Nothing crafty

I haven't had time for much crafting recently, so here's just an update on life.

I have been really enjoying my Psychology lessons, we have been learning about the functions of different parts of the brain, it's so fascinating. :) 
I have made the decision to drop my English Lang/Lit AS as my Double maths course is going to take up quite a few of my free study lessons, leaving only a few for my private working. I have decided that the amount left over shall not be enough so have dropped English as it was the option I was least enjoying. I feel pleased now, it's done and I'm glad I have dropped it. I can now ensure I achieve the best I can, I've been given a target grade of an A in every subject, so that's something to work for!!

Our village had a village show on Saturday which I helped with, I was working on the gates with my Rangers group collecting entry fees. As confident as you feel about your maths ability, trying to work out children and adult fees quickly to avoid queueing isn't easy!! The show was ok, not much to do considering the price we were charging, but nevertheless it was good to see so many people there. James loved the magician that performed, he found him so funny.

I haven't got much else to say, I'm going to go and do some crafting I think as I have no homework to do specifically tonight. I shall go off and use my lovely new punch (Thanks Karen!!).

Bye for now,

Hannah :)

Hello all

Hello,

I have been pretty quiet recently as I have just gone back to school and begun my sixth form studies. They are going well so far, I have been enjoying my lessons and coping with workload. I have persuaded the school to allow me to take Psychology as a 5th AS level, they were reluctant so have allowed it on a trial basis, I can then continue with it if I manage the workload and am not compromising on the other subjects. I have so far loved my psychology lessons, I knew I would, and want to continue, although it's probably a little too early to say if I shall cope with the high levels of work.

I had a night of no homework last night as I had a few free lessons I could complete the work in today. I decided to sit down to a little scrapbooking and this is the result.

I bought the notebook earlier in the year and planned to use it to keep note of my journeys and travels. This is the first page, my trip to Ireland this summer. I have decided to make it slightly creative but not bulky as it needs to lay flat. I hope you like it, it was lovely to do a bit of scrapbooking again.

We went to visit my Aunt and Uncle on Sunday. It was a great day out. A village near their house had a Scarecrow Festival on that day, and it really was a festival. They had music, a funfair, stools and then of course the scarecrows which were all around the village. It was a very creative village, they had some amazing scarecrows. Here are a few of mine and James' favourites.

I liked these, so realistic

James liked all of the recognisable character ones, especially these Toy Story ones.

And then there was Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy

And the Gruffalo

I want those wellies!!

This was one of my favourites

The choirboy was so life-like I expected him to move

And then, of course, "compare the meerkat, compare the scarecrow". There were quite a few meerkats around, although I couldn't see how they were really scarecrows. There was also quite a few "Stigs" from Top Gear.

And then finally this one, my favourite of the day and my favourite photo, probably the one I'll scrapbook (if I find the time!)

Following the Scarecrow festival we moved on to another, the Arts Fresco festival in Market Harborough. It was good, we didn't see many acts as we had missed the majority, but nevertheless the procession was good, made even better by the appearance of a certain guy!!!

This guy was "Anil" from The Basil Brush Show (he also has his own program called Ajay's Planet). James often watches CBBC and Basil Brush. I had realised who it was, however James obviously hadn't. Mum then said that she recognised him, and when I turned to James he had obviously just had a light-bulb moment. It was classic, so funny to see. We then spent 45 minutes following him around the procession. James is very forward going and chatty, or at least that his normal side, but on Sunday he was shy and wouldn't approach him, I think he was starstruck. It took him the whole 45 minutes to pluck up the courage to see him. Here is the evidence that he did pluck up the courage and speak to him.

Please don't ask why he looks so miserable, really, he was happy, I think when Mum took this photo something else was more interesting than the camera!! He took the photo into school yesterday to show everyone, he was so proud to have met him. Ahhh bless.    

Ok I think I'd better go. Bye for now.

Hannah :)

Arghhh...

I saw this yesterday and thought I'd quickly share it with you

arghhhh how scary is that, this year has just flown by, and the photo was taken yesterday so now it's only 103 days!!!

I'll blog properly tomorrow, I've a bit to show and say :)

Night, Hannah xx

Cherry on the top award

I have to thank both Karen and Alexa for this award. I have been given it by both of them and am very grateful (sorry it has taken me sooo long to post it Karen). They both have interesting and inspirational blogs, please go over and take a look.

As a recipient of the award I have to

1. Thank the people who have given me the award ~*Tick*~
2. Place it on my blog ~*Tick*~
3. List 3 things about myself - OK then here goes, I really don't know what to put. Um.... I tend to buy and wear blue clothes, I just head straight for them in the shops! I used to do ballet, but left when I got to grade 2 as the teacher changed. I tried to learn the recorder when I was at lower school but never managed a note that didn't sound horrid! Is that OK?     ~*Tick*~
4. Post a picture that I love - Sorry to those of you who have already seen this photo, but I love it. I took this photo of James when on holiday this year.     ~*Tick*~

5. Pass the award on to 5 deserving bloggers - I can think of quite a few people who's blogs I love to look at, but many have already received this, so here goes with my 5.
1. Claire, who creates some gorgeous inspirational pages, is talented at a lot of crafts (her knitting is fab) and tells some good stories.
2. Emma, who has a brilliant scrapping style, I aspire to using as many gorgeous elements on one layout as Emma does, and also shares some of her fabulous photos.
3. Anna, who inspires me with her fantastic photography and gorgeous layouts.
4. Kirsty, who also makes me envious of her photography and wish for an SLR camera! Her pages are also gorgeous, so detailed.
5. Winnie, who has a really interesting and varied blog, with fab pages and funny stories.

Thanks again to both Karen and Alexa for this award.

Bye for now,

Hannah :)

My little brother has just got bigger

For quite a while now James hasn't really been my 'little' brother, he's at least a couple of inches taller than me! He's instructed me before to call him my 'big little brother'. Today he really was my big, grown up, little brother, if that makes sense! He started at the upper school today that I am at in the special needs inclusion class. He looked so smart, grown up and ready for the big world.

He loved having to wear a tie as he has been so interested in helping dad get ready for work over the past few years, and it was finally him who needed to wear a tie.
He had a great first day at school, enjoying being back with his friends and in a routine.

We had a great weekend this past weekend. We decided to have a little getaway to the sea for a night, Nan, Mum, James and I. We left on Friday, arriving Friday night at our travel lodge destination, ready to wake and spend a morning at the sea. We used to have a caravan on the Norfolk coast, and I really wish we still did, but on Saturday morning we returned to the site and played on the beach. It was a good nostalgia trip for me as I can remember many days at that beach, playing and exploring. The weather was really lovely, I had my shorts on, which is unusual for me in Norfolk, and the sea was quite warm. Rolo loves the sea, as soon as we get close his nose goes mad and he pulls right the way to the sea. He loves playing with stones, most dogs like sticks or balls, but not Rolo. He finds a stone on the beach and digs it into the sand. Here's Rolo carefully selecting a stone.

James also loves the sea, so we were playing together, building sand castles and running through the water for a good couple of hours.

I am starting sixth form on Thursday back at the same school. I'm looking forward to getting back into school and excited to start my subjects which are Double Maths, English Literature and Language combined and Biology. I'm not taking art onto the next level, it was so much work, and even though it was rewarding, it would compromise my other subjects and doesn't offer as many options in my future.
I have been enjoying some retail therapy today, stocking up my sixth form wardrobe with charity shop bargains and some autumn warmth. Charity shops are great places, they have so much stigma amongst children, but you can get some great, brand knew clothes that are great quality. We've spent a lot today, but the money's gone to a good cause and I have enough clothes to last a couple of years. Here's a new hand bag I found in the charity shop, I love it, so retro and colourful, a good inspiration source for pattern and colours.

Bye for now,
Hannah :)

Meerkat

Hello everyone,

I've had a bit of time to sort out my digi stash and do a quick page over the past few days. It didn't take long and I know it could be much better but it was mainly created so I could try the technique of blending the photo with the background. I'm pleased with how it turned out.

I took this photo on Monday when we went to a Wildlife Park. James loved watching the meerkats eat whilst this chap stood guard. He burst into reciting the 'Compare the Market' advert as soon as we walked in to the Meerkat Manor, much to everyones amusement. :D

For those of you who use Blogger I have made an observation which you may wish to hear about. There is an updated version of blogger that we can chose, it has just not been made obvious. The updated version makes uploading photos when posting so much easier, it puts them where your cursor is!! To find the update, you have to go to the 'Settings' tab, 'Basic', and then scroll down to the 'Global settings' section. Under 'Select post editor' there is a new option to click, 'Updated editor'. Clicking this updates the posting options and many other things, it's great.

We went out for a celebratory meal for my exam results last night. We had a 3 course meal, which I'm not used to, and I walked out feeling like a balloon, so fat and full. It was so yummy, we went to a pub we often go to as it is consistently good, hearty food. Thanks for everyone's congratulations comments, they mean a lot. I have an 'interview' at my school on Tuesday to finalise sixth form choices and then begin back on the Thursday. I'm looking forward to it. I need to shop for suitable clothing to wear, Mum keeps saying she's not looking forward to it, I wonder why?!!!

Bye for now,
Hannah :)