Busy day

Well as the song says:
"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go ...." because it's the Shimelle crop at Eclectic Keepsakes tomorrow. 22 little photos neatly packed in individual envelopes ready for me to look at, sigh, and think 'that's not suitable at all' but I have a variety of ideas for each page so fingers crossed.
Talking of fingers, I am also taking plasters, antiseptic wipes and a handbag sized pack of tissues - just in case ... I'm not sure the official Health & Safety expert, aka my husband, would approve if he could see the amount of sharp implements in my bag. I had to change the blade in my trimmer this afternoon, that was a bit of a potential disaster waiting to happen but here I am, still with 8 fingers and 2 thumbs and not a speck of blood in sight!
So that's how I'm spending between 10am and 6pm. Then a quick drive home and over to friends for an Indian takeaway night, and then I have a rather important project to get home for which kicks off in California at 10pm (US time). I calculate that as 6am Sunday here which is an odd time to set out for a wild party but hey - it sounds like fun and well worth making the effort for.
In fact, it sounds like so much fun that I'd really like you to come along too, check back here on Sunday and see what's been going on !

Hairdos (and Hair-don'ts)

Over the years I have had more than a few hairstyles. Some more tasteful than others. Some suited me more than others. As I entered my teens, gingerness became auburn and I gradually grew to like my hair colour. Which is kind of ironic as now it has grey invading at an increasing rate I am paying good money to get as much red back as possible! I shudder when I remember the wash and go perms of the 80s when I resembled a badly groomed poodle, and I wonder what I was thinking of when I decided to have a very short haircut which I realised was a disaster as soon as I got out of the salon chair and made my way tearfully home.

It's funny how a celebrity can have a new haircut and it becomes so popular that you only have to go into a hairdresser's and say 'Rachel from Friends' and they know exactly what you mean. Nowadays I guess it's 'Cheryl Cole' extensions or the 'Posh Bob' or whatever.

So when I went into the hairdressers before going to my work's annual Christmas Dinner and Dance in about 1978, I must have mumbled something about Joanna Lumley's Purdy hairstyle. As I can find no other reason how I left the house with this kind of fringe going on .....

Skool dayz

I'm not so sure that this idea about using photos of Young Debs is a good idea for my Shimelle crop. Now I've checked the evidence it would seem that my memory of a young hip chick doesn't quite match up to the photographs in my albums. Some of the clothes, some of the colour combinations .... oh the shame. Yellow seersucker wide legged trousers (were they called Oxford Bags?) worn with a rather gorgeous black velvet wide lapelled fitted jacket with diamante badges on it. Blue and white striped dungarees - what was I thinking? So there will be no pictures of me in the era that taste forgot, it's no good you all thinking you can have a good laugh at my expense! How did I walk in those platform clogs? The only time in my life I have measured more than 5' 1". The Dr Scholl wooden sandals - I still have the scars on my ankles from accidentally kicking myself whilst walking to school. Two tone trevira suits and Ben Sherman check shirts - classy! The feather cut hair was a bit groovy too, really short on top and then long wispy bits way past shoulder length.
Nope, this is all for me to know about and the rest of you to imagine!

Eighteen down and five to go

I have spent more time than I care to admit to today, trying to find some semblance of order to my photos to take to the crop next week. The bad news is I had miscounted the amount needed and it's worse than I thought, 23 or 24 - not 22. The good news is that I have printed enough photos for 3 of the 9 pages and have now compiled the next batch ready to go for another 2 pages. But, wouldn't you know it, the printer has now run out of yellow ink ... I do feel that I know where I am going with this now and just need a little bit of inspiration for the last couple. Hopefully I will have a 'eureka' moment and suddenly realise what I can use!
It's been an odd time since I last blogged, my 86 year old father in law has collapsed and been taken into hospital twice, now safely home, only to have mother in law feeling poorly too. Then on Friday I had to go the the funeral of a guy I was at school with. It really isn't right to be going to funerals of people my own age and it was a very emotional day for those ex-classmates that were able to attend. So many happy, silly school days memories. I can honestly say that I loved my school days, my classmates were such a good crowd and many of us have kept in touch over the last 34 years since we left. Put us in a room together and we all immediately slip back into an easy friendship.
Eureka! I'm going to go through the old school photos, plenty of scrapping opportunities there ...

Thought for the day

For those who don't know, I work as a school secretary/exams assistant in a girls high school. My kids are grown up now (aged 20 and 23) and I often feel that I have seen and heard most things while they were school age but sometimes I overhear a conversation that makes me smile with the logic that can only come from a teenager.
Year 9 is , I feel, the hardest year for a girl. You're 13 going on 14, too old to be considered a child but too immature to be a young woman. You're at that age where you want to push boundaries, if only to find out what happens when you do. You're trying to keep up with your peers even if some of the things you hear and see are confusing. Some of you will be trying to find something smart to say in any given situation just as a small act of rebellion.
Today we had a fire drill and I left the building behind a group of Year 9 who were leaving the science block. Protocol dictates that we all evacuate the buildings in silence, but there were a couple of girls laughing and chattering. 'Girls! Silence! Stop talking immediately' came the orders from the science teacher. As I walked past them I overheard one say to the other 'Yeah, right. 'Cos it's only people who are talking that get burnt in a fire.' Great logic eh?

Progress report

Well McSherrif's diagnosis is that I have suffered severe trauma to the hand which may or may not heal quickly. I'm not sure I liked the way he sighed and shook his head as he turned to walk/wheel out the door. I'm to be put on a diet of sugar lumps and carrots and be on total sofa rest while searching the 'catch up' channels to get up to speed on 'Ice Road Truckers'. Once a new episode is found I'm to summon him immediately, he will cancel all operations and consultations while he sits with me to ensure that I concentrate fully. I think I may need to check his credentials out on www.ishereallyadoctor.com .
Anyway - to take my mind off the pain and distress and immobility of hand, I am going to concentrate on my list of requirements for the May 1st crop with SHIMELLE . Houston, I think we may have a problem. 22 photos. TWENTY TWO? I have problems finding 2 per crop, how am I going to find 22? Looks like we are doing 9 pages including title and closing pages so it will be a busy day. I shall need to stay well away from sharp instruments! So that is 22 photos (did I mention that already?) all in the theme of sprigtime, love or family. 22 photos all in the same theme? Oh I feel faint ....
The papers we will be using are from the Dear Lizzy range. Go check them out, aren't they gorgeous?!!!
Twenty two photos ... pass me the sugar lumps Doc .....

New doc on the block

I love Grey's Anatomy. It feeds the hypochondriac in me. It gives me whole new medical issues to worry about. It constantly reminds me that even when something awful happens there is someone gorgeous to scrub in and say 'Good morning people, it's a lovely day for saving lives'. It reminds me that hospitals can be happy places as well as places of sadness and anxiety. That even when tired and exhausted after a 12 hour shift, doctors and nurses can still find time to play 'Doctors and Nurses' in the on call room. And of course - there's also the eye candy ;-)

First we had McDreamy

Then we had McSteamy

And then today I had an email from Sian which made me laugh so much I could hardly type a reply. Seems there is a new character chomping at the bit to get on the series.

McSherrif.