at last some happy time!

I finally found some motivation and put it to good use and did some scrapping. I'd set a scrap page challenge on a group I belong to, two choices to do a scrap lift, or use the photo of superlambanana and come up with your own ideas.

I decided to go with the scraplift, plus a 2nd page. So here he is, Superlambanana... a hybrid of a lamb and a banana, supposedly a statement on genetic engineering.

I just used some yellow card for the background, then used my wavy tearing ruler as a template and cut (using a craft knife) round it, rather than tear as I wanted a clean edge. Then just added 3 flower shapes and 3 blue buttons.

Also popped over to Hobbycraft today, got a few bargains, they had some embellishment kits at just 4.99, choc full of flowers, brads, fancy brads, buttons and ribbons, picked up two of them, one a red and black theme and the other was pastels. Kept on mooching, came up with some lettering, far too fancy a font for the robo, so grabbed it, loads and loads of letters! Then realised it was the same stuff that had been shown on QVC a couple of weeks ago, but I still got a bargain. Was almost tempted by some gorgeous papers, one in particular that looked like it it had been die cut round the edges and had a dreamy type of design on it... took a lot to resist buying it.

Then came home, went to make myself a salad sandwich and to my disgust the bag of salad I'd bought only on Saturday was not fit to eat! Yet the bog standard lettuce from fruit and veg shop, bought last week, was fine. Settled down in armchair, switched on TV and Wimbledon... bliss... two whole weeks of tennis! Wall to wall, BBCi... brilliant.

Update on my mum - she is still in hospital. The problem is her wound, it won't heal, we have asked and asked for her to see a wound specialist... finally today the doctors caved in and agreed. Perhaps now we'll get somewhere. We're also now taking in food for her, the food served up by the hospital is fit for human consumption, or it would be if it were hot and had been properly seasoned. As it is, it is neither hot or has any seasoning! I did not think it possible to make a bland curry, but according to mum the hospital has managed it. I was alarmed by her loss of weight, so got myself a thermal bag from mothercare, brilliant thing, and it keeps the food hot for a good 2 hours. The real irony regarding the hospital food, is this: the hospital has an excellent restaurant, and I mean excellent, food there is delicious, tasty and hot.... so why can't they do the same for the patients? More food is chucked away than is eaten.

Time for a cuppa....

superlambanana crazy

The 'Pool has been invaded by a herd of superlambananas. So meet Sgt Pepper superlambanana! As part of our capital of culture, people were invited to design their own artwork for mini versions of superlambanana. The result has been 100 now dotted all over the city. Got to say many are very innovative.

I'm trying to find things to cheer me up, as there is pathetically little to be cheerful about. That is aside from the current credit crunch, and sky high fuel prices.... shame on the speculators, who have no morals or scruples... just a desire to get rich.

My mum is still in hospital... such is the workings of the NHS that it chooses to be passive rather than proactive. It is not her new hip, she is walking fine, it is just that the damn wound will not heal. Feel very sorry for the nurses, the ward mum is on is pathetically short staffed... hows about less highly paid NHS exec types! My gripe is with the doctors, who just plod along in their safe world, once they've settled on a treatment that is it, you try getting them to see the light, read up on the latest innovations! Stuff like that only happens on Holby City... as far as removed from reality as is possible for a medical show to be, well not counting Casualty. Sad, Casualty was once a hard hitting show. How the mighty fall.

High time I made meself a cuppa... and checked on the washing.

spoke too soon....

I feel like I'm experiencing some sort of Ground Hog Day syndrome.... no sooner is mum over one crisis than the next one comes along and we are jerked back to square one. It really did look like we were on the road to recovery, mum was progressing nicely on the crutches, and was more like her usual self. Last weekend I took her down to the coffee bar, okay so she persuaded me to take her outside so she could have a cigarette - so what! I actually took that as a good sign, as daft as it sounds. Then we had really nice cup of tea in the coffee bar, she was quite comfy in the wheelchair, got back to the ward, she showed off her prowess on her crutches, so off I went feeling happy, and leaving a happy mum. Next day my sister went in, taking along her daughter and son, again mum was in good form, they went off to the hospital restaurant for some tea. Yep, we all breathed a huge sigh of relief, felt sure mum would be home by this weekend. We should have known better.

On Sunday, just as I had got back from my lovely walk mum called, she sounded really shaky, her wound had burst open and had bled heavily. It seemed there had been a large haematoma under the wound, and it had burst. She needed another two units of blood, plus some glucose. My sister went in to see mum that night, she was a lot better, but fed up cos she was back in bed. We all told ourselves it was just a minor setback. Went in to see mum on Monday, to find she couldn't move her foot, more worryingly she couldn't feel me touching it. Consultant came along, looked at wound, proposed a couple of possible treatments, then I mentioned the now paralysed foot, he looked very concerned, said that changed everything, he had no choice but to operate for a 3rd time. Not what we wanted. So yesterday mum had her 3rd op, only fairly minor, but she has had four units of blood as her blood count keeps dropping, as does her BP. She seemed fine after the op, in fact I left her scoffing a butty and enjoying a cup of tea.

I daren't think about her progressing more than a day at a time. I almost took my frustration out on a bath board, I'd ordered a new one and it came today, so I started to put it together only to find that one of the screws had not been made properly... I nearly chucked the damn thing thru the window. Feel like I'm in a pressure cooker, but the pressure keeps building up. Made an appointment to see the doctor, definitely need something more than just the beta blockers.

As for crafting... forget it. Too busy going back and forth to hospital, the hospital is just so bloody awkward to get to. I counted the sets of lights today, 11... all of which seem to turn to red as I get to them! Plus hospital car parking charges, £2 a time - do they consider those whose relatives are in for long periods of time? And lets not mention petrol.... had to scrabble around today to make sure I had a full tank, I wasn't one of the panic buyers, my need is genuine - I have to have petrol to get to the damn hospital.

Going to try to get some scrapping done over the weekend... if I don't implode.

Glad that's over!

I just about survived my first full day at work. Decided to keep myself to myself, and felt much more content. Did feel a bit panicky at lunch time, went to see if Smith's had any my scrapbook mag, had to go thru the queue, did say 'excuse me' to the chap blocking my way, but he was plugged into to his Ipod and didn't hear me, so he said something rude... the old me would have responded, but it really upset me. Back at work I spent sometime helping a chap get onto the DSA website so he could take a driving theory practice test, he didn't know much about computers, but he was a nice chap, very polite. Besides it got me away from the desk. Felt very envious of a lady who came into join, she had just retired, and of course she was chatting about all the things she had planned... it all sounded wonderful.

Half way thru job application, once upon a time all you needed to do was give your details, education etc, any experience and that was it, now they want your ruddy life story. And of course it has to be worded correctly so that you get across that you have all the experience they want.

At last had my hair cut, had sort of been avoiding going to hairdressers, they know mum and I knew I'd have to go thru it all with them. So bit the bullet yesterday, but they were all very nice, and I got the works, including a lovely head massage. Did get a bit annoyed with mum, she'd phoned me up to say that the mobile she has needed charging, I mean... what the heck was I supposed to do at 9.30 pm! It is also something she is perfectly capable of doing, so I told her. She is much stronger now, and is not helpless. The doctor have told her that she just needs to get her strength back, that there is no lasting damage from what happened. But she got an A for effort for having a go with the crutches, she has to get used to them as she can't use a zimmer in the flat.

Haven't felt much like crafting this week, not done anything. Must do some, got a few pics to scrap, a friend sent thru some photos from her hols, so may do those tomorrow. Just feel so tired, did sleep last night, which probably means I won't tonight.

thanks for stopping by. Would tell you about the photo, only it is one my friend sent and I have no idea where it was taken, tho it is very pretty!

too officious for words!

I know that I am in an emotional state at the moment, and possibly being a bit over sensitive, but am wondering what has happened to my 'supportive' colleagues, one in particular who is now treating me as if nothing has happened. Can't help but wonder if she is feeling a bit angry and perhaps jealous, when her mum was seriously ill none of the help I am getting was available, we all pitched in as best we could, but management were terrible, being very officious about the whole thing. Our boss is officious, she likes everything to be done properly, as today when she picked up on a minor mistake I made on my application for flexible working, considering what was going on at the time when I was filling it in it is hardly suprising that I may have made a few mistakes. But it was unecessary of her to nit pick. I was far too tired to argue back, but I do find it odd that this is the same person that was so understanding and supportive just a couple of weeks ago, who said I could call her any time... Think they all must be expecting me to switch off when at work, to leave all my emotional upheaval at home!

Photo: this is interesting as it is a swap card. But things were done differently this time, the swap organiser decided to make up kits for us all, all containing the same ingredients, the card had to be for Father's day. I wasn't sure what to make, mulled over a few ideas and then decided to go with the shirt and tie look. First time I've made such a card, used the blue card to be the 'shirt', and the brown to be the trousers. Used the stripey paper to make the tie, folded it into the middle, then stuck it down, then cut it to make the tie shape, made two smaller cuts so it would tuck under the collar, then used the two brads to make collar studs. Used up left over bit from tie to make a hanky, then added 'Dad' to it. Quite pleased with it.

Off now to indulge in some tennis.