Why do we like new things?

I've been pondering this thought...? What do you like that's new? I know that I like opening a new box of crackers because they are always crisp, and crackers always taste better when they’re fresh. The staler they are the more bendier they get; then they taste like cardboard. That's the voice of experience! I like buying a new dress because it makes me feel good. Old favourites will always have a place in my wardrobe. That warm, familiar feeling keeps coming back every time I wear them. A new dress certainly needs to evoke that feeling to be invited to join my old favourites collection. I like buying a new book. I enjoy taking one from the bottom of the pile so it's never been opened. It’s got that ‘oooh aaah’ feeling. Sometimes though, old is better. There is nothing more comfortable than a worn pair of shoes. You know, the ones that mold to your feet. New ones always need wearing in and that can be soooooo painful sometimes. I love old photographs; you know the ones where you have a good laugh at all the fashion foh pahs and silly hair do's. I love black and white photographs of people I recognise from the past. Those photographs don't lie like the ones these days! I like new socks, old postcards, new babies, old friends, new adventures, old habits, and I like my balsamic vinegar to be vintage; just like my wine! x

If yesterday rocks... today ducks!

This morning I lay in bed and watched the swans swimming across the lake. By the time I'd stopped fiddling around on this computer and got up they'd gone to sleep in the sunshine. I've not seen a duck with them before but they all seemed quite happy together. The only bit of excitement today! You know when you have one of those 'catch up' days? You know you've done loads but nothing of any real significance. I have sat and watched the blu ray Quantum of Solace this evening - I remember it being more exciting when I first watched it. I've also sorted out my workshop project for Porto – hurrah! I've made 3 cards for the class but I do like a challenge so I'm going to carry on using up the product, that's if I get time! It's going to be a busy week and a busy month. One workshop, two weddings, three cards, four goodness sake, terminal five and then it will be flaming June!

Bloom & Grow Cards

I've had a busy day! I wanted to use My Mind's Eye as Patricia stocks this product out in Porto. And, I had already bought some because I love it. I am always more inspired by patterns that catch my eye. I love bright colours and these flower papers are such great quality. I have plenty left over so I'm going to see how many more cards and tags I can make using leftovers!

Britain's got Talent with a double R

Today I had a moment of double vision. I rocked up to the gallery and within 30 seconds one of the lovely girls had put a glass of fizz in my hand.. hey ho! These lads, Steve & Chris Rocks, are twins from Newcastle and they were there to promote the launch of their new 'Dance of Light' collection. Inspired by a trip to Iceland their work is dramatic, Turner-esque, slightly dark, impressionist in style. If I were asked to describe their paintings, I would say they are moving, wild, energetic and full of life and passion. Steve and Chris Rocks are all of the above along with a wonderfully, unassuming dose of confidence, oodles of personality, making them very personable. They are without doubt very creative, friendly, polite and have smiles to die for. And what girl, including me, wouldn't want someone to ROCK their world! x
ps fanci having the surname 'ROCKS?'.. mmm Anna Rocks, he he!

I wish I was a bat and not a sponge..

But life isn't that simple. If I were a bat I'd be hard and horrid and anyone who knows me knows that I could never be like that. So I'm destined for life as a sponge. Sometimes though, I have a batting season. It's rare but just occasionally people bring out the bat in me. I soak up the nonsense for days and weeks until one day, out comes the bat. That's when they get a surprise. I'm never horrid. I'm always nice. But on odd occasions, I get tired of being Little Miss Nice. When people are horrid, demanding or rude I'm usually polite, nice and reasonable. I have to be, I wish to be and I know it's the best way to be but sometimes, just sometimes I wish that I wasn't. Being a sponge means you soak up the stories, the excuses, the lies and the nonsense. Most of the time it's okay but a sponge can only hold so much before it's time for a big squeeze. That's the time when you need a hug. Not just any hug but one that makes you feel loved x

One dead doormouse and cheese with holes in...

There are 'words' for days like today... and they are not Jerusalem artichokes! I have just walked back from the pub. I decided when i got home that I needed a walk. I wandered down to the local pub, sorry no. I didn't wander, I paced. I have sat in the garden on my tod with my feet up on the bench and have drunk the biggest glass of white wine ever... and a bottle of water. I was waiting.. for peace to be declared? for Godot? No, for life to return to 'normal'. But, it didn't happen. As I drank there was a slight haze but nothing significant enough to warrant a reality check. So, I have walked back up the hill. All is quiet here now, not even a mouse.. because I found it as dead as a doormouse on the path outside - thank you 'Oh furry one!'. People say that cats do that because they like you but I'd rather they didn't like me. I had to ask the nice man down the hill if he had a shovel. He thought I was pretty bonkers too. I closed my eyes and just scooped where I thought the dead doormouse was, then flung it skywards over the hedge. It's okay, it will have thought it was flying! I'm now sitting writing eating cheese with holes in. What's that all about? And why are the holes round? x

Jerusalem artichokes

What is slightly nutty, looks like ginger and tastes delicious? Not me, I might add! Jerusalem artichokes, of course. Did you know they are a member of the sunflower family - hence the yellow flowers?! Tuesday was HDVin night so I sampled the Jerusalem artichoke and blue cheese tart... mmm.. yum! The pastry was deliciously flaky, the artichokes slightly crunchy with a pleasant, nutty flavour and the blue cheese sauce.. what can I say? The concoction was very flavoursome. As was the braised beef which had been moulded and shaped, which sounds kinda odd, but it wasn't at all. It was tender, tasty and went really well with the whole beans and cone of chips. I didn't have any trouble getting through the cone of chips - I'd taken the chip monster with me for that very purpose! Dinner was so much fun and seemed to flash by in an instant. The highlight, apart from me, was the rhubarb dessert which was made to be shared to give equal measures of yumminess to it's recipients. I like this hotel though I have to say that the crystal chandelier, made from real crystal glasses, really does need an urgent spring clean. I can think of someone who enjoys spending a day washing his chandelier. He'd show 'em how to make it sparkle?! x

Pearly whites..

It's official, some people are more bonkers than I am! And how did I come to this conclusion I hear you ask? I tapped in 'pearly whites' in the hope that I might get a half decent photograph to show you of gleaming white teeth and hot red lipstick. Well, here is what I found. A peapod made of clay with pearls in it and would you believe, it's actually a piece of jewellery! My trip to the dentist went off without too much pain and I am now the proud owner of a set of impressions of my upper jaw - argh! I did turn them down once but the scrapbooker in me took over and the next moment they were being bundled into a plastic bag ready for me to take home. I felt like a kid taking home from school something I'd made x

A Harry Potter Adventure...

Lacock Abbey is the home of some of the best and most memorable Harry Potter location photography. The 'Hogwarts' classroom scenes were photographed in this beautiful 13th century abbey. The Sacristy became Professor Snape's Potions Class and the Chapter House is where Harry stumbles upon the miraculous Mirror of Erised. The Medieval cloisters also appear in the movie both inside and outside with snow! Lacock Abbey is a pleasant day out and the Fox Talbot museum has an interesting collection of old prints.

On tour...

Today I went to visit the first International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition http://www.igpoty.com It's the perfect exhibition to hold out of doors and I must admit, many of the entries were stunning. My favourite was a photograph of Kenrokuen Gardens, Kanazawa, Japan by Claire Takacs in the snow. It was like a beautiful Impressionist painting and I'd certainly find a place for it on my wall!

Tulips and a twist...

I adore the humble tulip. Ok, I love lots of other varieties of flower, who wouldn't, but there is something very special and beautiful about tulips. They come in oodles of lovely varieties and brilliant colours; they do not smell pungent, are very inexpensive and always make me feel sunny. They always make a room look fabulous whether they're in a pot or a vase. Strangely, I love it best when they droop and create those interesting curly shapes with their stems. It's as if they were ballet dancers - just beautiful xxx I can't really do a bunch of pots but I know a place that does. I discovered this lovely display of tulips at the botanical gardens at Lacock Abbey x

And, although tulips could never be improved upon - it's fun to capture an original moment and give it a twist x

Bank holiday madness...

Bourton on the Water has never looked so busy! The ducks were having a tremendous day and that goes for the real ones and the plastic variety. Liz bought her bag of seed, saved from the previous day's outing to Slimbridge. She and Jeremy were enjoying a sit down on the bench in the sunshine doing a bit of people watching. Tourists everywhere.. sitting on the grass, up to their knees in the water, in the teashops, sitting on the bank, wandering in and out of the shops, along the paths.. everywhere!

The Bell...

At Sapperton certainly lived up to expectations! I've been trying to book but not succeeded before so it was great to finally make it on Sunday evening. And we weren't disappointed. It's definitely a foodies pub. The menu was varied and very tasty! x

Oooops...

Who can't read then...? No fishing... doh... the men in blue came down for a little chat. The only bit of excitement going today!

A little slice of heaven...

Life has it's perks and this little slice of heaven is just one of them. It's my all singing, all dancing electronic, digital die-cutting machine! It's pretty lightweight compared to the usual breed of cutters but it's size hides a big punch! It benefits from being cordless, 8 inches square, portable and for me, so easy to use. I think it's a must-have machine for any cardmaker. Pop the design cartridge into the back, choose a shape and size then hold on and watch this little beauty go to work. Awesome.. x

Just so...

You know that apprehensive feeling you can get before you go to the dentist? Oh, I know that feeling. Today was the start of my new front teeth day and yes, I know it's not Christmas! I wonder if there's anyone out there who enjoys going to the dentist? It's not that I don't like it but the experience could be greatly improved by a set of headphones and a nose clip! I had injections, impressions and a whole lot of drilling. The worst part was the smell of burning from the drilling, the noise and the vibration, the cold water running down the back of my neck and a very numb nose - but hey, it's just a small part of a much bigger plan. I also went to the lab this afternoon so they could colour match my new teeth to just the right shade of porcelain. How cool is that?! In two weeks time I'll have my new ones and in the meantime, I have bunny teeth! All I can say is thank goodness it's Easter... !

Truly amazing...

This evening was truly amazing. There were moments of sheer brilliance, moments of complete confusion, some challenging moments and even a few humorous ones. It was like attending three ballets on the same night. The first, Eternal Light is a Requiem. It was the most moving and my favourite of the night. Liz loved Swansong which she had studied at school. It was exceptional in places, disturbing in others and very powerful. The final performance was set to Saint-Saens's, Carnival of the Animals. It was funny, light-hearted, brilliantly performed and as the music was familiar, it was the most entertaining. Ballet Rambert is one of life's experiences, not to be missed!

Eternal Light..

Eternal Light is a heartfelt remembrance of many things: a lost summer's day, the destruction of the forests, a life looking back, a memory. Happiness and sadness are personified in a dying bird or a reflection on youth - what has been and is now gone, held in our hearts forever. I'm so looking forward to this production. Rambert - Britain's Premier Contemporary Dance Company are renowned for performances that thrill, shock, enthrall, amaze, charm and challenge - literally like nothing on earth. I can't wait! x

Hopping along..

Look who arrived last night - none other than the Easter bunny! She'd hopped into the supermarket on her way back from dropping Meg at the airport and couldn't resist filling a basket with Easter eggs. It's lovely to receive a surprise and even more delicious when they surprises are covered in chocolate!

A tour of the BB's...

I'm a real foodie so give me the chance to have lunch somewhere special and I'll jump at it. The new Brasserie Blanc in Bristol was the old Quaker hall which has been lovingly restored to create a stunningly beautiful restaurant. It's lovely to get a table up on the balcony so you can look down over the other diners and across to the glass staircase that spans the back of the hall. Whoever had the great idea of mixing books with wine was a genius. They fit so perfectly together like cheese does with crackers, and as well as being asthetically pleasing, jolly useful too! Lunch was as tasty as the surroundings with the waiter keen to enjoy the rally of banter that was pinging backwards and forwards. My cheese and spinach pancakes were as delicious as I remember and although I didn't stay for desert, working so close then there's always the promise of one sometime in the future - that will do for me x

A new mini adventure buddy..

It was a lovely day for it! Mr RAC, C being for Carl, popped around today to replace my cracked windscreen. I must have chipped it when I drove to Devon last week. "Is it larger than a £2 coin?"... "It's larger than a £10 note!" so that only meant one thing - a new windscreen. RACarl just happens to have a liking for minis ;-) So does his dad apparently - thanks Carl! He showed me a neat trick that the guys in the mini garage hadn't shown me! Next time I want to get my case into the boot, instead of squeezing it onto the back seat, I can actually make the boot larger myself - what a neat trick. To be quite honest, I think he wanted to show me more tricks, but as he was under 30 and... Oh well... I wonder if it's standard procedure for the RAC man to text you after doing a job on your car?! Bearing in mind that he also knows where I live! We were discussing the virtues of having a wind deflector and secretly I think he was pretty impressed that I didn't! In a former life, I wouldn't have even had the window open. Yet now, there's nothing I like better than having my top off! So, I have a bid on ebay - okay I don't but a mate of mine has for me - and RACarl has sent me two other links to deflectors, which is fab! And looking on the bright side, he says he'll come around with a bucket and sponge if it rains.. and I don't imagine for a minute he's talking about washing my car!! x who'd be a girl.. ;-)

Extreme sports.. rice diving.. !

Being attacked in one's own kitchen by a packet of Tilda rice, roasted pepper and courgette flavour darlings, is a bit shocking. Particularly when it tries to dive head first into my cup of freshly made hot tea. There clearly wasn't enough room in the cup for both the tea and the packet of rice so guess what... the rice got it's way and the cup tipped over.. all over my tummy! OUCH! I've never stripped off so fast in my own kitchen. Well, mmm, back in 2005... ;-) I'm only joking! I sat with an ice-pack on my stomach for 2 hours until the towel it was wrapped in had icicles on it. I have scorched my tummy (it's ok mom) but I do wonder what's next! I was only thinking at the weekend...

Life can be tedious when it's predictable so Sunday was a day of change. I went to the supermarket, filled my basket with new adventures which were going to challenge my tedious little taste buds. I knew it was a mistake, but hey, once I get an idea into my head then there's no stopping me! I never usually buy rice in a packet. I don't eat rice very often at all. But I managed to come home with two packets which ended up in the cupboard. The moral of this story is... don't feel guilty for having shopping habits and the next time I decide to add something to my kitchen cupboards, I'll make sure I've taken the wings off it first!