Dolly's Dreamings

And so it begins

Today saw the first day that I wasn't at work and all of my previous colleagues were. It was a very odd feeling as I knew what they would be doing and I wasn't part of it.

 

But that was OK. We went out, we had a drive, we had a late leisurely lunch out.

 

I think I may like this retirement lark.

 

I haven't done any scrapping as to be honest I am trying to a) rest my ankle and b) stay out of my craft room as it is too depressing without the computer.

 

However I have found a file on my back up that hasn't been shared here and as it is my first day of not working when everyone else is it is appropriate that it is a retirement page.

 

It records how scared I was when my portrait was unveiled. I was very shocked when the governors suggested they wanted to have my portrait painted. My first reaction was NO! Then Nigel talked me into it saying i was a great honour. Then I had the terror of meeting the artist and sitting for endless photos.

I saw a sketch early on (I now have that sketch as the governors had that and another one of me framed for me to keep) but I was terrified of seeing the finished painting. It was to be unveiled at the tea and I confess I did go and have a sneak peak before everyone arrived and I was very relieved.

 

The photo shows the Head of Senior School, my boss, and I unveiling the said portrait which is now on display in the school.

 

 

It was made for a challenge and it included using bling - something I don't usually do

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely first day off work
• finding some stuff on back up that I can use
• patience ... getting quite good at that actually

 

A very significant day

Today is just a Wednesday.

Today is just a day.

But actually, in this house, it is not.

Today is a significant day.

 

Today is the last day I am officially employed - by anyone.

 

Although I kind of finished on 4th July when my successor took up her role and my office, today is my final final day at work. Ever I hope. I am not planning on another job but never say never. No-one ever knows what is around the corner. But it is not in the plan at the moment.

 

So my last salary has been paid, my last day has been worked (though it wasn't at work) and I am officially, as of midnight, a retired lady of leisure. And it feels so good.

 

I will be toasting that tonight!

 

It is fitting to share a little of my retirement gift today. I asked for any gifts to be int he form of vouchers and I bought myself a shiny ne iPad Pro and apple pencil and I love it.

 

I have actually spent quite a lot of today playing with my best friend on our iPads, teaching each other new tricks. It was also Jakki who showed me the Millie Marotta colouring app which, of course, we both have now!

 

This is my first properly completed picture on it - and it took me longer than with pencils or paints I think!

 

I am not sure if I prefer it on the black background or the white.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dawn has a new release on 50% off at the Lily Pad today - Yarn Craft

 

 

and I made this page about how having Fiki meant I could no longer be a knitter or crocheter. Small sacrifice really - I'd rather have him any day!

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• 29 years doing a job I loved with amazing children
• freedom - from the stress, the accountability, the politics, the difficulties
• the chance to have early retirement whilst I can still do things
• a morning with my BFF
• my iPad Pro

 

 

so ... do you know what ... I am NOT going to!!!

 

 

And this was my randomly generated word for 2016. Funny old world isn't it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sun causes it!

What is it about the sunshine that forces you - yes forces you - to dine out.

I mean we are usually quite reasonable people.

We might go out as much as once a week in good times. No where flashy just out.

But give us some sunshine and we feel the need to be in a garden somewhere eating outside and being waited on!

 

Today was unexpected. Nigel had been working and I had been having my toenails done and he rang when I was on my way home and said let's meet at a local pub by the water and have lunch. We had a very light snack and it was - quite frankly - perfect. We sat int he shade, there was a teeny bit of a breeze and then we walked along the quay. Lovely.

 

Now, however, I would like the heat to go please. England is a largely uncivilized country with no air con in most houses. If it is going to be this hot - and this humid - then we need air.

I am sat here typing in my own little pool of over-heatedness thinking I may go for a drive just to have the air con on!

Never satisfied are we!

 

I have a new page to share today made for  the weekly challenge and it may well get re-made as I am not keen! It is too busy and not me.

However it records a significant event for my retirement album. When I was introduced to Jeff Williams, the director of education for the Diocese of Winchester I thought how nice it was that he happened to be visiting when there was a special tea on - that he could stay and have some tea. I never even considered he might have been there BECAUSE of the special tea.

Anyway - he stood up and made a lovely speech - he was there FOR ME - and he brought with him a letter from the Bishop with his good wishes and his thank you for 29 years of Christian service at school and a gift as well. The small pictures is me cracking up laughing because I really didn't see it coming. I thought it was pure fluke he was there. He was such a nice man and he made the tea even more special - the letter and what he said being a real highlight of my whole career.

 

 

I also have news of two sales from Dawn

There is 50% off the Be Who You are kit

 

 

to make pages like this crazy one of me

 

 

and also 50% off Today was a Challenge

 

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely unexpected treat in the sunshine
• electric fans
• special moments in life.

 

 

 

 

Home is where the heart is

Just as well that home is where the heart is as it is also where the ankle is!

 

We have been a bit limited the last couple of days with the ankle issue. It was the size of a reasonable rugby ball - so swollen and unbelievably painful. However the swelling has started to go down a great deal and the internal bruising is now coming out - thankfully. The black and yellow isn't a good look but at least it is healing. Just wish I wasn't so jolly clumsy.

 

We did venture out today to look for some new things for display for my craft stand as we have a lot of fairs booked now. I wanted some different ways of displaying the felt items and I think I have found them. I bought a lush little painted wicker basket for £4 and a great shadow box type display box which has wires and little pegs and will give me a bit of height. I know what I would LIKE for the stall but it would need to be bespoke built and whilst Nigel is on it - he is busy at the moment. It will come.

I have another new page to share today - your last chance to snag Pickle Barrel products

 

This time I worked with What I'm really made of by Jumpstart Designs

 

 

 and this is what I made with it

 

 

I need to do a paper page witht his picture too as it was one of the pictures from my summer scrap challenge - plus it is an important picture to scrap as it summarises my summer somewhat!

 

Today I am thankful for

• bargain finds at Molly's Den and Toad Hall
• the sunshine returning
• the yummy smell of dinner cooking ( part of my ... I am retired so I am cooking from scratch' resolution

 

 

and THIS just because it made me laugh

 

celebrating with family

I have had a wonderful time celebrating my birthday with family 'ooop north.

I arrived to find birthday banners up all over and we were able to sit in the garden and just enjoy chatting before going to lunch at one of my favourite restaurants. It isn't fancy - just wonderful food and good prices and - of course - great company.

We had a wonderful meal as usual and then they had organised a birthday cake for me as well.

And I even had my favourite little girl there to help me blow out the candles.

 

 

I had lovely brithday gifts from everyone and was a very spoilt girl.

One of the things Nigel bought me - as we had a conversation recently about juggling being good for both sides of your brain and so a very good activity for retired people to learn - was a set of juggling balls. So much fun.

 

Today has been a quiet day and those are fabulous too.

 

I  have a new page to share today

 

It is another for my Retirement album and was a SLYMI reboot challenge which had to be a scraplift and I scraplifted Lou@papermaker

 

It shows me being given some of the 29 roses I was given as a very visual sign of 29 years of service.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• Nigel sorting our finances out so we are all set up for our new improved situation - even though phoning the bank is an increasing nightmare as they do seem to want everything including your inside leg measurement as security. I KNOW it is good and for your own protection but it's hard!
• a wonderful day with family
• being spoilt

 

 

 

A quieter day today

Nigel had to work this morning so I had a quiet day - just as well as my knee has been playing up terribly.

I was going to watch speedway tonight but cannot as sitting for three hours with my knees bent is not going to be a viable option.

 

I did manage a little scrapping today though - another for my school book and for the SLYMI challenge this week.

 

 

It's another with blank faces I am afraid. I promise my girls really do have lovely faces ... but I can't share them.

 

It was my last ever school trip to Weald and Downland open air museum. It is not one of my favourite places to visit and I have been there some 12 times or more. However, this was the perfect trip. I was with Sally which was wonderful, the weather was perfect - not to hot not wet not windy, the girls were a joy to be with and we had such fun. We played, we ate, we chatted, we ate, we looked at some houses, we ate, we played a stonking game of quoits and - no bias here ... I won! - we cooked and we had a truly lovely day out. It was everything a  school trip should be and usually is for the kids but was for the staff as well. Everyone said it was our best ever visit there. I wanted the page to reflect the happiness.

 

Today I am thankful for

• a nice pillow to raise my leg on
• strawberries and cream. I only eat British strawberries as they taste nicer than any other and the season is short so we try and cram in as many as possible

 

 

 

and I loved these Disney Starbucks takes.

 

Read all about it

I was quite surprised when Nigel came back from his Mom's today with the local daily paper that someone had given her a copy of saying 'I think your daughter in law is in it!'

 

Indeed I was

 

Hence the Read all about it Title.

 

It was a lovely article with some super pictures and so nice to have it recorded int hat way. Certainly something I never expected.

 

I guess almost 3 decades is something to be celebrated then!

 

 

It's not a good photo of it - I will take a better because I will, of course, scrap it.

 

It is a full size image so if anyone is interested you should be able to read it.

 

I love the large picture which included me and a selection of pupils ranging in age from 3- almost 40

 

I also scrapped a page from school today for the UKS challenge. I have obviously blocked out the girls faces as I won't post pictures of other people's children without permission unless they are int he public domain already. It's a shame as it is their faces that are so awesome. we were all laughing and having so much fun - leaver together and literally jumping for joy. One of the mums very kindly sent me the photo.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• well they say everyone has their 15 minutes of fame. I have had mine now. I will be wrapping chips tomorrow.
• a tidy garden - we worked hard today
• aching muscles - the result of productivity

 

 

Craft Fair preparation

I have been busy making a few things for my next craft fair - off to a slow start but getting there now. It is the initial design that always takes so long

Last night we went on a boat trip courtesy of Poole Speedway which was lovely - but Oh My it was windy.

 

Very few people sat on the upper oustide deck - but we did - though Nigel caved towards the end of the evening.

It was blowing a hoolie but actually not very cold.

 

Having said that, when I got home my hair, curly at the best of times, was so tangled I couldn't get even my afro comb through it.

It wasn't a good look.

I do love our home town. Second biggest natural harbour in the world (second only to Sydney) it is vast and beautiful

 

Just a few pictures from last night

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have new scrapping to share today which was made for the scrap like you mean it challenge to dig out and use the punches.

It is another for my retirement album and is me finally dressed as a cat. The whole school had been dressed all day and I was given my whiskers and ears just before I went to my surprise concert - which was a standout moment of my life.

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• a productive day
• a little bit of sunshine
• lunch at the lake

 

 

Housework is actually fun

Now I am guessing I won't say it often - but when you haven't done housework in a very long time it is fun and rewarding.

Hold that thought.

Bed changed, washing outside (never happens when I am at work) house cleaned from top to bottom and a brand new airing cupboard.

 

I am blessed with a huge walk in airing cupboard but that brings with it clutter. I am not having clutter anymore.

Everything was taken out and sorted and a huge huge pile was thrown out. It has been 7 years since I had a pink bathroom so three full sets of towels ... one pretty much brand new ... each comprising of 5 towels have gone. So has assorted bedding, nightwear etc I have so much space on the shelves - and I am keeping it that way

 

I am loving sorting and tidying and throwing out.  12 pairs of shoes have also gone!

 

There are new releases today ay The Lily Pad by Dawn Inskip and it is a bumper day

 

Firstly there is the leap of faith bundle

 

 

I mean how appropriate was that for me right now.

 

 

Nigel and I have taken that leap of faith together and if this first few days is anything to go by it is going to be a fun filled ride.

 

There is also the totally amazing Freedom bundle

 

 

 

and this is a page made with it

 

The photo was from our trip to Washington which was actually a reward from Nigel's work when he designed the new building. It was a wonderful treat.

 

Both of these are on offer at the moment so do go check them out

 

Today I am thankful for

• a lovely busy productive day (after rather a long lie in)
• Less toothache than yesterday

 

 

 

I could get used to this

I could get used to this not working lark.

Oh wait.

I can get used to it.

 

Yesterday I got my retirement gift of my iPad Pro and I love it already. I am an apple girl through and through and so a new apple product works like a dream. You simply back up and whoosh - it's all synced.

I am loving the pencil. As a serial doodler and colourer I am going to love it. And I am so glad they bought out the 9.7. I would never have bought one if it was full size.

 

Today I sorted all my work clothes out - and they are no longer in my wardrobe. I am officially a slob!

I also started on our photobook as I had an email to remind me my credits need to be used up. This one is an animal photobook. No frills - just photos and my goodness do we have a lot of really nice animal photos. OK so they are largely big cats - lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, pallas cats, pumas etc etc But there are a few other animals too - merekats, giraffe, deer, elk, chimps, apes, lemurs, elephants, butterflies. We love them all.

 

I am also guilty of an afternoon nap with my little Fiki monster. I haven't slept well for a few weeks with all that has been going on so today I went and lay ont he bed to read with my boy - who am I kidding. I KNEW I would nap! I am NOT going to make a habit of that though.

 

I have new scrapping to share today made with a  fabulous new bundle by Dawn Inskip called snap happy here, here and here

 

The pictures are from Ghent from Graffiti street which we loved.

 

 

 

Dawn also has special offers on today for Something Old Something New.  One of the items is a mixed media template set which is amazing - you can find her bargains here

 

 

and this is a page I made with it - another Ghent page funnily enough but from a previous trip

 

 

I have a video to share today too. I never share images of the girls etc unless they are int he public domain as they are not mine to share. However this video has been on facebook and are on You Tube so I have copied it here. It is part of the concert they staged for me and as it is where the whole Junior School sing together and it is mind-blowingly awesome. Well it blew my mind.

They sing two songs - I got the Power in me which is totally amazing - and also a song where my own class re-wrote the words for me.

 

Enjoy - I am so proud of the girls.

 

 

 

Today I am thankful for

• relaxation
• tidiness
• such a wonderful send off - still in awe