So that's it then...

...another summer over. Back to work tomorrow (proper day job that is!). Bead time gets severely curtailed now and it won't be long before the thermals come out and I am working in the studio freezing me butt off!!! I love the summer, not necessarily because it is warm, sometimes I prefer the cold to being to warm especially when it is humid like it is at the moment. I love the fact that I can sit out in my garden in the evenings (I don't like the mosquitos!!!), I love sitting chatting with my neighbours, I love being in my studio making beads and it still being partway light when I finish for the night! I love August, the fact that I get more than just 1 or 2 weeks holiday to chill out and kick back a bit! I am feeling quite relaxed and I have had a lovely holiday - black cloud is....back to work tomorrow.
As of tomorrow I am officially part time but because of the severe financial probs I have had to remove Savannah from my childminders on a Wednesday to save money! This will be nice cos we can have the day together but also I wanted some time for me...is that selfish or what. This is where I struggle with the working mum thing. I should be grateful to have time off with my children but having some time for me is quite important to yet I feel bad for wanting some time alone!!! I need a wide open space to scream.....

Anyway it is nearly half seven, time for a little girl to get her bath and get to bed! So I best be off
TTFNx

Minature Railway

Hiya, sorry I have been a bit quiet this week. My OH has had a week off and we have all tried to spend a bit of family time together. Tuesday was a bike ride to Reculver (my backside is still a little tender!!!) and today we went on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Minature railway. Follow the link for further information! http://www.rhdr.org.uk/rhdr/home_flash.html

My OH has never been on this despite living fairly close all his life. My grandparents and parents all hail from that neck of the woods so it was nice to revisit old "stamping" grounds!

I have managed to get some bead time in sneaky preview above. The picture is not that fab but I hope you get the gist! My OH has also been busy making a little bead rack for my Belita beads (silver core beads). This is a minature version of one he made for my bigger beads. I am exhibiting at a bead show in November so this will come in very useful for my beads!

Anyway, gotta go been a busy day will catch up soon.

TTFNx

Not gonna talk beads today!!!

I have had a lovely day!

We went for a bike ride to Reculver reckon about 20 - 25 mile round trip along the sea shore! The photo has (from left to right) my nephew Alex, my dad holding my niece Lucy, next to them is me. Behind me is my youngest daughter sitting on my husbands lap and next to him my eldest daughter. The lady in the pink T-shirt is my youngest sister Judith and next to her her son Andrew. Lucy is hers as well! My mum was working as was my other sister and both their husbands!!

The weather was not to bad, bit windy in places but fab for riding warm but with little sunshine. We had a picnic at Reculver before riding home. Follow this link for Wiki info on Reculver http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reculver

Poor Imogen (my eldest) she had never cycled that far before and really struggled about halfway and then we introduced her to the wonders of gears on the bike! She seemed to grasp it and coped very well indeed with the cycle home! I have uploaded all the photos onto facebook which hopefully you can follow from this link http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=55707&l=60f29&id=543460738

Now my ass is killing me! I ache all over and am gonna pay for it in the morning but it has been such a lovely day! Days like this make me very happy! Family are so important and I love mine to bits!

TTFNx

Another washout Bank Holiday Weekend!

Still at least it did not rain down here anyway!!! Not really done much today but I have photographed my beads that are going up for sale in the shop in a few mins!
I am hoping to get a stand at The Big Bead Show in November I am waiting to see if there are any stands left for hire. Part of me really hopes so cos it would be a good experience and the other part of me thinks what the hell are you doing girl! Your beads are no way good enough to consider selling at an event like that. I really have to practise my self esteem thing and confidence. Beads are selling from my website and feedback has been positive - if you have bought beads from me please let me know what you think. I can take it honest....

Anyway, plans for the week coming are to spend some time with the family. OH has 4 days off and it is back to school and work next week, my how these last few weeks have flown by. 4 months today is Christmas Day.....and another year nearly gone. It is scary how time flies, what is even more scary is that my 11 year old says the same thing!

Right got some beads to list!! Go have a look www.aurorabeadz.co.uk or follow the link from the right hand side of this page!

TTFNx

A day to myself...

...and what am I doing? Waiting for the bloomin postman. Some days he has been and gone by half 8 others like today it is gone half 11. Typical I am expecting a parcel so I am hanging around waiting and today of all days when I have virtually unlimited torch time. My eldest daughter is on holiday with her dad, my youngest has been "borrowed" for the day by my sister in law, the OH is at work so I am free...free I tell you and waiting for the blessed postie!!!

Still I have got a fair bit of torch time this week already, bit of a teaser for you up there. The big hole beads at the front will hopefully be cored today (providing my silver tube arrives!) and the others are sets or part sets! The 2 red white and blue large hole beads are the ones I spoke about the other day called Chris (Hoy) and Rebecca (Adlington).

I had loads of dreams last night about beads and have some ideas today that I want to try to do. Nothing to revolutionary in fact probably been done by someone else already but the mere fact that I had an idea is pretty awesome...sometimes I get into my studio and dry up!!! The dotty thing continues, mostly cos I am having fun doing them but also they are really good practice as there is a little bit of skill involved in keeping a steady hand to place them and not burn the glass!

ah ha there is the doorbell....yipee postie has been and I got silver tube so I am off now..

TTFNx

Later....I am so gutted! I have just cored my 7 beads that you can see above and only 4 survived. casualties are to be expected but 3 in one go!!! 2 of the dead ones were my olympic inspired Chris and Rebecca. Gutted! I will make em again later!

TTFNx

New day new mind set!!!

Right...after my whinge yesterday I have had a good word with myself and feel much better today!! I got some beads made last night and have used the Union Jack as inspiration (the strangest things I know!!!) Anyway Red White and Blue were my colours to work with last night, lapis, crimson red and white all from effetre to be exact! I have made a small set with a focal bead and 2 beads that will be silver cored. Shame really I should use gold tube to core them but I have not got any gold so silver will be used instead. These 2 will be called Rebecca (Adlington) and Chris (Hoy) hopefully they will survive the coring process and you can see the results round the weekend when I put them up on the website.

I have just watched Usain Bolt run the 200m and wow what an athlete!

Day 6 of my financial streamlining exercise and I got my credit card bill today!! I paid off the balance on friday and guess what they have added £76 interest cos the bill was paid 5 days after the payment due date even though I made the minimum payment! Once you have a credit card you are well and truly entrenched! Lesson to the wise: don't get a credit card. They are bad news especially if you are a weak soul like me!!! Still, I have cancelled it now and paid off the interest! so clean bill - Hoorah.

Right enough boring you guys for the moment I have a house to clean so must stop procrastinating!

TTFNx

What is the matter with me!!!

Right I am not going to bore you with crap from my life to much but I am struggling with depression (a bit!). Here is where the conflict lies...Am I actually depressed or not? When you look at the "traditional" definition of depression I don't think it encapsulates me! I was once told that I was the happiest depressed person they had ever met!!!! But I have a set of symptoms that come up and down and at the moment they are up! I withdraw, I cannot get motivated and my anger is something else! I have to pull myself together but that is tough when all I want to do is cry!

Anyway, I told you I was not going to bore you so I am going to try and move away from that subject! No beading for the past couple of days but I hope to rectify that tonight! I have been watching quite a bit of the Olympic games and I have a bit of an idea for a Team GB set! (Is that sad!!!) really just following the themes of red white and blue but I thought it apt to call it Team GB or perhaps if they become individual Belita beads (silver core beads) then I may well give them individual names! Rebecca (Adlington), Chris (Hoy), Victoria (Pendleton) and Louis (Smith) spring to mind intially! Lets see what transpires! Our sportsmen and women have done outstandingly well and I believe we are on the way to having one of our most successful games!

I don't consider myself majorly patriotic but things like this are important and we need to get behind our team, they work hard to get where they are and deserve some recognition. Quite frankly I would rather support them and make personalities out of them that these "boil in the bag" celebrities like those in Big Brother! Best I don't get going on that topic eh!!!

Right "Wonderpets" is calling me, time for a bit of quiet time with my youngest daughter so I am off for my afternoon nap!! (OMG and I am only 36, having an afternoon nap already!)

TTFNx