Admittedly we are playing catch up at the moment with films that have been out for a while, but we are loving it and have a list of those coming out we will plan to see. We thought we would try it for a while and see what we think. It makes for cheap nights out and heck - with what I have saved on fraps so far since Ash Wednesday I am quids in!

We have seen Hidden Figures,  Lion, Beauty and the Beast, Power Rangers (Oh yes - we would never have seen that if we were not part of the club and it was good fun)  and Viceroy's House. We enjoyed every one and we are already looking forward to understanding what the oscars are about this time.

 

It is new release day at Pickleberrypop and I had fun working with Jumpstart your April by Jumpstart Designs

 

This is what I made with it - the word art was so apt as it was the first photo taken after I left work!

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• kindness in stores - we went to buy a new balcony set of armchairs and table and if we had gone a day later it was 10% off. We asked if they would put it by for us as it was the last one and then we could buy it with the discount tomorrow and they said no, it seemed unfair to make us come back and we could have the discount today. How kind
• films - great fun.

 

I thought these, spotted on line, were very funny. How people in bookstores amuse themselves. they are very clever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely weather and a nice cafe

Lovely weather again today and so it was nice to eb out and about. I met a friend for coffee in Westbourne and went to a lovely little cafe with real leaf peppermint tea, and a good old catch up which was lovely. I also bought great bread for lunch.

Then I met up with my hubby who was just finishing work and we ate the lush bread and went for a walk in the sunshine. I love days like this that sort of just evolve.

 

I have new scrapping to share today too.

Heather T has a fab new collection out today called Busy Bee

 

 

I had such fun making a page about how my day is busy in a totally different post retirement way

 

 

Dawn Inskip also has a sale on of three gorgeous collections

 

Safari Collection

 

Coffee break collection

 

Artistry collection

 

These are ages made with them and you need to snap them up quickly as they are on 50% off today only

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely day
• a catch up with a friend
• my little boy - groomed him today - he loves it. He always comes into the bathroom with me - I never go to the loo alone - and he is always hopeful of grooming. I simply point at the bath and he jumps straight in. Much easier to groom him in there as hair is then washed away when I rinse him off. Kira would kill me if I tried it with her.

 

You can always find the positives

Sometimes there are things in life you don't like and, whilst it may not ALWAYS be possible, you can often turn it round and make that negative a positive.

Now I don't like paying extra for a green garden waste bin.

It's not the money I mind - it's £38 a year I think. I just wish they would include it int he council tax bill. Yes I know that wouldn't be fair on people who don't have a garden but presumably they could include it int he council tax bands that do. That way I wouldn't SEE the money - it's just part of the service we pay for. It is the paying EXTRA that I don't like. I guess we are very lucky int his area as we have just three bins - I know some places have more. We have a general waste bin, a recycling bin (we are actually very good at recycling) and a paid for green garden waste bin. And woe betide you if you use them incorrectly. We are incredibly lucky with our recycling as it all goes in one bin, tins, cans, paper, card, cartons, the lot. No sorting - so we count ourselves blessed. It's a bit of a challenge that our general waste bin has moved to fortnightly like the recycling. I am dreading it int he summer. One of the main things we throw in there is litter waste. Our cats are indoors and they use litter trays and it's not a pleasant sort of rubbish!

Anyway I digress. Turning a negative into a positive.

Our green bin collection starts this week (they don't collect for a few months in the winter as I guess they assume everyone is like us and avoids the gardening when it is cold or wet) and so we were motivated to get out in the garden ad fill the bin! If we hadn't paid the extra we probably wouldn't have bothered. So thank you council - you made us clear a load of dead leaves and pine needles and reveal soil again! Positive into negatives.

I am, however, struggling a little more to find the positives int he billions of pine needles that fall. We love our pine trees but oh my - everywhere is covered. The lawn is barely visible and they do the grass harm. I am surprised there are any needles left on the trees.

 

Spring is in the air though and the birds are singing their hearts out morning and late afternoon - and eating us out of house and home again.

 

I am pleased that I finished the photography challenge on UKS and the pages that went with it. There were three challenge pages to complete.

A page with multiple pictures from the challenge

 

 

a page following a  sketch that was posted and using at least one of the winter snap pictures

 

 

 

 and a page using the picture of yourself that was part of the challenge  (a photo taken this week)

 

I chose to scrap a page using that picture about loving my life. I was very nervous this time last year. I had handed in my notice and hoped I was doingt he right thing. I was getting ready to be part of the interview process for my successor and worrying that I had made a mistake.

A year on from them I LOVE my life.

 

 

 

We don't so anything earth-shatteringly wonderful but it is all just lovely. We go for long walks, we laugh, we enjoy lie ins with the daily paper, I scrap, I volunteer, I go to art classes. It is just a lovely life and so much less stressful. I am away from some people's negativity, surrounded by smiles and positivity and sharing my life with my best friend. No-one knows how much time we have so making the most of every moment and smiling your way through the days is key.

 

 

 

 

It was a very cathartic and happy page to scrap.

 

Barb you asked if we were really that close to the Hollywood sign. I did use a zoom but not a massive one. We were very close - the closest you can get legally!

 

Today I am thankful for

• a cleared garden - well in part
• our wonderful refuse collectors. Complain about the time scale or the cost if you must but they do a jolly good job and are always very helpful and friendly and it's not a very nice job.
• my retirement life - I love it  Nigel was worried I would fin it hard to get used to but I took to it like a duck to water. I was ready for the change, ready to lose the stress, the angst, the worry, the pressure, the accountability. 29 years as a Head  - been there, done that. Loving just being a nobody!

 

 

 

 

Ladies who lunch

Have I mentioned I like retirement.

Today, although the weather has been absolutely foul, I have had a lovely time at Live Laugh Love lunch this month.

The new venue of The Haven was lovely. Even though the weather was grim it was lovely to sit overlooking the water at Sandbanks.

And I went with my bestie too.

 

The talks were very inspiring, the lunch was lovely and totally healthy, the company good. To think, I used to work at lunchtime. My my, I love this.

 

Kira has had a bad day again, being sick several times. I wish we could get to the bottom of it. It is just so unpredictable.

 

I have new scrapping to share today ... another page for the trip album and made for the template challenge on Pickleberrypop. Barb I am so pleased I tempted you over to visit!

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• lunch with a friend
• inspirational ideas

• being indoors on such a wet and horrible night.

Oh and a team of us - my bestie, another two good friends and I, won a quiz last night - by a very small margin but we were int he lead for all 10 rounds. Boy were we proud of ourselves!

 

 

certainly true for even mediocre artists in our house!

Winding things up

I have no idea why the change of one second when one year ticks over to the next is such a significant event - but it is. I guess it is somethingw ithin us that sees signifcance in new starts and new opportunities.

Today has been about preparing for the new.

Our house is AMAZING today.

It kind of started with 'let's change the bed even though it doesn't really need it today so we have a newly changed bed to get into at the start of 2017!'

From there it wet to 'let's move the bed out (a massive endeavor as our bed is in sections with electrics and everything) and clean under it. Which led to let's spring clean the entire bedroom and bathroom which led to let's take down the decorations (so we could have a Fiki free relaxed evening with no tree up) which led to let's springclean the whole house and bin a load of stuff we never use.

 

The result is we are shattered but the house looks fab, we have de-cluttered and cleaned and we are all ready for a new year. I am starting 2017 as a sloth after today!

 

2016 has been an amazing year for us. We always knew it would be. I always post - for my benefit - a review of our year on 31st December and this year I have already finished my review book so can use that as my focus. Feel free to skip down tot he end - I am sure it will be boring as heck for anyone but us and for family who read the blog.

We feel very blessed this year. 2015 was a hard year for us both health wise and 2016 has been a  year of thankfulness. We really have been thankful as we know what ill health means - we count ourselves blessed every day and started 2016 with great optimism.

 

This is the cover of the review book - it is a 12" x 6" book

 

 

 

It was a year about togetherness and so the inside cover reflects that. Nigel said - and it was very poignant - he gave me to TH 29 years ago and he was coming to get me back ... and he did.

 

 

It was this time last year that we really firmed up the plans we had had for about 18 months that I really was going to hand in my notice and take early retirement. I finally handed in my notice on 19th January. Hideous photo of me but it was a hasty snap on that morning to record the day. (and it is straight it is just that it is on hinges as the photo lifts up for journalling.

 

January also saw Nigel really start and make headway with setting up the Darcy Ward Foundation - a major achievement this year and one I am so proud of him for.

One notice had been given we both felt a weight had been lifted off our shoulders. What was done was done - no going back - just going forward.

 

 February was cold with brisk walks and lots of sunshine. Actually it has been a year of sunshine.

 

March saw majour garage sorting ready for me to bring things home - and my last ever conference. I have been blessed to travel to many places and many nice hotels in my career and heard some truly remarkable speakers over the years. It is an aspect I will miss.  I won't miss the black tie dinners though - not my style really.

 

 

March saw the start of the year of the nose too. My nose is looking much better now but Oh My was it awful. I had a possible cancerous lump removed and it all got infected and was dreadful. It turned out to be benign - thankfully - and I am now almost at the point where I am glad I had it done. Almost.

March also saw a lovely trip to Ghent, Amsterdam and Ypres - and everything in between. It was to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary

 

 

 

Our visit to Ypres and the Menin Gate was especially poignant as it was 100 anniversary of the Somme where my grandfather fought and we were there the day Brussels was attacked by terrorists too.

April saw ur 30th anniversary - we had celebrated early as I was at school for the day itself - it saw glorious bluebells and also our new beautiful hybrid car Ruby. We are both as in love with her today as we were in April when we got her. She is fab, saves us a fortune and is so gorgeous to drive.

 

April also saw me give a speech at my last school birthday and sit for my portrait - so not my style at all.  It was also the first of many craft fairs this year which have become more and more successful as I have found what works and what doesn't.

 

 

We became annual members of Compton Acres and have enjoyed many visits and our cats continued to bring us such great joy. (even more so now the tree is down and we are not on guard all the time)

 

 

We re-did the study so I have proper 12 x 12 storage and it looks awesome and I also went on my last residential trip ever. It was also the best residential trip I had ever been on - how fitting.

 

 

June was a month of farewells and was very special, from the tea, the recognition of the bishop, the special transition service, the final concert and tea and prize-giving. It was all very emotional but I was so happy I had made the decision - it was so right, I had no doubts and have not looked back. I miss the girls at times, but I am very happy with the career I had and the life I now have.

 

 

This is one of the pocket pages so there are insert sheets documenting the events

 

 

Obviously I have had to cover up the pictures of children

 

 

June and into July saw many parties and celebrations - fitting I finally finished on 4th July - Independence Day

 

 

July was the first time I really relaxed. I realise now I never relaxed even int he summer holidays as I was always so driven to get everything done in 8 weeks holiday that I never just 'stopped' and chilled. This year I did. We had so many lovely days with friends and family and also went on a wet but enjoyable trip to Wales.

 

 

 

 

August was more of the same. Nigel had by now established the Foundation and had achieved so much. It had been a steep learning curve and a job he was doing 24/7 and so it was time for him, now it was all established, to take a step back and hand it over to someone else. He'd set up something to be really proud of.

 

 

He also fulfilled a dream and drove a trolley bus. He was thrilled.

 

 

We hunted Zebra in August, I damaged both my arm and my ankle (stupid accidents that were quite spectacular in their 'colour' and I suffered a complete and total comuter failure. Everything gone - thank God I back up regularly.

 

Septemeber - well September we were awa ont he best holiday we have ever had. It was a little of everything. Awesome road trip, amazing weather, cities, and forests, mountains and lakes, coast and vineyards and - of course - Disney and Angels.

 

There are also several insets in this pocket page.

 

 

 

 

October saw us settle into our new life. Nigel's brothers visited, we enjoyed Autumn colours and sunsets and partied.

 

 

The weather was exceptional right through the year and we enjoyed so many lovely walks and lunches out. We are blessed to live in such a beautiful place

 

and December saw more great days out, lots of fun with family and friends

 

 

 and a truly special Christmas

 

 

 

We have indeed had a blessed year and one which we count ourselves very lucky.

 

 

 

Finally I finished the JYC book

 

 

 

 

 

I hope 2016 has been a wonderful year for all of you. It is true there are always bad things that happen too and sadness along the way but I genuinely believe it is important to look for the good, for the things to be thankful for, to build on positivity etc. Last year I selected a word at random and it was Future. This year has been one where we have reclaimed our future, however long that may be. We have so much to be thankful for and I hope that you have too.

 

I wish you all - in advance - a very happy new year. I hope 2017 is one filled with health and happiness, love and laughter for us and for all of you

 

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so this is leisure then

So retirement means - mmmmm

so much time to chill that I am really good at it ... so good that I totally forgot to blog. I would like to say it is because I was super busy - but nope - not that! It is in part as I am sick of not having a computer. We are awaiting a new mother board now as a last ditch attempt to save it ... even if only temporarily.

 

Today I have done nothing and it feels awesomely good. I think my body ... and my mind ... is recovering from 35 years of full on work and 29 years of full on responsibility and accountability.

 

I haven't even done much new crafting. To be honest I don't know what I have actually done today other than relax and enjoy myself with Nigel. Simple pleasures like walks and fraps.. And heck - that is doing something isn't it.

 

I do have a new page to share though which I made two weeks ago -- pre computer fail -- celebrating selling my office! Now that sounds bizarre doesn't it. I had been a head for 29 years and over that time I had been blessed with many many gifts. Lots of them came home and many were edible and they were snaffled up. However, I had an office full of toys and pictures and things the children had made or given me. Most of them were cats of course! The girls used to love coming into the office and looking at the things and playing with them. Counting the number of cats on pictures, ornaments, soft toys, cushions etc became quite the game (there were in the region of 90 I believe. The question was ... what to do with them when I retired. Clearly I had nowhere to put them and they were of little value other than sentimental and so I decided to raffle them for charity. The girls would be happy as they would have a little bit of my office to keep, the charity (Lewis Manning in Poole) would be happy and I would be happy. Win all round. In the end it was a tombola and I raised £80 and a lot of smiles.

 

Faces blurred out obviously

 

Consequently limited new scrapping but I do have things the still share from Nigel's 60th book and I better finish up those posts before he turns 61!

 

These two pages represent his love of all things animal. I tried, in his book, to capture all of the different side of him. The different things that make him HIM and that make him tick. And animals of all sorts are a really important part of his life.

Pf course there are our fur babies - but it goes way beyond that. He has an affinity for animals. He ;speaks' to them. Seriously. And they listen.

I have seen it so many times, from friends dogs and cats to the camel in Israel, wild cats of all types, birds and donkeys and the most amazing F1 bengal cat who as so wild they caged him outdoors and he stopped and make eye contact with Nigel and crept over and purred as he 'spoke' to the cat in his mind.

 

He really is the animal whisperer.

 

  and he had such a special bond with Bruno that even the keepers said he recognised Nigel and behaved differently. And then ... of yes ... then he marked him as his own as only tigers know how!!!

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• retirement (I think that is going to be a daily thankful for the foreseeable future)
• my wonderful animal loving husband
• people who make mother boards ... finger crossed