HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hi My Friends

  

I wish you all Health & Happiness too!

I'd like to say a Big Thank You to all my regular blog friends that leave me lovely messages and for your loyalty to my blog, and also thank you to those who just pop in to have a look.

Lets hope 2022 is the year that we get this blessed covid under control and have a chance of meeting family and friends again to get our long awaited hugs & kisses without passing or catching this awful virus, or having to meet with windows & doors wide open while wearing masks. Although I for one  will be wearing my mask for a long time until I personally feel safe to go out without one.

What ever you are doing tonight to see the new year in ENJOY!! 🎉🎈🎉

  Just a quick message about my knee. I have received my new date and is now not until 26th May 2022. I did ring my surgeons secretary and she said that she would leave a message with the bookings dept when they come back after the Christmas break to see if they can help, so I'm not holding my breath to get my op any sooner.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hi My Friends

 

 

 

WOW! what another year of covid restrictions and trying so so hard to get back to some kind of normality, only to find ourselves back into the worry factor about what to do for Christmas, but everyone that is coming over has had their booster jabs. I  know its not the miracle cure jab we all hoped for, but I really need to have a Family Christmas. We feel we have done everything we can and  have been asked to do to secure a family Christmas. Besides I can't keep the decorations up for another year that's just silly, but I will if I have to.

I for one took it so cautiously leading up yo my knee operation. I isolated took and the PCR test. I went to hospital on the day to have my knee replacement. I was sat waiting in my op gown ready to go to theatre. Then the surgeon walked in and said " I've not seen you before have I" I replied no. He then said I can't do your operation today as I've never met you," and have only spoken on the phone and until I meet you and assess your knee I won't do the operation today". I was so upset at this point as I'd worked myself up so much to have this operation. It turned out to be a clerical fault. I have since met my surgeon, signed the consent form and I am now on the waiting list again. The problem that I have is that when he examined my knee he manipulated it so much that I shouted in pain,  my knee is now giving me so much more pain to the point I think it is going to give way. He showed me my X-ray and told me I am on bone to bone and have severe Arthritis. I have been in contact with the surgeons secretary and she said she would get me booked in again and a letter will follow, I've not heard anything since the 9th December. Any way I am healthy in every other way so I should not complain, as I know my dear friend is dealing with a lot more than I am. I know she has had some wonderful news and is looking forward to a special Christmas and a most positive 2022.

I received a letter today with my new date for my operation and it's not until the 26th May. I don't think my knee will last that long.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all, Please have a very Happy Christmas & a Happy New Year. 2022 has to be the year of  Love & Hugs without masks. Well maybe later in the year as things don't look gook right now, but just think we can can Kick this virus in the arse once and for all when we've all had our jabs and get back to a hug when greeting family & Friends without the worry of passing on a pandemic.

Love & Hugs to you all & a Happy & Healthy 2022 and a big Thank you for returning to my blog whether you just pop in and have a look, but especially to you who stay to leave a message. It means a lot, so Thank you again.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Tina XX

Phoenix is 4 today

 Hi my Friends

 

It's been a while. I now have my date for my complete knee replacement, It's on the 24th November 😓, I'm really not looking forward to it especially as last night on the news they were talking about non urgent operations. They spoke to a gentleman that had been waiting for the same op as me. They performed his op which was good for him to eventually get his knee done but, at the near the end of the op they showed the surgeon with a chisel type instrument and a hammer and the noise was awful. A lady I know had hers done 6 weeks ago now and she said that she was semi conscious through hers. Joyce said she couldn't remember hearing any noises so maybe they turned the juice up at that time and she nodded off, she had a spinal anesthetic and in the booklet I have been given I might have one too. Oh my god! I hope I can have a Brandy & Babycham in my drip and headphones on playing Don Williams, Id like Michael Jackson but I might try to moonwalk so I think that might be tricky. I go for my pre op assessment on the 15th then have to isolate, so I won't get to see Claire Craig & Phoenix for a few weeks as I have to isolate for a week when I get home too.

When Claire came over a couple of weeks ago she said " Phoenix ask Grandma what you asked mummy this morning. Phoenix Said " Grandma I want to come to your home for Christmas ". Well that made my day ". I don't know that I'll be much help in the kitchen but I am really looking forward to Christmas hugs with our little man.

Well where has 4 years gone. I remember sat here making his castle card for his 3rd b'day. Time is passing way too fast. I'm making Phoenix's cake this year ( NO PRESSURE ). He wants Grandma's pizza pinwheels, sausage rolls and and a really decadent dark chocolate cheese cake.

Janice if you are looking in, wish GED a very Happy Birthday too.

 

OK Here Goes 

 

 

Well that's it for now. I'm hoping to get all my Christmas cards cut out so that I can construct them in the lounge. I'm really going to miss my Workroom until I can manage the stairs again.

Take Care & Stay Safe Everyone who pops in!

Love & Hugs

Tina XX

 

 

   

A 1st Birthday Card

Hi My Friends

 Hi just a quick card for my great nephew for his 1st birthday.

Just letting you know because I said I would. My brother in law's cancer operation got postponed 4 times since I last posted, hopefully Monday 23rd he will fingers crossed get his operation. My xray's have been looked at by a specialist and they have decided I need a knee replacement. Really scared, but I guess if I want to run around after Phoenix it has to be done. Phoenix doesn't worry about me not running around with him, but I'm missing out on so many outings with him and Claire and it is really making me upset and feeling really low.

Anyway here goes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well that was quick! In hind site I would have die cut Brody's name on the box front, but time took over.

Hope you are all well, Take Care & Stay Safe.

Love & Hugs

Tina XX

 

At last a Card

Hi My Friends

 

I hope you are still out there as I have been AWOL for a long time. I have been a bit down with the pain in my knee and have found it difficult to get up to my work room and concentrate on making a card or any crafting come to that. After having my second jab I feel a little bit more brave to do something about it, knowing I'd have to visit a hospital again as I contracted Covid from hospital in March 2020 so I'm still a bit apprehensive. So I rang for a phone appointment to see if I could be referred. I was told it would be 3 wks for a phone appointment. After my phone call on the Monday, the very next day I had an SMS to say I had an appointment, I have now been referred to get an X-ray this week. I know after the Xray any treatment will be a long way ahead, but at least I'm in the system. One thing that made me laugh was, when I was on the phone to the doctor, he asked how can I help you and I told him about my numerous visits to the doctors about my knee and that I had done everything they had told me to do and nothing has worked so I would like to be referred. He then said something quite bazaar as I'd said it was my knee. He then said where would you like me to refer you to! "WHAT". I felt like saying could you refer to the men's department as I want them to check my willy. ( sorry I hope I haven't offended anyone).

It's got that bad, when Phoenix & Claire come to visit Phoenix keeps asking me to get down on the floor with him, chase him in the garden and go for walks all of which I can't do and it makes me feel so bad looking at his face as if to say why not? Claire say's Grandma has an Ouchy knee and can't do that yet,  and he's ok with that answer, but I'm not. So watch this space and see the outcome of my X-rays.

This card I have made is for my sister in law. We would have loved to get together today, but my brother in law is isolating before he goes in hospital to have a cancer operation. We saw him after he was diagnosed and he was in good spirits but not the usual jokey guy, understandably though. He should have had his op on the 28th June but they rang and cancelled it, so it is now next week Fingers crossed it goes ahead and the outcome is good as they said it is contained and has not spread.

I'll let you know both results when I find out.

 This is the card I made for Liz.

Here Goes!

  

I used a spectrum noir sparkle pen/brush on the bee's wings. It shows beautifully under an LED light or in sunshine, but looks dull in normal light. Not that impressed with those glitter pens/brushes.

That's all folks for now, be in touch soon

Love And Big Hugs

Tina XX

Claire & Toby's 7th Anniversary card

 

Hi My Friends

You very nearly didn't get this post. 1) My camera was playing up. 2) the computer wouldn't upload my photos from the SD card to the computer. 3) Paul said he would try the SD card on his computer and would you Adam & Eve it, it worked. 4) Paul then had to email me my photo's and I had to do all that save as! faffing, and to boot there were only 3 pictures worth putting on my blog and I'm not that enamoured with them either. Finally 5) After my fall in the garden my hand is still very painful and there was no way I could have made some proper roses, that's why I chose an easy flower die and I'm not that chuffed with the Clematis flowers. So all in all not a good Sunday, ( I hate Sunday's at the best of times, so this was up there for a really naff Sunday. End of moan. I just hope Claire likes it. 

In all fairness my computer has been playing up for quite a while and I've been putting the inevitable of but I can feel a new one coming on, and Paul has been telling me for a long time to treat myself to a new camera. So I can feel a new camera coming on too. Happy Days!!!!!

I hope your weekend has been better than mine.

 

 Here Goes!

 

 

 

Well that's it folks, just the 3 pics today.

Next card is for a friend in early May.

 Take Care & Stay Safe Everyone

Love & Hugs

Tina XX

Quick Wedding Card

 Hi My Friends

 

If any of you went back to read my last blog and the message that Steph had left to inform you of our scary news that Phoenix had been rushed by ambulance to hospital.I would just like to let you know that Phoenix made a full recovery from his severe viral infection, no matter what was suggested we just couldn't get his temperature to stop spiking and eventually the doctor said we need to get him to hospital. It was yet another really bad time for us. Just hearing your daughter sobbing because she couldn't be in the ambulance too with her little man as only one parent could be with Phoenix, and because Toby showed them to Phoenix's room they chose Toby to go with them. Just not being able to go over and give Claire hugs and reassurance was so alien to me as a mum. I was in the car ready to go and to say sod the bloody pandemic my girl needs me, Claire & Paul said No!, and that we just can't get together as much as she needed a hug. Not another situation I ever want to experience ever again.

Phoenix is back to his old self now and if possible more mischievous, and since the opening of 6 people in the garden we have spent a couple of very heartwarming times together. I just love him to pieces. Today was one of them, Wednesday afternoon. He wanted to go in his swing and wanted me to push him. He then said Grandma stand in front of me so that I could pretend that he pushed me over. There was no need to pretend, I miss judged the step from the drive onto the garden and fell headlong on to my bad knee, and my deformed hand and hurt my back. Phoenix burst out laughing, but when I didn't move he was shouting sorry Grandma sorry. I laughed and said silly Grandma I just slipped on the grass, and he was ok and wanted me to push him higher on the swing. Which I did. Other than my knee, hand & back really hurting it was my pride too. I took some really strong pain killers and continued playing sword fighting, grass throwing with magical powers to turn me into anything he wanted,  I had a fantastic time with Phoenix & Claire. We had lunch on the new patio, homemade pizza swirls, prawn cocktails and chips, followed by strawberries & raspberries with double cream, it was an unexpected Wednesday Grandma treat.

Anyway I made a card too.

Paul's work colleague is getting married 2nd time around on Sunday. He's been a real gentleman all the time we have known him and has a wicked sense of humor, so I hope he likes the stamp I found for the sentiment I stamped in their wedding card, fingers crossed. What do you think

Marriage is like a deck of cards

In the beginning all you need is two hearts and a diamond

By the end, you wish you had club & a spade.

 

 

Here Goes!

 

 

Hope you liked the card, and the sentiment.

Take Care & Stay Safe, High 5 for Jabs for all. They can't come quick enough for me.

Claire & Toby's 7th Anniversary on the 18th April card will be uploaded from Monday. 

Love & Hugs

Tina XX

Evelyn's Memory Card

Hi my Friends

 

Well today would have been Evelyn's 5th birthday. She was due on Monday the 1st March, she died over night on the 1st-2nd March and came into the world sleeping Wednesday 3rd March 2016.

These three days haunt me every year. Claire is having such a bad time too, and it's so hard with lock down that I can't go and give her a massive mum hug. I can't even go over the Evelyn's tree at the Crematorium as it's out of my county. Luckily Paul has to pass Claire's house on the way to work sometimes so will be able to take Evelyn's gift for her tree, which is called a rusty daffodil. sounds awful doesn't it, but as it weathers it changes to yellows and oranges ( like a daffodil ). Claire & Toby will go over to the Crematorium Wednesday morning while Phoenix is at playgroup so she will put the daffodil there on our behalf. Also Claire collected Momiji's for Evelyn before she was born. They are little message dolls, and this year I bought her Birthday Girl 2021. I wrote a little message and put it inside the doll. I never in my wildest dreams think this would be how I would converse with my beautiful Grand daughter. My heart aches so much for another cuddle with her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have to say that this set of dies are the hardest stars to match up and quite uneven. You have to get every single point of the star to match or it would be one of the most mismatch stars ever.

I hope you think it turned out well.

Thank you for popping in.

Love & Hugs

Tina XX

 

This is a picture of the rusty daffodil. hopefully it will weather into the rusty yellow & gold colours over the years.

 

 

Phew! Last Birthday Card For February

Hi my Friends 

Well that's the last of the special birthday cards for February. It's my sister's birthday today and would have been my brother Tony's birthday today too, although 19yrs difference.

I have to hold my hands up and say that I haven't made this card this week, month or year. I made this back in 2014, I've just tittivated it put in a lovely floral insert and put it in a nice box. I hope you are not too disappointed, hopefully you won't remember it and I get away with this one.

Good news Paul gets his 1st jab on Monday, but sadly I'm probably not going to get mine until the end of March, I just can't wait to get that little bit of piece of mind, and one more step to hugs with my family.

 

Here Goes

 

Well that's all folks. Evelyn's card next.

See you soon

Stay Safe everyone

Love & Hugs

Tina XX 

Claire's Birthday Card

Hi my Friends

Another birthday card, this time it's a girlie card YaY! Happy Birthday Claire for the 16th Feb XX

It wasn't until I had finished that I realised the colour scheme was the same as last year, so message to myself for next year ( new colour needed please ). This is her 1st lock down birthday and she text to say that the weather is going to be awful tomorrow too, so won't even be able to get out with Phoenix for a walk. So we've transferred money for her to have a takeaway, I hope she enjoys it.

Just one more card to make for this month and that's for my sister for the 18th Feb. My next card is for my little Angel Evelyn. I always make her a card for Claire to keep in Evelyn's memory box, can you believe she would have been 5yrs old on the 3rd March. It still hurts like hell.

Here goes for Claire's Card!

Well that's it folks, Hope you like it.

Stay Safe Everyone

Love & Big Hugs

Tina XX

 

Paul's Birthday Card

 Hi My friends

Is it me or is it more difficult year after year to make a man card.

I decided to pick three colours of card, one die cut sentiment and just one stamp for the sentiment inside. I also wrote my own verse inside too, which made him smile.

June I hope you are staying safe as you have been in the area with all this snow. We have only had a couple of coverings that soon melted away, not even enough to have taken some photo's. I have to say that it's one of my favourite of natures experiences and would have loved to have played with Phoenix in the snow as this is his first time of understanding about snow. How many other things we are missing with Phoenix doesn't bear thinking about. I said to Claire today on Alexa that by the time I get to have a cuddle with Phoenix he will be bending down to hug me. Claire bought us the Alexa box for Christmas, and I have to say it has been amazing.

Today when Claire called on the Alexa, Phoenix was really very lively and was very entertaining. He decided to sit at the little piano with a microphone that Craig had bought him for Christmas and he was banging away on the piano and singing Happy Birthday to his Grandad. What a superstar, move over Elton John! We were in stitches. It was so out of tune you'd have thought Les Dawson was playing.

I hope you are all keeping well and slowly getting your vaccinations. I had a scam invite on Tuesday which looked so authentic I had to ask Craig, but it was a scam he'd also had one the previous week. Please be careful of the lowlife scammers that are still trying to make our lives painful in the most difficult times we are all trying to get through.

Craig had his first jab today as he is an ambassador for Mind, and will have a lot more work to do with them along side his normal job. I just wish they would prioritise teachers if they are going to send the children back to school, although poor Claire has been working all through this pandemic. It's very worrying.

Here Goes!

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you all keep yourselves safe & warm

Love & Hugs

Tina XX

 

 

 

 

Craig's Birthday Card

Hi My Friends

Well, the busy Birthday month has come around yet again. My goodness, do the years seem to be whizzing by faster or is it just me.

I'm constantly looking for for dies or stamps for a man card. I watched a show, I think it was on Hochanda and thought that these might just come in handy.

I made this card for Craig, and it really only took a couple of hours after lots of faffing that is! 

When I left school I was trained as a window dresser, a job I really loved. When decorating the jewellery windows with watches they always had to displayed at 10 to 2. For Craig's card I thought I would put the time at Craig's age. No he's not 63 that would make me knocking on the doors of 90. He's going to be 36 on the 4th Feb and I still find that hard to believe, and like everyone that is sticking to the lock down rules I feel so sad that I can't celebrate it with him and just give him really big, massive hugs.

 I hope you are all coping with this 3rd lock down. I'm finding this one much much harder and I know missing the family is the hardest part, but the weather has a lot to do with it this time, so many grey day's and the rain has been relentless. I have to pull myself up and think of the people that not only have to tackle the lock down but also the flooding of their homes and businesses. So in the great scheme of things I should be grateful. My biggest worry is Claire as her school is still open looking after other key workers children and there is still no sign of teachers getting their jabs. Craig was offered the vaccination today as he is an Ambassador for Mind and is needed for mental health support support.

Next card will be Paul's for the 11th Feb. Thinking cap on again! 

My family never look on my blog, so I think it will be safe to post it here early.

Here Goes!