A Happy Christmas

 Sorry for Naff Photos. There was too much going on to concentrate on focusing properly.

 We Had a Lovely Lay in - as the kids didn't get up till gone 10am - there are times I love having teens.

 We cut back quite a bit on presents this year as unfortunately our wages are not rising with the cost of living. Anyway, they seem really happy with what they got.

 Natalie was worried she wouldn't have much when I warned them but she was over the moon.

 As was Derek :D...

...and Dan.

Love Soojay xx

Miss You Mum

A Christmas Wedding

 Sorry Photo Heavy ! Not Great photo's - I really wasn't paying too much attention.

Little Sis Andrea, Got Married To Graham yesterday - I have just realized that as well as not having a photo of Graham, nor do I have one of them together!! In my defense we were sitting round the corner from them and did not attend the actual ceremony. Anyway Raymond and James sitting by the fire.

 Beautiful Eva. I don't seem to have a photo of Rebecca as I was standing behind her when i took these- FAIL! She looked stunning too.

 Eva and Annette

 Dan - looking all grown up in proper trousers and real shoes ( not trackies and trainers!)

 Meg, Eva and Annette.

 Beautiful Andrea - her dress was stunning. She is standing next to Dan and Derek!!

Derek popped in on the way home from work.

I Promise to do better next time xx

Love Soojay xxx

End of Term

Yayyy- I am really ready for it now!- Not Christmas- not yet anyway. Don't even know where the tree or decs are  at the moment.
I have finally caught everyone's cold - I was SO careful not to catch a cold before I went to visit Steph last week. Mind you she has an awful cold, which is a million times harder for her to deal with than for me.
I went down to stay last Friday and was a tiny bit worried that i might get lost on the tube. One taxi two trains and the underground....fine ..i got lost walking the 10 min walk from the station to the flat!!! What a drip.
Managed to finish work today with everything done :) The pupils were lovely and I was very touched by how many cards and gifts we got.
I am going to taker it easy for a few days and try to shake off this cold before Christmas.
Till next time.

Love Soojay xxx

Cranberry and Orange Muffins

So I found a generic recipe on the internet and changed it about a tiny bit. I have used fresh Orange and Cranberries ( it would be mad not to this time of year)

Ingreadients:

250g plain flour

180g caster sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

125g fresh cranberries chopped in half

100ml fresh orange juice

grated rind of one orange

30ml vegetable oil.

Directions: 

1. combine all dry ingredients

2. stir in cranberries

3. beat egg, orange juice, oil and rind.

4. add to dry ingredients all at once

5. stir just to moisten.

6. Spoon into muffin cups (fill 3/4 full)

7.Sprinkle top lightly with sugar.

cook for 15-20 mins at 200 C

The smell from the kitchen is heavenly!!

Love Soojay xx

ooppps!

Where HAS the time gone to!? We are now into "Silly" season and I seem to have very little time to get stuff done - I ought to try going faster!
Two more weeks at school before we before we break up, one trip , three meals out and one Ofsted inspection.
Cutting back big time of Prezzies, my Children are not children anymore and have most of the things they need already. So hopefully we won't break the bank this year- we still need a dish washer though :)
My Sister Steph is waiting to go home after a week in hospital for an op to help her breath. I am going to stay for a few days at the end of next week and Our Sis Annette is off to see her before that.
Little sis has moved house, I have yet to pop round to see them :( and is tying the knot later this month - So busy time.
Thankfully (in THIS house) we are all well at the moment ( I expect that flu jab helped!)
That's about it for this quick update - frantically making up Christmas cards over on my other blog.


Love Soojay xxx

Quick Update

 Watched this last week- we bought it mostly because Meg wanted to see it so desperately. It was ok  but I wouldn't have gone to the cinema to see it. Not THAT impressed.

Still need to get to cinema to see this :) I don't want to go with the crowds but Meg wants to go this weekend- she has not read the book so is slightly more desperate to see it :)

Off shopping at some point this weekend to spend some of those Tesco vouchers- was unbelievably stupid and accidentally changed them into IN STORE vouchers to print off and spend in store and NOT online...not on purpose...i normally spend them online GRRRRRRR.

All is ok till you get to the £100 of FURNITURE vouchers ...Where the heck can you spend those instore!! ??

Any idea? Neither have Tesco! I spent two hours on the phone to various help centers and stores trying to find a store within 100 miles of me - so far no help. Tesco can do nothing about my stupid mistake. One guy had a great idea..go into a store and order from Tesco Direct and pay with the vouchers in the store - nope can't do that . Anyone know of a Tesco that sells furniture ( i wanted two bedside tables and an office Chair originally) in East Anglia??

Right i have been up a while and my fabulously lazy teens are still in bed - time to enjoy a little peace!

Love Soojay xxx

Where's the Pause Button??

Life is moving to fast!! Work is manic, my boss/partner was ill for a few days so I was alone. I have just caught up (almost) with last week and have this weeks work to do tomorrow ha ha - Not going to happen!
I seem to have hundreds of bills coming though the door, car tax and this week two lots of travel for next term - for Dan and Meg @ £150 each, I was hoping to get through AFTER Christmas! On a positive note and also probably because we were too busy to do anything about it, we have managed to amass £210 worth of Tesco vouchers which I have doubled up on line so at least the bills are cancelled out ( If you understand my logic!)
My darling Sister Steph is not doing so well - She has throat cancer.
I am hoping to be able to go see her soon after she has a op on Monday to help her breathing.
I can't put into words how I am feeling at the moment - jeez life is unfair - she deserves so much better!

Love Soojay xx

Monday Madness

Some days you just need a laugh. This arrived to day and was waiting for me when I got home from a mad day at work. So far it has done the job. I won't say too much, although if you follow "her" on twitter, you may have read a bit of it already. My fav bit so far: Monday 10th January, We told Stephen junior that he's adopted this evening. He isn't, but there was nothing on TV.

I get my daft sense of humor from my dad and spending my days with teens.

Love Soojay xxx

A Trip Down Memory Lane Retreat

 I am not great at remembering to take photos - probably because the time just flies by and I forget.

My room - Fab- I do have to say that it was not as great as last year - the rooms on the third floor are definitely a bit better but, I am not going to complain as the view was lovely and I even had two double beds to choose from.

We left ( Annette , Sarah and I ) on Friday afternoon , traveled for about an hour to arrive at Stoke By Nayland Hotel. We had a lovely relaxing meal in the bar before we checked in and unpacked our "stuff".

 Saturday nights tea. Yummy food , lots of wine and staying up till  late creating :) 

I Love these ladies, I haven't laughed so much since the last time we were together.

 Very posh prawn cocktail, followed by sausage and mash and cheese cake.

 The view from the room- hard to believe its almost November!!

 One of the classes - Jane Hewitts Christmas mini book ( a work of art!) 

AND to top it all...the shop :) :) - heaven.

VERY sad to leave at tea time on Sunday and really upset with the service at home- I had to get my own breakfast and then go to work this morning !!!!

Love Soojay xxx

Dan and ADHD

I was talking to someone about ADHD recently and about how Dan is so much Calmer nowadays- even with out any ADHD meds. We stopped them when he was diagnosed with nocturnal Epilepsy. The doc was very keen on him taking medication for that so we slowly stopped the clonodine  ( he didn't take ritalin as he also has Tourettes and Ritalin can sometimes make tics worse) So now he just takes the minimum dose of Tregratol to stop him "fitting" in the night. 

Anyway the tics are quite small at the moment and don't seem to give him too much trouble- they get worse when he is worried or excited about anything. I have spent his whole life keeping everything as clam as possible for him.  We HAVE had tough times- school exclusions, holes punched in doors ( quite a few doors actually). Lots of friendship problems although the little kids stopped taking the mick when he got taller ;)

 I took some photos of him on his 18th Birthday . He hates having his photo taken but think that more of and age thing- I don't know many boys who like to sit to have their photo taken at his age. I took half a dozen but he was getting very bored- I guess the play station ( even now at 18 , he is not allowed to play violent games, just sporty ones) or maybe Facebook ( i am a friend and know his password) 

He had gone before I realized Ha Ha Ha - there are occassional times i forget the ADHD - but he reminds me :) Love him!

Love Soojay xxx

The Hair

Not as purple as I had thought it would be but Meg is Very Happy with it .

The light is not so good now and the little madam would not pose but continued to play on the X Box.

It does shine "purple" in certain light. I hope the roots dont grow though too quickly as it is a job I Hate doing!

I am off on a nice long weekend retreat tomorrow. The ATDML retreat at Stoke By Nayland - one of my fav hotels. This will be my fourth time there and fifth time staying - almost a home from home :D

I have 5 classes booked and as I haven't done a scrapbook page for AGES, I am really looking forward to it. I am also really looking forward to having my food cooked for me (Amazing food too) and having a bath without an interruption.

Back to the real world on Monday - half term over.

Love Soojay xxx

Dying Megs Hair

Cyber Purple!!!

she has is Dk Red usually but wanted to be more dramatic. This will work! We needed two boxes as she has SO much hair!. Will be back later with the finished result.

Love Soojay xxx

What A FAB week!!

 My Darling Sister, Annette, and I went to the big city on Wednesday afternoon to see Darren Hayes

This is us arriving at Liverpool street station.

 Yes we were very Happy :)

Unfortunately I was too happy to be taking photos!! We did quite a bit of walking about and jumping on and off the tube. We also have a fabulous Japanese Meal ( my first) .

The Show was Brilliant!! Darren was amazing . His new Album is out Tomorrow and mine is pre ordered :)

On Tuesday night ( sorry I am not posting in any order!) I took hubby along to the school music evening - he had never been before. I warned him that he would be "blown away" by the talent and I was right :) Here is a link to just one of the performers Matt Palmer . Just Brilliant! Check it out.

Now on half term holiday for a week - yayyyyy . 

On Friday I am off for a nice long weekend at ATDML Retreat (again with Annette and LOADS of Fab ladies) . I promise to remember to take more photos :)

I have spent the weekend catching up with card making for design teams - no guilt as I have the whole week to clean and tidy and do the boring stuff.

Love Soojay xxx

Quick Update

 Already on Chapter four of this one - The latest book by Nicholas Sparks. I love all his books but am trying to take my time reading it . I do have another book in the wings ( It will soon be half term) 

This one is the first of three books , so , if I like it, It should keep me going for sometime. Will let you know.

Off To London on Wednesday to see Darren Hayes...I am SO excited ...It's been four or five years since I last saw him live. Going with My Sister Annette...Can't believe its only three days !!!!

Not seen any really good DVD's recently but TV is getting better , especially now Merlin and Waterloo Road are back.

Derek, Dan and Meg are at my sister Steph's today...hopefully giving her a big hug from me. She is doing ok at the moment, the big news is that she has managed to put on half a stone recently.

Back to the laundry then......

Love Soojay xxx

Blog Candy!

Bev Has three lots of FAB candy over on her Site HERE Go Check it out



Love Soojay xxx

Happy 18th Danny

 Getting this boy to have his photo taken is as rare as hens teeth! And smiling too-Wow!

We have had a quiet day at home, he bought himself a new smart phone with birthday money - I am so glad as it means i can actually contact him now! We bought him a fab Lenovo touch screen PC and while it cost quite a bit, I don't mind. I suppose because I know he won't be taking driving lessons like a lot of boys his age. Quite apart from the ADHD, he also has epilepsy.

Anyway the boy asked for burger and chips for tea- sometimes i do love his simple tastes _ nice and easy :). 

I had better get to it.

Love Soojay xxx

Welll????????

 Did you guess that it was a felted bowl?

 I really enjoyed my very first attempt at any form of felting yesterday in Sudbury. 

Katie Walker has been doing this for sometime and is a wonderful and entertaining teacher. She was VERY patient and generous with me and gave me loads of inspiration.

 Green is my favorite colour, so i chose that as the main with wisps of blue , lime green and white.

I am sure I have not finished yet though as I am itching to embellish with some seed beads and a tiny bit of stitching.

Katie wastes nothing, so i kept the bit i cut out at the top to use later. I want to have a little go at some needle felting and this is ideal to practice on.

I have lots of ideas buzzing around in my head now - just wish I had a few more hours in the day!!

I shall pop the photos of "the beginning of the process at Katie's workshop once I have pinched them from the school's network- ohh did I tell you it was a school trip? 

Love Soojay xxx

Can you tell what it is yet???

 My very first attempt at something new - taught by a very talented lady.

I can tell you that the next stage involves a sharp pair of scissors, a bicycle pump and a tumble dryer.

Watch this space ;) 

Love Soojay xxx

Autumn at school

 One of my jobs at the school is to run the Eco Council. There are representatives from every form group and we hold meetings each term. We have quite a few projects on the go at the moment, which we are really excited about.

 We do also have a very small blog on the school network. I am trying to get some of the pupils to post and get involved in it a bit more - so that I don't have to.
 This morning i popped into school to organize a small surprise for my boss as it is her Birthday.

 I couldn't resist taking loads of photographs of the plants and trees in the grounds as it was such a beautiful sunny day and everywhere was so colourful

There were so many different berries all ready for the birds to come eat. These are some of the photos I shall put up on our Blog but they were so pretty, I thought I'd share here too.

While I was in the grounds taking my photos, I bumped into another member of staff , working really hard all alone digging our new pond - there's dedication for you!!

Love Soojay xxx

Saturday

SO Proud- Go Look

Hearts

 A few people have said they like my FB Avatars

I don't like to use my photo  and these hearts usually make me smile.

 I just searched for them on Google- there are some amazing photographers/graphic artists out there

Help yourself -I did :D

Love Soojay xxx