I got a bargain...

...and I wasn't even trying.

My washing machine decided to 'die' a while back but I haven't had the chance to go out and sort things until now (the joy of being off work for two weeks). Weekends are busy for me and I can't take time off during the week just at the drop of a hat.

So last week I searched the web and visited a few electrical stores and decided to go with a model from the store where those lovely blue aliens shop.

The machine I chose was showing on-line as £260 complete with delivery/installation/recycle old machine - I couldn't belive what some places were charging for these services and many won't install. At the time of purchase I was advised that there might be a substitution for a newer model (I had seen this in the small print and was quite happy as either machine would do what I required). Order placed 1 Aug 2012.

I have to say the delivery arrangements didn't go as smoothly as I would have hoped. No phonecall came by the 4th as promised so I had to phone them. I had been told that I could specify 'am' or 'pm' but was told on the phone that the manufacturers didn't offer that service - they send a text 24 hours (approx) before the agreed delivery date to advise of the 3hr delivery window. The text arrived informing me that my 'window' was Noon - 3pm............grr. What an inconvenient time but I couldn't afford to say no as I needed delivery sorted before I return to work next week.

The truck arrived at 13.10 and I have to say the guys were very quick and accommodating so I finally have my new washing machine.
The title of this post mentions a bargain...well...I checked the website for details of the machine that I had ordered and the one that I received just so that I could compare the functions (only small differences) but boy did I get a shock over the prices.

A week ago the price of the machine that I ordered (and paid for) was £260 and the possible substitute was shown as £270 - today if I went and ordered the same thing I would have had to have paid £290 (a £30 increase)and get this...the substitute (which is what I received) is now £320 - boy am I glad I went last week.

So for my £260 I have actually got a machine that today would have cost me £60 more and as what I've received is a better machine I think I got a real bargain.

You don't realise how much you rely on a washing machine until it stops working. Mum has been great and I've been taking my washing over there each week when I visit but it has been a real pain...I've got to Mum's only to realise I've left a pile of stuff behind (on more than one occasion)...and there is nothing to beat the convenience of being able to bung stuff in the machine as & when.

So at the moment, I'm a happy bunny.................................

From scraps...

...to something special.

As someone who does crochet and knitting I always have 'leftover' yarns. These leftovers are rarely enough to make much out of but I never want to throw them away as they might be handy for embellishing my papercrafts...so the heap grows.

Sound familiar?

I'm sure whatever craft you pursue there are scraps that you hoard but never quite get around to using.

Paula (Happysnappy) has been taking a look at "Decluttering" and apart from the obvious - CHUCK IT OUT - she has been coming up with crafting solutions.

My recent addiction to Kumihimo chord/braid making has given me an opportunity to use some of my yarns in a more creative way.

So from this...
...a bundle of leftover cotton yarn.
Via this...
...my Kumihimo disk.
I now have this...
...bracelet and necklace set. Okay, so I needed some findings but I had the chains (taken off necklaces that were too long) so in effect I have actually used up two different lots of 'leftovers'.
I found these charms whilst out shopping with Mum. They give just the right finishing touch.

So go on, take a look at all those scraps/leftovers that you are hoarding and see if you can come up with something. I'm pretty chuffed with this set - hope you like it too.........................................

What are your dreams...

...do you have dream 'goals' or just 'wishful thinking' dreams?

It is Sunday morning here in the UK and as I have no rush to be anywhere (unusual) I decided to have a catch-up on my blog reading. Krista over at the Saturated Canary blog has a very thoughtful post about dreams - as she says "not the sort you have whilst asleep" - it got me thinking.
What do I dream of?

Being rich & famous?

Travelling the World?

I really don't know...

I would like to be 'comfortable' so that finances are not a worry and I'm sure it would be fabulous to be recognised for something but what are my own personal dreams?

The more I thought about it and the more I thought of all the things that had been on my 'wish list' as I have gone through life - the more I came to the conclusion that I wish for...

A life without fear.

Now before anyone starts thinking awful things are happening to me - I mean a life without the fear of trying, a life without the fear of failure - that kind of fear.

There is a saying that I'm sure I'm about to mis-quote...A life lived in fear is a life only half lived...don't we all have things that we say 'if only' about, or 'I wish I had'.

Krista's post made me stop and think.

How many times have I not done something because I thought it wouldn't work or I didn't have the confidence (or drive) to see it through. It can be quite comforting staying 'safe' and not giving things a go rather than trying and have the disappointment of failure.

I have been told that there is no such thing as 'failure' - it is an opportunity for improvement. That can be very hard to accept and take on board sometimes.
As a small child I dreamed of becoming a nurse - probably because that is what my Mum had been and like most children, wanted to follow in the footsteps of a parent. As I grew up, my dreams changed...I wanted to be a dancer but I grew up in an era where dancers were tall willowy creatures - 5ft 4ins I wasn't tall enough for most chorus-lines and I was too tall for 'child' line-ups. I probably didn't want it enough either as I wasn't prepared to put in the hard work - I wanted it "now" and after quite a few knock-backs that dream faded.

Craft has always been a constant in my life but it is a hobby...something "for me"...a world I can take myself off to and play alone or with others. It is something I have always shied away from turning into a career as I didn't want to lose the enjoyment...I still don't. However, I would like to have the opportunity to try this - but on my terms and in a limited fashion. I don't want to be pushed into the world of tight deadlines and only doing things on demand...fanciful thinking perhaps but if I put my mind to it I'm sure I will come up with a happy medium.

I would still love to have plenty of money (who wouldn't) and there are so many places that I would love to see whilst I'm able to fully enjoy them but I think the first thing I will try to do is put aside the fear.

After all, who only wants to live half a life.......................................

It's WRYWF...

...again.

See what happens when you are late posting - another Friday appears out of nowhere LOL
For anyone who doesn't know what Rocking your World Friday is all about - a lovely group of folk gather over at Virginia's blog to share the positives from their week.

I'm not sure whether I mentioned that I had come 2nd in the Bugaboo "Christmas in July" event (I know I said that I'd won a set of the Tropical Santas).

Here are some snippits of some of the cards I made during the event...


...So in addition to the Santas I also had $30 to spend in their 'store'.

After posting last week's WRYWF item I settled down to a lovely browse (well it would have been lovely if the PC hadn't continued its 'go slow') and I had such a hard time picking images as there were so many that I fell in love with...from cute to funny and back again.

Several hours later...I had 10 lovely images in my 'basket' but noticed I had only spent $15 - numpty here had forgotten that there was a 50% off sale for the whole of July - so back I went to add in some of the images that had been discarded during the selection process. I ended up with 20 fabulous images and boy did Jodie turn the order around quickly. Yeh I know it's all done electronically but someone still has to press the buttons etc. - most impressed.

I now have loads more images to play with.

I've spent most of this week either with Mum or just catching up with friends, things I don't get to do very often. There hasn't been a lot of papercrafting going on but I have certainly built up a bundle of chords/braids and hopefully the end caps will be arriving at Mum's by the weekend so I can make them into jewellery.

Off to Mum's again shortly so I'll pop back later to link-up with Virginia and catch up with the other 'Rockettes'.

Why not have a think about your own week and see what positives there have been - I think you will be surprised at how many there have been. Have a great weekend everyone...............................

"Red sky at Night...

...Shepherds delight.

Red in the Morning; Sailors take warning".

I can't remember who was the first person to quote this old saying to me but it always springs to mind when I see a sky like this...
...especially as we had such awful thunder storms on Sunday (yes; storms plural). We had the lot - thunder, lightening, roaring torrential rain and hail...well they said it was hail...it was more like dirty great chunks of ice bombarding everything.

So to have a reasonable day on Monday was a vast improvement and when this appeared...
...I thought the forecasters had got it wrong and we would have a good Tuesday. Nope!

Tuesday was cold, damp, windy and just yuck and although today (Wednesday) sees the start of a new month - I'm not holding out any great hopes for August based on this morning's outlook...it might be dry but boy are there some large black clouds hovering about.

I nearly forgot to show you this...
...a lone Olympic flag stood in the middle of the Barleylands car park.

As I was over there early for the Members weekend on Friday the car park was pretty empty at this point and this bright banner certainly stood out.

There are more around the outside of the site - all bright orange.

On Canvey as you reach the island there are the same large banners around the Waterside Farm roundabout but they are bright blue...I wonder if the folk concerned got to pick the colours?

With the weather not looking too promising, I think it is a day to go hunting a new washing machine - catch up with you all later.............................

WRYWF...

...which should have been done on Friday - but as you can see; it's Sunday.

(This week has just flown)

There are a small group of lovely folk who gather over at
Virginia's blog each week to share the good and positive things that have made up their week. Even if it seems like you have had a grotty time, if you sit down for a moment and just stop to think - you will be surprised at what gems you will recall.

I've had a very hectic week this week (hense the late post) but it has also been filled with elements of fun & excitement.

Saturday (last week) was fairly quiet after a week of Christmas challenges over at Catch the Bug - those had been the first Christmas cards that I have made this year (how naughty am I?) but I had enjoyed the fun of taking part and even better...I came 2nd in the overall Hop & Challenge which means I have a super set of Tropical Santa digis to play with and $30 to spend in their on-line store (I'm struggling something terrible as I just can't make up my mind - there are so many fun digis to choose from).

Sunday (last week) saw another trip to HobbyCraft so that Mum could stock up on more jewellery bits-n-pieces. Now HC is not my favourite store but I managed to spend a fair bit too as there were some lovely jewellery bits in the clearance. We then took ourselves off to the 'Shepherd & Dog' for a fabulous carvery meal. Mum had also bought me a proper Kumihimo disk and cut off loads of lengths of thread for me to play with so I had a very pleasant evening in front of the TV.

Monday and back to work - how can that be a positive? - well the preparations for the Olympics were continuing and Stratford was starting to look pretty amazing (greatly helped by the sunshine LOL). Lots of photo opportunities so I was very glad that I had my new camera.

Tuesday saw more photos - including one of me with a policeman - "it wasn't me officer; honest"

Wednesday was complete and utter chaos. For some reason head office have decided to launch a promotion exercise just as the main summer holidays are about to kick in - let alone the fact that there is that small sporting event going on which means the bulk of London based staff will be scattered to the 4 winds until September. So it was a bit 'headless chicken' time trying to get recommendations completed for all suitable folk before they disappeared and I went on leave - I did it!!!

Thursday was still pretty hectic as I needed to ensure that I had completed everything that needed to be completed before I started my leave. One of the girls organised lunch at the local Pizza Hut so we all had a chillout time together as a team.
It was then back to the office to make sure that everyone had all they required with them for the various locations they will be working from over the coming fortnight.

Friday required an early start (perhaps not the way you would think of starting a holiday) but it was all worth it. Friday was the start of the Pinnacle Crafts July member's weekend - 30% off for club members. I was there bright and early ready for the doors to open and I got the items I wanted...4 Marianne Design dies, a Clarity stamp and some odds-n-ends. Hopefully I'll get a chance to have a play during this two weeks off. I was all set for the opening ceremony of the Olympics and enjoyed seeing the amazing technology that was utilised to create the whole thing - we Brits can be pretty clever when we want to be and never let it be said that we don't know how to throw a party. Despite the doom & gloom of the weather forecasters - it was a glorious day and the rain held off - way to go Mother Nature.

Saturday (yesterday) and another outing with Mum. A stop off at Barleylands for the Farmer's Market and the sun was fabulous...it really does make a difference...the market was thronging and everyone looked happy & cheerful. A wander round Wickford and Mum was very happy with her purchases. Another visit to the Shepherd & Dog - I wonder if they have a frequent visitor scheme LOL - and then we rounded off the day with a stop at Helen's as I had a Kumihimo disk for her as a surprise. Whilst Mum sorted herself some lovely crystals I showed Helen how to use the disk and by the time we left she had about a third of a bracelet length completed. A generally lovely day - if a bit tiring.

Sunday (today) I'm trying to catch up with all my blog reading but the PC seems to be on a bit of a 'go-slow' (it doesn't seem to appreciate that it is me that is on holiday...LOL). I'm also having a PJ day and will probably chill for a while in front of the TV.

Hope you have all had a good week and an even better weekend. Why not hop over to Virigina's blog and see what other positives folk have found when they have taken a look at their week...........................................

So it has...

...started.

Did you watch the opening ceremony?

What did you think?
I watched it and loved some bits not others. I've heard lots of mixed reactions one of which was that it was "Too British"...umm, I thought that was the whole point - we were trying to show the World what we have achieved and that we are proud to be British.

I sat glued to the whole event and then did the unspeakable...fell asleep just before Team GB entered the stadium **groan**. However, I did see the torch arrive and enter...wasn't it wonderful to have those youngsters sponsored by our previous champions - what a memory for them; to actually light the Olympic cauldron.

It seems as if everyone knows someone who took part or is related to someone who knows someone who took part - another way of making everyone feel that they were part of this amazing event.

Oh, and before anyone wonders how I managed to grab such a super shot of the glowing forged Olympic rings (especially as I wasn't there LOL) - I nabbed the piccy off Google.

So the Games have begun and there will be folk glued to their TVs for every event (as the majority will not have been lucky enough to get tickets) and others bemoaning the disruption to the TV schedules. For those not "into" the whole sporting thing - take advantage of the fact there will be less to distract you on the TV and get some crafting done.

Mum got me a "real" Kumihimo disk (thank you Susanna - finding out what this word means in Finnish made me giggle) and I've been quite busy...
...trying different colour combos and strand counts.
Just a few of the completed chords...
...waiting for me to decide what they are to be made into.

I treated myself to some natural coloured spun silk thread and I'm currently working with that. It is much finer than the cotton threads but so soft and shimmery. I think that I'll mix some copper findings with it to create a bracelet and necklace - but then again I might just change my mind by the time I finish the chord. Decisions, decisions.....................................