Long time not blogged

Hi, sorry I haven't been on here for a while. Been very very busy. On my birthday Paul took me to Wells Next The Sea, where we had lunch then we went off to Hunstanton, which was really lovely. I love the north Norfolk coast. We had a game of crazy golf, and I actually beat him - a very rare thing indeed. It was a genuine win - he didn't lose just because of it being my birthday. We had such a giggle. It was altogether a really lovely day.

After that, we were very busy with our work because we had a weeks holiday planned for the end of July, so had a lot of work to do so we could afford the time for the break away.

We are now back from that holiday which was really lovely. We stayed in a place called Thurnham Hall, near Lancaster. When we arrived and went up the driveway to the Hall, we both said WOW. It was beautiful. Our studio apartment was on the first floor of the Hall and was in the oldest part of the building, dating back to the 12th century. As you can see from the pictures, it was pretty amazing - definitely had the wow factor.
They had a programme of activities all week with a daily quiz just for fun, but then on Friday there was a quiz which had to be submitted for a prize, which Paul & I won - a bottle of wine!! They laid on walks, trips in to Lancaster and much more. One Wednesday evening in the chapel (on right of picture) they had a talk all about the history of the Hall and he took us on a short tour. We really had a lovely holiday and would like to go back there some time in the near future. We couldn't go on the walks they did because you needed walking boots, and we didn't think to take ours with us, but if we go back we will definitely take them and join in.

I promise I won't leave it so long before I post again, and hope you like the photos.

Sheila

During the week we explored all over the place, having one day in Morecambe, another in Blackpool, we went up to the Lake District another day, and on Friday we popped across to Yorkshire. It was a lovely week and at the end of the week there was a quiz, and we won 1st prize of a bottle of wine. Yeahhhhh!!!!!!!

Since we came back, we have been just as busy as before we went, so this is the first chance I've had to come on and really concentrate on doing a new post. Hope you like the photos.

Another good thing that has happened: I joined an online diet at the beginning of July, and I've finally started to lose some of this blubber I've been carrying around with me for too long. I've alread shed 6lb, and on track to be able to wear some of my lovely clothes I've not been able to get into for a long time. I'm feeling much better in myself already, and can already wear some of my size 12's. I'm very pleased this one is working and I'm also making some new friends on the site's forums and circles of friends.

Hi again, I've not been on since the Norfolk show because I've had such a busy busy week. On Friday I took a friend shopping followed by sorting our deliveries out, then delivering to all our customers. Saturday we went to Skegness - a 6 hour round trip, then on Sunday we went to our friends in Cambridge for a BBQ for Liz's birthday which was on Wednesday. A fun time was had by us all and we were so lucky with the weather. On Monday I had my WI in the morning, came home & did some housework then went to another WI in the evening. Today I picked a couple of friends up to take them to bead group and they gave me some beautiful flowers for my birthday which is tomorrow. They are gorgeous - as you can see from the photo. Thanks girls, I really appreciate it. See you both Friday. Tomorrow, as it's my birthday Paul is taking me out for the day to the coast. Really looking forward to it. I will put some more news and photos on in a couple of days. Just want to get this week out of the way!

See you

Sheila xx

Here are some of the photos I took at the Norfolk Show yesterday. It was a lovely day and the weather behaved itself. There was so much to see and do and we must have walked miles which - in the heat was very tiring. But despite that I thoroughly enjoyed myself. There were a lot of animals - here are just a few, a flower show and lots of craft marquees, which I especially enjoyed.

The owl on the left was huge and as you can see has the most beautiful striking orange eyes. I'm pleased with this photo as she kept moving - but I caught her right in the end.

We got the bus at arount 9.20 am and the return bus at 4.20 pm so it was quite a long day. We watched some horse carriage trials (hope I've got that right), and 2 military bands in the main arena and some gun dogs put through their paces around an assault course, which was a lot of fun.

I will add some more photos over the next couple of days, so keep watching this space.

Hi - Firstly let me apologise for my spelling mistakes on my last post. I must have been having a senior moment he he! This time I will promise to use the spell-check.

This photo is of a page I did recently of my Grandmother on my mum's side. She died when my mum was only 8 years old leaving Granddad with 5 daughters. I love this picture of her and I think the paper goes so well with it all. We had a very social weekend this week. On Saturday Paul's sister Yvonne and her hubby Doug came round for a meal, then on Sunday we went to our friends Angie & Roy for tea and had a lovely evening. Silly me - I left my handbag round there and didn't have my mobile on me so we got all the way home to find a message from Angie on the answerphone. Roy very kindly brought it round tonight when he finished work - thanks Roy! Got a very busy few weeks coming up and loads of photo oportunities so look out for the results on her in the weeks to come!

Over the last few days I've been listening to a cd in my car to try to motivate me and get my life back on track and be positive. This cd really surprised me what I heard today and I already feel different. I've decided NOT to play any more silly games of Facebook as they keep me up till 2 - 3am because I can't switch off. I have followed my Tesco Diet meal plan to the letter and feel really pleased with myself. Maybe this butterfly is going to emerge - slimmer and more focused.

The above picture is of a page I did a couple of weeks ago. It is of my mum who sadly died in 1980 at the tender age of 51. These photo's were taken on mum & dad's Honeymoon in Clacton, Essex in 1951. I'm creating an album of my life and family. I love this page - it had to be done in pink cos that was mums favourite colour.

I will put some more pictures on in a few days, have a good weekend.

Sheila xx

Last night I enrolled on Tesco Diets as I'm really struggling with my weight. I refuse to buy any new clothes in the larger size - I want to fit the clothes I have got, so I joined them to see how I get on. I've been like a womas posessed with my camera, taking lots more phoos of my garden. I'm really pleased with them -

hope you like them too.

The top photo is of my beautiful Peace Rose and the middle one is a lovely Dahlia growing in one of my pots and the third picture is of one of my many hanging baskets - all of which were planted by me.

Hi, me again, just been taking photos in the garden of some of my lovely flowers and thought I'd share them with you all. Hope you like them!

At the weekend Paul & I were supposed to have done a fete but the weather was sooo bad. We wrestled to put our gazebo up to protect us in case it rained, but the wind was so strong it kept nearly blowing across the field, then we had such heavy rain it was coming in the sides and front and would have ruined all the stuff we were selling, so we packed up and came home again. What a wash-out!! Never again! Could have done with it being more like today. Never mind - put that one down to experience.