Ally Pally

Well Ang, Carol, Karen, Janet, Angela, Liz and myself set off at 7.40am for our long awaited trip to Ally Pally. The sun was shining and the journey there quite straight forward. AP was packed not just with lots of lovely goodies up for grabs but with people, this was the busiest I'd seen it in about 4 years and the heat inside was stifling too. I bought lots of lovely goodies and was well chuffed. I think we were all impressed this time and all had a good spend. We came away at 5pm when the show closed all shattered but very happy, sat on the steps had a group photo and then loaded into Ang's 'bus' for the journey home. We had our customary stop at McDonalds Chelmford, were we ended up in fits of laughter and funny stares from other customers. We arrived back in Bramford at 9pm.......must say a BIG THANKS to Ang for kindly driving us all there and back.
I had a good look at all my purchases this morning and was surprised at how much I'd actually bought! Lovely card stock and papers, nesties, inks, alot of lovely rubber stamps....you should check out a new company called www.littleclaire.co.uk her stamps are gorgeous.
Well tomorrow my son Aaron is off to New York with Suffolk College until Friday. It was his 18th birthday pressie from me and hubby. He went last year too and this last week I finally finished srapping his photos. I won't be going to bed until 3.30am tomorrow as he's to be at the college before 3am!!! Motherly love or what LOL.
As alot of you know I'm an avid Ipswich Town football supporter and today we played Norwich at home, sadly Andy used his season ticket so I didn't get to go, very inconsiderate of him me thinks.......well Ipswich wiped the floor with Norwich...he! he! he! bragging rights are ours. Even better news Everton have just knocked Man U out of the FA Cup semi finals, even bigger Ha!, Ha!, Ha!
Well I've a huge pile of ironing to wade through, so must stop now.

Janina x

Long Time no write!!!!

Well it's been awhile since I last blogged...where does the time go? It was the April Bramford crop yesterday and another good turnout. The May crop is National Scrapbooking Day so they'll be lots of prizes on offer...so hopefully Dawn will win something which will save Sue's ears on the drive home LOL. Emma a Stampin Up demonstrator came yesterday and did a demo for us. Thanks to those of you who placed an order and thanks to Emma for the demo.
April 18th, Ang, Carol, Karen, Liz, Janet, Angela and mtself are off on our twice yearly jaunt to Ally Pally...Ang kindly drives us ( and I drive Ang with my Jekyl and Hyde driving, tho being a passenger.....you'll only know if you are with us !!!!) all in her bus........which Trevor, Ang's partner call a menopausal womens day out LOL. We always have a good day, so am so looking forward to it.I'm making my list and have a few things on it.
This week I've only to work Monday morning, rest of the week off as hols, so I've big plans to sort out my craft stuff and to make some cards and scrapbook to..Big ideas I know.
My oldest son Aaron needs prompting to get onto Ucas and submit his Uni place exceptance for Southampton.......a lovely uni with so much to do for students.Then it'll be sorting out his grants etc, which I must say seem quite daunting.He also passed his driving test last month, so I keep loosing my car!
Just looked outside, it's getting dark so I've been on here longer than I thought...my hubby reckons I'm an addict, me never.
Well bloggers, hope you all have a good week, lets hope the weather lasts for Easter....I'd like it too as I want to do a boot sale to boost my Ally Pally funds!
Janina x

A Happy New Year and where has the past 3 months gone!

A Happy New Year to all you bloggers.Hope you all had a lovely christmas and that Santa was kind to you all with stash!!!! We had dinner and tea Christmas day at the in-laws which was great as I was working Christmas night 10-7am Boxing morning(I work as a relief carer in a local home for the elderly with Dementia). The past 3 months have whizzed by and I'm sure I've missed most of it, well that's how it seems. Andy my DH has been working in Belfast these past 3 months coming home at weekends, which has meant my twice weekly drive to Stansted Airport, which I can now do with my eyes shut and cruise control on the car!!!!! Then I also work 3 mornings pw at a sheltered housing complex, private carer 3 mornings and 3 tea times pw for a 90yr lady, also my relief night shifts miexd with taxi service on tap to 3 teenagers oh and housework......you can see why I've lost 3 months and haven't blogged for 2 months. Andy has now finished in Belfast and is now offically unemployed and reckons he's going to be a house husband....yer right over my dead body!!!!He can have a couple of months off getting those jobs done around the house that I can't do then it'll be time to job hunt.
DS 1 Aaron is 18 tomorrow, it doesn't seem possible, I remember labour like it was yesterday.He's not having a party as we are paynig for him to go to New York in April with college.
The Bramford Christmas crop on 13th December was again well supported with over 30 scrappers attending. I am so pleased this crop has taken off and our ladies keep coming back month after month(so thank you to you all) I was alittle worried when Ang said go on start up a crop.....the rest is history. We have such a lovely bunch of people who make the crop such a huge success, with a warm friendly atmosphere.
Ang and Diane(Crafts and Candlelight) kindly bring along their shops each month. Diane's shop next to Lumberjacks on Bramford Rd has had a big makeover during the christmas break, with new shelving and a big move round it's well worth a visit(open Tues-Sat).
Well DS 2 is now pestering to use the computer, so I will say goodbye for now...............Janina xx

Hi bloggers

Hasn't the past month flown by! It was crop day in Bramford yesterday with 29 scrappers turning up, next month the Christmas crop I expect one or two more. It's great to think people want to come to our crop month in month out and I thank you all for making it such a friendly fun event. Next months one is on 13th December and has lots of prizes on offer.
This week I start a new job as a Relief Carer working all night shifts at a local Elderly Residential home. By the end of the week I will be shattered, so roll on Friday.Next week things should have calmed down......well just a bit! My DH Andy has two weeks left working in Ireland, but it could be four weeks then he's out of work, reckons he's going to be a house husband.....yeh right, me thinks he'll soon get feed up with that. I reckon it'll be the new year before he finds a new job when things on the economy front settle down. I'll be doing two jobs so at least we won't be in each others pockets....it will feel strange as he's worked away from home for the past 13 years and ever since we have been married(20 years now, god I could've committed 2 murders and been out on good behaviour!!!!No he's lovely really....well most of the time) he's worked shifts.......
Yesterday at the crop Suzy kindly made her Malteser cake for us, which I confess to eating two pieces and Heather(her cakes are amazingly scrummy) made butterfly buns and I ate 3 of those!!!!!!Funny thing I don't normally eat cake except at our crop and the one at Papermaze, then I eat a months ration. Well vegetables are calling to be sorted for lunch. It's roast pork today.
Have a great week bloggers, will be back sooner than the past month..................Janina xx

Another good crop

Well yesterday was our Bramford Crop. 28 of us turned up which was another very good turnout, so it looks like we are doing something right. We have a great bunch of very friendly ladies, young ladies and a young gent who support us each month, so thank you to you all for making it s success and well worth the effort each month. I must say a BIG THANK YOU to Ang who has kindly producing a monthly kit of the day and aren't they worth the wait?! She's a very talented lady who under estimates her work, as her LO are amazing. Ang has also managed to get some lovely papers for future kits so watch this space. Thanks also to Suzy for making the scrummy Malteser cake, to Tina for the sausage rolls to to who ever it was who brought the jam doughnuts. Lastly thanks to Leona, Sue and Rachel who kindly helped me clear up at the end.
The next big event is the Scrapbook Fair at Hintlesham Community Centre next Sunday 12th 10-4pm. Ang and Diane will be having stalls there, so if you can visit it's normally a good event.

Next Bramford Crop 1st November and the Christmas crop 13th December, hope to see you there.

A fun weekend

Well yesterday was our trip to Ally Pally. With everyone loaded onto Ang's bus we set off at 7.30am instead of 8am.That 30 minutes earlier made a big difference to traffic and parking.With Liz's pass we parked right outside the front entrance, which when we were tired at the end of the day meant not far to walk with heavy bags. I think we all (Ang, Sheila, Wendy, Liz, Karen, Carol and myself) had a fab day and bought some lovely goodies. I have'nt looked at what I bought yet as by the time we got home last night I was shattered, so retreated to the settee and read the paper!I did buy lots of lovely stamps from the Rubbernecker stamp company, they were soooo cheap and light to carry, unlike Ang who stocked up on paper punches and now has one arm longer than the other !!!
Now for this coming Saturday and the Bramford Crop....10-5.30pm.
The 12th October is The Scrapbook Fair at Hintlesham community centre 10-4pm free entry. Ang will be there with her goodies and so will Diane from Crafts and Candlelight. Others I know Country Creations, Scrapagogo, A Trip Down Memory Lane, The Stamp Hut.....so please support them if you can.
Well I've now got to get the veg ready for dinner...............

It's been one of those weeks....

I've had a real crappy week that went from bad to worse as each day appeared!!!I did go to Papermaze crop yesterday and am glad I did as the girls cheered me up and that was the happiest I'd felt all week.So thanks girls. I only got half a LO done, but plenty of talking and laughing. Back to Stanstead airport tomorrow morning as Andy flys out to Ireland again until Friday...he said what about moving out there to live......Reggie on the run !!!!Some of the girls will get the joke of that one. I've lots to do this week, including I hope a visit to Thornham field centre at Eye about arranging a weekend scrap retreat for next year so watch this space.....The Bramford crop is looming up fast again...Saturday 4th October. This coming Saturday we're off to Ally Pally, can't wait as it's normally a good day out with a good bunch of friends.