Guess what...?

ABSOLUTELY!

As hard as A, Bt & Curry's

The worst companies on the planet! 87 minutes on the phone to BT today to request a connection for the apartment! 3 advisors later and they still need to call me back. As for Curry's, they are just so bad! Rant over.. no headache either, they are really not worth it.. the sun is shining and I've got a lot of cards to design this afternoon... woo hoo!

What a week that was?! Deja Vu...

It feels like I'm climbing a wall and getting stuck before I get the chance to peer over the top and see what's out there. I caught the end of a short story on the radio this morning. There were two wolves fighting, one kind, positive and friendly, the other jealous, miserable and negative. Asked which one won, the storyteller said "The one you feed'... how true is that?! Positive thoughts generate more positive thoughts, going around muttering under my breath won't change a thing. Meg Ryan got it right in 'You've got mail' and yes, the thoughts are the same, and it isn't my fault. Thank goodness I kept my diaries. Fate plays strange tricks and I could never have known that a train journey 4 years ago would be so important! Woo hoo spooky!

Give something special...

Give something that you can replace... that red stuff that rushes around your body and gives life to complete strangers. And there was time for tea and biscuits afterwards... hurrah! x

Muppets!!

Why is it so difficult to get a job done? Liz should have had a sparkly new fridge freezer and washer installed into the apartment today. That would have been too easy! Added to the fiasco yesterday with the doors, then she is so not a happy bunny. The good news is that they did come yesterday and replace the interior doors that didn't fit. The bad news is that when Liz closed her bedroom door, she couldn't get it open again! No clothes, no bed, no fun sleeping on a sofa bed in the lounge with a blanket that thankfully she'd left in the spare room! Tonight the fridge freezer, which is large enough for her to get inside, is so close to the unit that she can't open the door... and they haven't put the plug in the socket correctly so it won't work. And they haven't connected up the washer because they failed to see the bright orange connector that Liz left in the enormous gap where the washer needs to go, and they left without installing it. Oh how I love being a landlady... not!

You know what…?

I’m going to wait for Mr Darcy. The fantasy feels better than the reality at this moment… he may not have a mobile phone but perhaps that's a good thing... I won't be kept waiting and he won't let me down… x

I just love this... always have.. always will... x

reminds me of the thoughts I feel inside... you know those ones that won't be washed away so easily... the ones that make you feel alive every morning when you wake... the pieces of the jigsaw that you've given away that meant so much... the ones that make you smile when you remember the good times... the painful ones that made it so hard to walk away... the funny ones that give you butterflies... just like kisses in the rain... the tears may fall but the sun still shines and that's reason enough to be happy... x

A Memorable day!

Though I wish it was for something more memorable! I got a speeding fine and 3 points today, how great is that?! Apparently picking Liz up from Evesham station last Monday after the floods I drove at 35 mph in a 30 mph zone... how do these people sleep at night?!!!! There are words... but I'll just mutter them under my breath and shout them very loudly when I'm next in my car!!

Mud, music and morrison

Yes, it's me... incognito! A girl needs a hat when there's inclement weather about and she needs to look her best! Sassy hat and glasses, the way to get yourself noticed. Pity we couldn't find the car when we left.. doh... how blonde is that?! But, all in all, the best fun-nite and the perfect antidote to the London experience!

The night is still young... we managed to stop at Tippets for a few drinks, miss the pouring rain and just arrive in time for JM! Fabulous...

Everyone's favourite tracks including Wonderful World, Pieces don"t fit anymore, Undiscovered, If the rain must fall and my favourite 'You give me something'... he's such a talented young guy, completely genuine, great voice and vocals... it was such a brilliant evening.

ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!

Pink top, blue top...

Golly, how many blogs does one girl need?! My work blogs go live in the next week or so, which means there will soon be two more annablogs! I already stay up late to write this one, with two more on the go, plus the online video diaries we shot today, I can see me having no sleep at all! I'm excited though, I love blogging and it's more fun than I've had for ages! Pink top, blue top, pink top and we're not talking biros here, that was just my quick change wardrobe! Thank goodness there aren't any cameras in the stairwells!

The upside... the downside... what a journey...

Don't you just love moving into a new place?! There's something really refreshing about starting from scratch and making choices about how you want to live. I have to say, Liz has done a brilliant job choosing some fantastic pieces of furniture including wardrobes, chest of drawers, mirrors, lampshades, fantastic canvas, mattress, sofa, sofabed, shelving unit for the lounge, table & four chairs and a doormat!

There's a sofabed in there somewhere! Just a small really cheap one for the spare room. The place is going to be transformed and I am happy because Liz is happy!

Living in London has its downside! Liz parked her car just for an hour and came back to find it had disappeared! It's an odd society that feels the need to be so mistrustful. There's no leeway, no second chance, park your car in the wrong place and the council comes along and takes it! It's a horrible feeling when you have no idea of the pending consequences. Here's the depot where I sat waiting for Liz to pay her £200. A few scratches later she emerged in sponge bob, happy to have retrieved her car, lesson learnt! London life is so not for me!

London beckons...

Packed up the cars and headed down to London today for the BIG move! What a loooooooooooong day it turned out to be and I have never spent so much time and energy around IKEA! 4 trolleys later, 1 more in the boot of my car and all on 12 small meatballs and a few Swedish fries! It's a great apartment though, much larger than I expected, which sounds kinda odd but as it's a new build, I didn't get to see it beforehand! The 3rd floor is great for the view, but achingly painful when it comes to unpacking and moving boxes. Though Liz in her random kinda way, didn't have many boxes. Lots of bags, lots of random stray items and more clothes, shoes and bags than she'll need in a month! And, there's plenty more where that came from!

Music is in my soul

I found this great image... it reminds me that music runs through my veins and is part of my soul. So many tracks and so many memories, some happy, some sad, some for loved ones, some for those crazy moments with friends. I love to hear a few bars of a song and feel that rush of emotion that makes me feel alive. I can get lost in a song and feel lost without it. Music ignites our memories just the same as if we were looking at a photograph. What are your special tracks?

New Hair Day

I've had a busy day at home working plus new hair! Mum & dad come home from Hungary today too, woo hoo! One more day in Bristol and it could be the start of another great journey. It's going to be a busy one.. a presentation with one of my favourite people, KC; a meeting about creating bios and pod casts, mmm; and a finance meeting where as usual, I will be the special guest! There'll be no attributing those hidden costs to my name when I'm attending!

Keys...

A tenuous link perhaps... but clever! She's a great artist and today is all about 'keys'... the ones I will pick up on Saturday! Today I took ownership of an apartment in London, how cool is that?! It's been a relatively painless journey and all part of the masterplan.Origin ignited its disaster recovery plan this evening which was amusing to say the least. A useful exercise none the less and how thankful am I that I have such lovely girls on my list!

Is it really June?

Oxenton was officially under water today! How cool is this photo... the end of the lane was completely flooded and way to deep for any mini adventures! The gardens turned into rivers and the water was over 4ft high on the bend.
What is this life if full of care... we have plenty of time to stand and stare because we are stranded... ! Which idiot said 'I hope it rains soon?!'

My life is a fantasy...

Where else would you expect to see me with an iron in my hand and a smile on my face?! I love being creative and although I was masquerading as a visitor/photographer/journalist, it wasn't long before I was invited to join the class. There's something quite surreal about sitting crafting with an iron in my hand. A conflict of tasks I call it. Am I doing housework, or crafting... mmm... I think the room full of lively, enthusiastic women made me realise, it's therapy! My fantasy butterflies are suitably uncreased, having been stamped, layered and pressed with a very small encaustic art iron. I wasn't without a bit of help either. I ironed whilst Michele, from C&C, cut up my treasured little butterflies so I could decorate them with tiny gems. Perfect for cards, they would also make brilliant decorations for a handbag or a key charm. Thank you Audrey!

Me & Judy

Last night I met Judy Balchin, crafter, author and now after-dinner speaker extraordinaire! Judy's enthralled us all with tales of her great escape from hand-drawn lettering to top crafting expert, a leap that has opened doors for her and changed her life. Obviously a member of CA... Crafters Anonymous... Judy wasn't afraid to admit that she never says never when she's offered work. Her quick guide to being a top quilling expert in just a few evenings was very entertaining and I know she found some kindred spirits amongst the audience. Everyone here at the Create & Craft Extravaganza loved her and I can only say, there's another door opened for you Judy!

Take time...

Just when you think you're almost home... mooooooooo, cows in the road! I spend so much time rushing from here to there that when I can't, it feels odd. Well, just for a moment anyway. Then I am reminded that life doesn't need to go at 100 miles an hour. I know it's important to make time to enjoy those moments when we are forced to stop and wait. Those moments remind us that we are human and not a machine! Take time to smell the flowers.. or in this case, watch the cows come home.

Kick back...

There is something quite exhilarating about doing something for the first time. Whether you enjoy the experience, or not, it will always go down 'A FIRST'. So, this evening, I took the plunge and went to my first 'Kick Boxing' class, woo hoo. Liz took me through the moves last night so I wouldn't disgrace myself and actually it was FUN! Hard work, and I know I'm going to feel the pain for a few days... ;-oooooooooooooooo. I have always been a fighter, never a quitter!

We have no time to stand and stare...

My DAD

It's no wonder my brother Greg takes great photographs! He has some big footsteps to step into. Never without a camera in his hand, my dad has made every moment in our lives a great photo opportunity. My family are always smiling, just in case there's a camera about... !

Taken before he had met my mum, this fabulous photograph shows just how handsome my dad is. To come to England so many years ago with nothing, could you imagine doing the same?

No wonder my mum fell in love with him! I'm so proud of my dad for a million and one reasons... Happy Father's Day DAD x

Hold onto something...

No matter where I am, or what I am doing, when someone takes my hand, my heart skips a beat... those moments stay with me... no matter what path we choose, those precious seconds shape our lives and become engraved on our hearts...

Very self indulgent, I know, but it made me smile the first time I saw it! Thank you to the Langton for organising such a great surprise party! The meal was good, the pink balloons were such a nice thought... I do love that place for lots of reasons... the great cappuccino search has found another winner! Though I'm not about to give up on the tea... another reason to smile... x

Anna does Torquay!

From Barcelona to the English Riviera, my tour of the world continues. What a surprising place Torquay is! Okay, it's hardly the centre of the universe, but me & Nix still managed to have a lovely meal in Prezza. Well, meal would be a slight exaggeration, it was more of a small salad & bottle of pinot. Mamba is great club to dance the night away, great dj and lots of laughs. We had to tear ourselves away at 3am. Highlights include my first invitation to a lap dancing club (not hard to refuse that one!), cosmopolitan cocktails and all because the lady loves sexy specs! It numbed the pain of the under par hotel too. It was great to see my friend Luce at D&C and meet up with Joanna & Pat. A busy few days and I've had a horrid drive home, but hey ho, it's another mini adventure x


When the sun shines we'll shine together... if not then you can always stand under my umbrella...ella ella eh eh eh

Stone Angels...

If you saw Doctor Who last night, you might find this photograph a bit freaky. Would you like to sit beside this stone angel perched high above the city? It's a great place for people watching no doubt, but alas not for me. My fear of heights would indeed turn me to stone in an instant if I tried it. I'll stick to the bars and avoid stone Angels! x

The BEST Barcelona moments...

I have so enjoyed Barcelona... its stunning architecture, the buzz of the city, the ease of getting from here to there, sunshine, the language, tapas & wine... it's a colourful city which has almost everything for a girl on tour... x


The amazing Sagrada Familia, there is no place like it on earth. Its magnificent columns and stunning curves are the work of Gaudi. Inside you get a real feeling of scale and the workmen are continuing the work of this great visionary. What an incredible legacy to leave for future generations.


Here's how to get a brilliant 360degree view of this beautiful city. Take the lift up one of the Sagrada Familia towers and be prepared for a squeeze as you navigate the spiral staircases. Views of the city are amazing from this magnificent structure.


You can only stand and marvel at the stunning exterior of this unfinished masterpiece. 70 years of hard graft and meticulous workmanship have created one of the greatest wonders of this world. And, it's still not finished...!

Revolving door moments...

I always have 'door dilemmas'. I just don't get doors and they don't get me! All I wanted to do was walk out of the hotel to take this photograph! Nicky used the word graceful to describe me whilst I was feeling like an idiot. You know when you're a victim when you've sat and watched everyone else walk through that same revolving door. Thankfully, after about 20 seconds fate decided I'd been subjected to enough embarrasment and the doors turned so I could rush outside and take my photograph of 'the cigar' next door to our hotel, as it lit up the Barcelona sky!

Barcelona Babe goes south... !

Good friends mean the world to me. Here we are, the terrible two, out for dinner with Nix's sister Jen and her man, Baz. We have had such a great time in Barcelona, the days have flown by, (and, she only got pissy a couple of times... woo hoo!). I know she'll agree, it's been such a brilliant trip.

I have one or two great holiday friends and Nix is one of them! We have laughed, almost cried, smiled, flirted, scowled, sworn and even been silent for a moment, just the one mind. We have laughed at the world, smiled at each other and told each other secrets that only friends would share. We have talked about our lives, men in general, yes, all of them; our families, the best and worst dressed on Barcelona's streets, work (believe it or not!), and most importantly, what top we're going to wear tonight! We have eaten little, drank quite a lot and 'put the world to rights' more than once. We have had an amazing few days... here's to more holibobs... xx

Magic moments...

I'm off to Barcelona in the morning and I can't wait! This is not a mini adventure, it's an action-packed movie. Hope springs eternal. Lots of inspiring images, crazy moments, scents of summer in a place of music, culture, colour and the most amazing atmosphere. More to follow...

I tip toe through the maze...

How can you make sure that you are in the right place at the right time? What is the right place and why does the timing matter? Is the right place a geographical location, can I buy a map? Do we need a different timepiece, should I go out and get a new watch? Or is this, as I suspect, a matter for the heart?

There are two ways to lead your life. Follow your head, or follow your heart. There is in essence a sprinkling of both in all my decision-making but I know that in those areas I am most passionate about, then my heart rules. There is no map to guide me through the maze. Sometimes there will be blind alleys, but I'm not blind, I have vision and belief that everything happens for a reason. How many of us can clearly see what lies ahead of us?

Happiness for me lies in making sure my heart is in the right place. It’s missing a few bits, but it’s not broken. When your heart is happy, the rest of your life will automatically follow suit.