Windows 10 has arrived...

...and I actually managed to download it without mishap.

Not bad for an IT numpty like me.

It's downloaded, it's up and running and I've managed to find my documents, pictures and games (LOL) but am still trying to navigate to some of the basics - but I'm getting there.

I have to say that it was a bit strange having a big "Hi Toni...welcome" appear on the screen the first time I started it up but I think I'm getting used to that.

I suppose, if you have a Smartphone or a Tablet type device you are already familiar with the 'touchscreen' style boxes (it might be more fun if I had a touchscreen - **chuckle**) but I have a desktop PC and a fairly basic Nokia phone...I don't NEED some whizzy thing that I keep glued to my hand or ear...I have what I need - A PHONE and my PC does what I require it to do...even if sometimes I dream of those big PC screen that you can touch and swipe like they do on NCIS:LA.

So I'm up and running with the new Windows.

Word of advice - if you are a bit like me and not overly 'techy', don't schedule your 'free' Windows upgrade for late in the day like I did.

Sitting here trying to find out where things were and how stuff worked resulted in me not getting to bed until 3.30am Thursday morning - not good on a 'work day'........................................................

T.G.I.Friday...

...because That Was The Week That Was.

Yes I know...both of these were titles of TV shows but they kinda wrap-up how this week has made me feel.

I can not wait for the weekend.

Before lunchtime had even arrived on Monday, it felt like I had never been away (apart from the couple of hundred emails that needed sorting and catching up on).

Our building is having IT issues which seem to hit in pockets throughout the building - guess what, yep, we were slap-bang in one of those pockets this week...not great when you have a load of deadlines to meet.

FRUSTRATING!!!

Even our IT engineers have been tearing their hair out over the slow response times and the issues that seem to be plaguing us at the moment.

Oh, and as far as the weather is concerned...Mother Nature has something wrong with her timing - anyone would thing it was late Autumn. Dull overcast skies, thunder storms and the leaves are already falling at a rate of knots

Let's hope things improve next week...............................................................

The Eastwood Crop...

...for August was held at In2Crafting in Wickford.

There wasn't anything that I particularly wanted to do on the scrapbooking front so I took along my pens and a good selection of images to colour.

With it being holiday time, there were only eight of us but it was a lovely day of crafting in the company of like-minded folk.

I have already shown you this Bugaboo image...

 ...and I mentioned that I wanted to try her in some different colour combos.
I think this one has probably turned out to be my favourite...

 ...I love the icy blues and think that this will make a super topper for a Christmas card or even a cover image for a Christmas Planner.
This version used reds & greys...

 ...and again, I'm loving the Christmas 'feel' of the image.
As I have a number of friends who like mauves/purples, I had to try that combo...

...and with just a touch of pink, I think she has turned out rather well.

It can be quite daunting when you first start to colour a new image as you are never sure how it will turn out but if you enjoy colouring, I would really recommend that you try different colour combinations on a single image just so that you can see how different you can make it look just by changing the colour. The other good thing about colouring your own images is that you can make them suit the recipient.

An image/card made in the person's favourite colour shows that you have given the making thought & consideration and therefore makes it all the more special............................................

I previously mentoned...

...my little book of Calm Colouring.

It is such a dinky little book and the images within it are for my 'playtime'...

 ...rather than what I would call 'serious colouring'.
These are images that I can lose myself in and just play around with colours.
All these images were coloured using Edding 1200 pens...

 ...and this one was completed using the red/orange/yellow pens.
Despite my tin of Edding pens only consisting of 10 colours...

 ...I was very happy with the effect that I managed with this image. The lotus type flowers were very easy - just a few pink brushstrokes and the rest was left white.
I love images of poppies and I like to play around with colour combos because poppies do come in colours other than red...

 ...the first flower was completed using red & pink (the Edding pink is quite mauve in shade). I then decided to have a go at a variety of bright colours...

...limiting each flower to just two pen colours...

...and the finished result was a lovely splash of colour.
This last image was pretty much like doodling...

...I just worked through the stripes on the balls with my colours in a particular order - starting with yellow on some and reversing the order and starting with green on others.

It is actually quite interesting playing around with a very limited range of colours and I'm enjoying the challenges this brings to my colouring.....................................................................

Colouring whilst...

...enjoying the sunshine.

Some of the images I sat and coloured whilst sitting at my 'desk' up on "One Tree Hill" were from Bugaboo Stamps...

 ...they are all digi images so they are great for printing out in a variety of sizes.
This image was printed at approx. A6 size...

 ...and coloured with a mix of Copics and Distress Markers.
My little teddy with his slipped halo was coloured completely in Distress Markers...

 ...and the markers give you an idea of the size of the image.
This little mouse stirring her cocoa was also coloured using Distress Markers...

...but this time I used a water-brush to blend some of the colours and I used 'Picket Fence' to create the polka-dot effect on the cup. This image was printed quite a bit smaller as there were 9 images on the sheet of A4.

I love the way the polka-dots came out but I wasn't very happy with the colouring on the face of the mouse - I made it a little too wet and then had some of the print lines starting to bleed. I will know for next time..................................................................

So much nicer...

...than being stuck in an office.

Today it is back to work.

Back to the commute, the hassle and being stuck in an office that is surrounded by construction work.

I would so much rather be back here...

 ...this was my 'desk' for most of Friday and it was wonderful. It was like being in a secret woodland dell - even though the road was only a short distance away. This is part of a picnic area in Langdon Hills Country Park at a location called "One Tree Hill". I think the area has outgrown its name as there are certainly rather more trees than just 'one'.
The imagination could really take over if you let it...

 ...you could easily be in the grounds of Hogwarts and a snake from Slytherin is slithering by. There are a number of carvings dotted around the park & woodland and all have been created from fallen trees/branches.
Isn't this a much nicer view than looking out at a building site...

...so lovely and green. Or look at this beautiful sky...

 ...with a scattering of clouds rolling lazily by...and Nature provides its own filters...

 ...so that the sun is not too harsh. Trees surround you...

 ...which ever way you look. The building on the left...

 ...contains public toilets and there are information boards/maps telling you about the park. The structure straight ahead is made from completely reclaimed materials and the roof is planted with woodland grasses and flowers. Another beautiful tree...

 ...gracing the landscape and look what can be found beneath...

 ...a monk taking a snooze after taking a break on his journey to ??? ...

 ...this figure is another sculpture that has been created from naturally available materials (fallen trees/branches) but the artist has given the piece some colouring using stain/wax that will hopefully help to protect it...

 ...and means that this man of the cloth can continue his doze in peace for many a year to come.
The monk was just a short distance from my 'desk'...

...so I could have chatted to him if I had felt the need LOL.

How can any stuffy office space compare to these beautiful surroundings?

I sat here for several hours enjoying some peaceful colouring and reading a book. I had taken my lunch with me and it was a delight to just sit and soak up the fresh air & sunshine.

I was very lucky with the weather during my week off work so I was able to spend a lot of time sitting outdoors. I wonder when I can fit in another break - where's the diary?..............................

Last Wednesday...

...I took Mum shopping at Lakeside (West Thurrock).

Neither of us had been into the shopping centre for a number of years. Normally, the only time I head over to West Thurrock is if I want to visit the Range. However, we were on a mission - Hallmark Cards now stock Village Candles as well as Yankee Candles and my Sister said the Village candles were currently reduced by a considerable amount (unfortunately, the Village candles were only in the sale until the previous Sunday).

Although the candles were not AS reduced as when my Sister visited, we still managed to come away with some bargains and a lovely selection of 'smells'.

We also went into Waterstone's and Mum was very happy to come away with a good selection of audio books. I picked up the most recent Barbara Erskine book and a handbag sized colouring book.

It is called the little book of Calm Colouring and measures just 4.5insx5.5ins.

This is the title page of the book which I have coloured...

...using Edding 1200 water-based ink pens. A colleague bought these for me as part of my Christmas present and I hadn't used them.

The pens are designed for sketching & writing as they only have a 1mm nib but I found them to be perfectly okay for the images in this little book.

Although there are only 10 colours in the tin and they don't really blend unless you add water, I was quite pleased with the effect I was able to create giving these leaves an Autumn look.

The tin & the book fit easily into a handbag so I'll be able to carry these about and have them handy when the odd spare moment presents itself....................................................................