Sick again !!!!

................I Cant believe it

Having been ill at the beginning of Jauary with the coldy fluey bug I thought I was over it, except for the earache.

Well last week it hit me again this time completely de-railing me with the flu, I worked through the first couple of days in the build up, but Thursday I gave in & came home from work early. Just as well I did by Thursday evening I was unable to do anything, even eating was painful, that was it for five days, still feel rough today so popped myself to the docs...........I have a chest infection................my third dose of antibiotics in 4 weeks & the threat of a chest x-ray if there is no improvement by Monday. So I now have a certificate for a week and doctors orders to rest..........not that I feel like doing anything, the concentration is just not there.

So hopefully normal service will be resumed next week, when I have a pile of cards to make for February birthdays.

Printing in Gold Silver & Copper

The wedding season is galloping towards us & at work we have noticed the increased number of brides making their own wedding stationery.
So here I am sitting here in my craft room making up some sample wedding invitations for a couple of brides to view when I realised that it might be helpful to add the printer codes to print in gold silver & copper. This works with most printers & definateley with Epson printers.

• When you have written your text in word or publisher, highlight the whole text area.
• Cick on the 'A' button to change font colour.
• Click on the line that says more colours.
• The middle tab should br custom, click and enter the following codes in the boxes next to the colour names.
• This will then apply the colour to all of your hilighted text.

Gold
Red 192 Green 168 Blue 104

Dark gold
Red 165 Green 138 Blue 82

Silver
Red 151 Green 151 Blue 168

Copper
Red 205 Green 115 Blue 0

This looks yummy

Cheesy, Hammy, Eggy

I found this recpe on Sarahs blog

Ingredients (Makes four slices)

4 Slices White Bread (white tastes much better with this recipe)
4 Slices Ham
5 Eggs
250g Cheese
Teaspoon English or Dijon Mustard

Method

• First make the cheesy mixture by mixing together 1 egg, 250g cheese and the mustard.
• Place four slices bread under the grill and toast on one side
• Turn the toast over and put the ham on the uncooked side making sure it is just inside the edge of the bread.
• Cover the bread with the cheesy mixture spreading it right to the edge.
• Put the toast back under the grill to melt the cheesy mixture all over the bread.
• Fry four eggs.
• Remove the toast from the grill and place on your plate, top with a fried egg and pepper!

Norwich Dragon festival

Norwich Dragon Festival 2009

Norwich will roar into life as the first ever dragon festival takes place at various venues around the city. The festival aims to reflect dragons as an integral part of Norwich's local history.

Better get your flame-retardant clothing ready, as the first ever Norwich Dragon Festival flies its way into the city between Saturday, 31 January - Sunday, 22 February, 2009.

The festival entails three weeks of flame-filled activities including exhibitions, puppet shows, story-telling, talks, films, arts and crafts and a dragon trail.

The aim of the festival is to celebrate dragons as part of Norwich's vast culture and history, with the fiery creatures being a part of the city since the Medieval Ages.

The festival will call at 15 different locations around Norwich, including the £2 million renovated Dragon Hall on King Street, and many venues will exhibit their displays for free.

The Dragon Festival

The fire-breathing creatures have been given the support of many companies throughout Norwich to bring them to the public domain.

"There's over 15 organisations involved from all across the city and about 30 different events," said Christina Lundberg, communications manager at Norwich Heritage, Economic and Regenerations Trust.

"The activities are mainly aimed at families, but there's treats for the young people at heart and talks that are also aimed towards adults," she added.

A dragon in the spandrels at Dragon Hall

One of the main dragons that can be seen at the festival is an incredible 581 years old, placed in the spandrels (rafters) of Dragon Hall.

"We've had groups who've liaised with community artists to work at filling our other spandrels at Dragon Hall, because we only have one dragon there at the moment," said Gina Woods, learning and development officer of Dragon Hall.

"Even though there is only one, it is rather famous, being 581 years old," she added.

Young people have been able to get involved in filling the remaining spandrels of the hall.

"Filling the triangular spandrels has been really fun and creative. We have a felt dragon made by Catton brownies," said Gina.

The history of Norwich's dragons

Ever since the Medieval Ages, Norwich has had a history of dragons.

A Dragon on St John's Cathedral, Norwich

"The dragons are mainly related to St George, the great dragon-slayer, and Margaret, the maiden he rescued," said Christina.

"Dragons have been carved in Norwich since Medieval times and they boomed around the Industrial Revolution, where the creatures were incorporated into the architecture of the buildings.

"Snap dragons were involved in the Annual Guild Day on St George's Day and various dragons can now be found throughout Norwich.

"People in Norwich have really taken dragons to heart".

Now the penguins are coming to Norwich

People are being asked to keep their eyes peeled for a colony of penguins across Norfolk this winter.

We've had elephants in Norwich, hippos are heading for Wymondham, camels visited Brundall last week and next it will be the turn of penguins.

Life-size emperor penguins brought to life with the artwork of poorly and disabled youngsters will be showing off their new looks at The Forum in the new year.

The sculptures, decorated by youngsters from Quidenham Children's Hospice, Sheridan House School in Southborough, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Eagle House in Banham will be displayed from Wednesday, January 28 until Sunday, February 8.

Each group has created their individual animal sculptures by transferring the youngster's images on to the fibreglass
penguins through a series of art workshops.


I am sure that this will make an excellent photo opportunity & I hope to be able to visit the exhibition and take lots of pictures.

Why you should always check your childresn homework.

Note sent the next school day with 1st grader...


Dear Ms Davies,

That is not a dance pole on stage in a strip joint! ...I work at Home Depot, ...that's me selling a shovel.

It certainly made me smile and took me back to when I worked in a first school.

Stampin at last

Thank you for all of your get well wishes.......I am now beginning to feel a bit better,I just wish that the tablets would work and sort out my earache.
By Thursday I had some concentration back and sat snuggled up on the sofa blog hopping & I have to say that I feel totally inspired looking at all of lovely projects that you've been posting.
It's so hard to believe that we are already 11 days into the new year.
I did spend a couple of hours in my craft room yesterday and made a few simple Stampin up cards, inspired by Splitcoast stampers.

Delight in Life

Love Matters

Both way blossoms

All of the stamp sets are Stampin up
Cardstock is also by Stampin up
Backing papers are Doodlebug & Sandylion

I have been blog hopping over to Alison's blog & keep looking at her Gorgeous photo's
All of the lovely new winter pictures she has taken have inspired me to break out my camera as soon as I feel well enough to be out walking, so watch this space.

Spicy root soup

I think I need some good old fashioned comfort food, so I am going to try this later, it was on GMTV this week and looks like just what the doctor ordered.

Ingredients

2 tablespoon olive oil

**2-3 tablespoons korma or balti curry paste**

2 small onions, chopped

1 tsp mustard seeds (optional)

1 tsp cumin seeds (optional)

2 leeks, chopped

3 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped

2 parsnips or 1 small celeriac, peeled and chopped

1.2l vegetable stock,

200ml natural yogurt or double cream, plus extra to serve

Method

1. Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large pan, add half the onions and fry until just starting to colour. Add the curry paste, mustard and cumin seeds for the last minute of cooking. Add vegetables and stir until well coated. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, partly cover and simmer for 30 mins, until the vegetables are tender.
2. Purée the soup in batches, then return to the pan and stir in the yogurt. Taste and add salt, if necessary. Reheat gently, then ladle into bowls and top each with a spoonful of yogurt or cream.

**I have to say that this was the most yummy soup, BUT I didn't use 3 Tablespoons of curry paste, I used 3 teaspoons and it was just right, it was spicy but even Abi ate it.**

Blog Candy everywhere

Thank you all for your kind get well wishes, I still feel really rough but have sat wrapped in my lovely fur throw and been blog surfing, and have found some great blog candy to share with you.

Emma had some gorgeous Stampin up blog candy

Tasha has a great blog candy on offer, just check out her blog & tell her a joke.

Some yummy valentines candy is on offer from Michello

Good luck everyone

Please leave a message

Please leave a message, Lisa is not here at the moment.

Well my body is here, but the rest of me is feeling to poorly with a coldy fluey bug to come & play or craft.
I hope to restore normal service soon

Never argue with an idiot, first the drag you down to their level & then they beat you with experience.

New years day 2009

New Years Day at the beach

Lyn & Roger at Sea Palling on the Norfolk coast

Partners in crime

Roger waiting for his chips

Abi ~ she says that she doesn't like having her photo taken ! ~ just look at those beautiful green eyes.

Abi & Kirsten ( aka Kizzy )

Abi & Kirsten ~ Dont they both have lovely eyes in this picture.

Horsey Gap in the sand dunes, the beach was closed as the Seals breed from November onwards. The Norfolk coast is beautiful any time of year, you just have to dress for the weather.

The viewing platform at Horsey gap

Just lazing around yards from the viewing platform

Hot soup & Crusty rolls at the beach on New years day, this is now a family tradition.

Notice Abi has her boots on! and poor Bramble had to paddle his puppy paws and it was freezing, but unlike his human buddies he never complains.

Just sitting around waiting for us too get back with the chips, a 25 minute wait....... you wouldn't think the beach would be so busy on new years day!

Chips........Hot soup & bread rolls the new years resolution of No junk food didn't last long.

She has that look in her eye, as if she is about to do something!


Happy 2009

Christmas Day Chez Lovell

Christmas Day Chez Lovell

Christmas Day
Chez Lovell


Abi as usual was the last one up, we had to send Kizzy up to wake her as everyone was waiting for her to open presents.

Notice the Christmas sack. ( Most of the time )


Guitar hero was one of the hits
of Christmas along with some of the Wii games, Dan's present & he had to wait his turn. The wii was on most of Christmas & the only time that we had the television on was when we watched Mama Mia which Grandma loved.



Christmas isn't complete without a glass or two of Bucks fizz for breakfast, along with

Christmas lunch ~ why are we waiting? yes I forgot to defrost the prawns for the prawn cocktail, not just of Christmas day, but again on boxing day.

Dan was a bit worried that he had eaten too much


Dan is completely chillaxed.....or did he just get bored waiting for his turn on the Wii

I think that everyone was chillaxed.

Just like sisters very competitive! ! ! !