60th Birthday. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Good morning one and all. What a lovely couple of days sunshine we have had so I hope you have managed to enjoy it where you are.

I've had a mixed week this week but have learned to take the rough with the smooth.

Great TV week with John on Hochanda and the return of Bake Off. Even Mr D has become a GBBO fan as usually my baking hat appears and he gets to chomp on a few cakes. Not sure he'll have as many this year but I'll try my best.

Now, today's card I made for my older brother in law last month. Another no frills fella card under my belt lol!!!

Ingredients

White card

Blue card (various shades)

SB Fancy Postage Stamp dies

Memory Box Alphabet dies

That Special Touch Celtic border mask (for the embossed strip across the middle)

John Lockwood Monday's Child stamp 

Memento Dewdrop Danube Blue ink 

Simple and straightforward but brother in law is not an OTT kinda guy. Also, I kept it relatively flat as it was being posted.

Sooo excited that the F1 is back after the Summer break. . . . . as is Jackie D, so welcome back. A live GP from Belgium tomorrow and qualifying today so guess what I'll be doing lol? (and probably Jackie D and Wendy).

I think Mojo may be returning from its Summer break too. Had a postcard saying it had been a lazy so and so and had decided to come home after a couple of months of drunken debauchery so hopefully it makes a swift return to my craft room lol!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and thank you, as always for your visits and kind comments.

TTFN

Ang x

Update

Well, it seems that a bit of persistence has paid off. Got a call at 8.30am Wednesday from the Cardio consultant's secretary, explaining she had received my email and my "just in case" snail mail letter. She had spoken to the consultant who had asked her to put me in one of his hot spot clinics so I'm seeing him next week. . . . . .  .hallelujah!!!

Such a relief as this week I've had a couple of bad nights, with next to no sleep, which don't make for a great following day either.

Some positive news for a change though so thank you for encouraging my belligerence lol!!!

Number 392 From John's May Shows. . . . . . . . .

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Hope this finds all well with you. 

Another splashy welcome to The Pond to June. Thank you so much for joining our merry throng (that's throng Maureen before you get excited lol!!!)

Well, the beautiful warm sunny days we have had disappeared with a vengeance today and its been persisting down. Still, the garden could do with the rain. . . . . . . .Lord, I'm turning into my Mother lol!!!

I braved the elements to put grapes out for Mr and Mrs B as he was chirruping away outside the kitchen window and trying to put on his pitiful dishevelled look for effect.

I managed to pick a tub of blackberries a couple of days ago, surprised that the birds hadn't been having a chomp on them but obviously, they prefer something a bit more exotic.

Some brave insect had chewed its way into one of fat chillies (they are mega hot) on one of my plants. I'm guessing it may have been its last meal or it was now in search of an Imodium plant lol!!!

Anyhoo, today shows yet another of my collection of samples from John's May shows (I told you I had done lots lol!!!). I hope John hasn't lost them in his move as I haven't had them back from him yet.

Ingredients

Cream and lilac card

Presscut Square dies

SB Fancy Postage Stamp die (small one)

CE Jacobean Floral embossing folder (emboss on cream, deboss on the lilac)

John Lockwood Peony Elements stamp

John Lockwood Summers Child stamp (sentiment)

CS mica powders (to colour the peony)

CS Clear embossing powder

CS Graceful Lilac PVA Pearls

CE jelly tot dazzler

Mei Flower thin lilac ribbon 

Dusty Concord DI

There's only a couple more left to show now (was that a sigh of relief I heard lol???)

Here's hoping you all have a fabulous weekend and good weather.

Thank you as always for your visit and your kind comments.

TTFN

Ang x

Update 

Thank you for all your suggestions. I decided to emal the consultant's secretary (couldn't get through on phone) and not had a reply as yet so have also followed it up with a letter). Watch this space. . . . .

First The Pressie, Now The Card. . . . . . . . . . .

Good morning chaps and chapesses. Hope that all is well with you and yours. I have had a couple of decent days where I have felt halfway normal (don't think I would ever hit 100% normal lol!!!). I've decided to do any health updates as a "ps" thingy at the end of my posts so you can skip reading it if need be . . . . . .I say that lightheartedly as it bores me to be experiencing it at times!!!

Welcome to Carol who has kindly pressed "follow". Very kind of you and much appreciated as are all of you that leave such lovely and encouraging comments.

Hazel, thank you for stopping by in your busy fundraising push. Hope the funds are building up. 

Margaret, hope the family health issues improve soon to spare you so much worry.

Maureen, hope you had a good break but not great to have your op postponed.

Glad you all liked the wrapping paper. Its something that I will definitely do again as its a lovely way to personalise a gift quite cheaply. I think someone thought it was tissue paper but it was actually normal blue roll wrapping paper.

Now today, you get to see the card that went with the gift. When the mojo is still sipping mojitos somewhere exotic, I thought "go simple" for a baby card.

Ingredients

Cream and sky blue card

SB Filigree Delight

Memory Box Typewriter Alphabet dies

SB Fancy Tags One Framed (for sentiment)

Tatty Teddy & sentiment stamp from a set I got from The Range bargain bin

Memento Dewdrop ink pads in Grey Flannel and Bahama Blue

Teeny bling

Blue thread

Pearlage

It was the only TT stamp that was suitable in the set but I did wonder about the open arms that's why I decided to do the sentiment like he was holding a banner. . . . . . . . it kinda works, I think lol!!!

Well, hope you're enjoying this fine sliver of weather before the rain kicks in again. Did anyone see this meteor shower thingy? (that's a technical term).

I was tempted to lie on the lawn gazing skyward in the early hours but with not getting much in the way of exercise since April, I've put on a bit of weight and would probably have rocked myself to sleep trying to get back up again!!!

On that note, enjoy your day.

TTFN

Ang x

Update. . . . . .

My, now retiring in 2 weeks, GPs  advice for accelerating my cardio appointment? . . . . . . . ."phone the consultants secretary and threaten to go to the local newspaper" I nearly had to visit the hospital again for my damaged jaw as it hit the table.

I said that I would prefer that he contacted the consultant through the normal channels as I didn't think his suggestion appropriate but I think he is in "I'm retiring and I don't give a #@$%" mode so I shall try and sort it out myself.

I seemed to be under the wrong impression as I always thought . . . . . . . you're ill, you see a doctor and they try everything to make you well again. . . . . . . . .maybe not!!!

I've found out the email for the consultant so I'm going to email him directly and hope for the best. 

Plan B is to apply to medical school, train to be a doctor and treat myself. . . . . . .it may be quicker!!!

Present for Luca. . . . . . . . . . .

Good morning blogging pals. Hope this finds you all well.

Welcome to Sharon who has kindly pressed the "follow" button, hopefully not by accident lol!!!

Mixed week here with yet another visit to hospital. . . . . . . .it comes to something when the nurses start greeting you like a member of the family lol!!! At least I now have the Echo result which was . . . . . . . .inconclusive!!!

Apparently, I was in A/Fib whilst the Echo was being done (I suspected as much as I could feel my heart pounding, hoping it was just a bit of anxiety) so there was some things they couldn't see so they may have to do it again but that will be up to the Cardio consultant. I'm seeing my GP on Monday as he is the one that will need to try and get my appointment brought forward (Currently mid September)

For those of you asking about my ankle, its still not 100% but I can walk without the crutches now, just using my heel cups, thank you. 

Anyhoo, on to other things. Sadly, a friend of ours daughter passed away last week. She was in her mid 60s and had been ill but then the next day our lovely next door neighbours had their new baby boy. Mixture of emotions in 24 hours!!!

Baby Luca is a cutie and we got him a couple of little outfits but I couldn't find any wrapping paper I liked at Tesco (My shopping venues are limited at the minute) so I bought some plain blue wrapping and decorated it myself.

Mr Lockwood has stamped and decorated brown packing paper before now but I thought it needed something softer for a baby gift so that's why I went for the blue.

The baby theme stamps are a mixture all from Hobbycraft but the "LUCA" I made by cutting the letters from funky foam twice and gluing each letter together to give a deeper cushion to stamp with as I thought on layer might not give a clear image. Memento Dewdrop inks. . . . . . . . . .

Mum peeled the sellotape off very carefully as she said she wanted to keep the paper in his baby box (awww!!!). 

Second generation stamping done to give a shadow effect on the letters. 

Something different, which took me a while but it keeps me off the streets lol!!!

Next time, I will show you the card I made, which also went down very well.

Mr D has the day off today so I'm hoping I will be able to escape out somewhere for a little walk round a garden centre or a spot of lunch. . . . . . . .anything to get out as Mr D is not keen on me going anywhere on my own at the moment but I'm getting a little stir crazy.

Hope you're having a good week and thank you for all of your comments and well wishes.

TTFN

Ang x

A Friday Oldie. . . . . . . . . .

Good morning guys and gals. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

I decided to join in with the Oldie for Friday that some of the ladies show, this week as this particular oldie is significant for a couple of reasons. I originally blogged it last November.

When I made it last year, I thought it would make a lovely birthday card for Nesta so I put it away carefully and fished it out for her special day this week.

Also, I had originally made it for a MAWTT challenge I had set called My Favourite Things based on The Sound of Music song...........this was my interpretation of raindrops on roses.

There is a new challenge over at MAWTT and the theme is "Back To School" I should have had a DT card for this challenge but I had asked Wendy if it was ok for time off with all that's been happening this end recently.

Would be great if you could pop over to MAWTT to see what the other girlies have come up with.

I did get out for a while on our anniversary but we decided on a take away rather than going out for a meal. It was more of an energy thing rather than feeling unwell this time.

Nesta has been a busy gal this week so we are hoping to get together for a take away in honour of her birthday, this evening.

Still waiting for my results but have had a couple of better days this week so hopefully things are looking up (as the gynaecologist said to the actress).

Thank you Lydia for giving me some hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. The stumbling block is having to wait until mid September before I even set eyes on anyone from cardiology, though I intend to try and get it brought forward once I get my results letter. Also, its not just A/Fib with me. Mine is always accompanied with RVR (Rapid Ventricular Rate) which seems to cause most of the problem with the condition as its the dangerous bit that usually ends up putting me in hospital.

The only way is up as Yazz once said (and, I also believe,the gynaecologist to the actress again, lol!!!)

Have a couple of sympathy cards to make, sadly but hope you all have a great Friday and chilled weekend.

TTFN

Ang x

Happy Anniversary 2016 Mr Duck. . . . . . . . .

Good morning everyone. Hope you are all well. I've not had a great week, to be honest, with an A/Fib issue most days but trying to ride out the storm at home rather than going into hospital as long as my pulse stays below 120 (I have a monitor).

I should have my Echo results shortly, as the department has been without a typist for 2 weeks but she is back now and will hopefully send my letter sometime this week (NHS cutbacks I guess that they can't draft another typist from somewhere else)

Mind you, there's lots worse off than me so its naughty of me to grizzle.

Anyhoo, on to happier things. Today is mine and Mr D's Wedding Anniversary. He's not at work but I shall see how I feel before we decide what to do with the day. He would be happy parked in his chair with a bacon sarnie in one hand and a sudoku in the other, watching re-runs of The Bill on Freeview but it would be nice to have a pootle out somewhere for some fresh air for me.

Ingredients

Cream, black and red card

Sue Wilson Cygnus Gemini die

SB Twisted Metal Tags and Accents die (Cut twice for shadow effect)

SB Medallion One die

SB Fancy Tags One (Framed-but without the frame lol!!!)

X Cut Circles die

X Cut Alphabet die

CE Swirling Hearts embossing folder

John Lockwood Flower Hearts Elements Stamps (Sentiment and foliage)

Black and red ribbon

Black PVA pearls

Black Archival ink

PHEW !!!

Now, I know its very ornate for a fella but Mr D has been faithfully by my side these last few weeks, even when he's been completely exhausted trying to work and stay awake all hours when holding my hand at the hospital in the wee small hours, so I felt I needed to inject a bit of grandeur and make it special to show my appreciation (without involving chocolate or Toad in the Hole)

Not easy when the mojo has sent a postcard from Madagascar saying its not due home any time soon so I understand it may look a little OTT or die cut heavy for some of you.

Hopefully, Mr D will like it and bless him, he did agree I could schedule this for 6am still, even though he probably won't have seen it himself by this point (Hopefully, we are both looking at the inside of our eyelids at 6am)

Thank you, as always, for your kind and generous comments. Hope today brings you all happiness, whatever you are doing.

TTFN

Ang x

Ps.......Maureen, I have now amended my last post and put names to the faces on the pictures. Apologies, it was remiss of me not to do it previously...........good luck making out any faces on that blurred snap lol!!!