Life Just Passes Us By

I know I said I would do some projects at the weekend but as the title of this blog goes - "Life Just Passes Us By"

I seem to spend all my time these days either working (which obviously we have to do to pay our way and keep our sanity) and sleeping, there seems to be no in between!  Don't get me wrong I love my job, I really do but I must make some time for me!

I was getting myself all worked up about my blog and the fact that I have not posted much recently, and then I thought STOP why put pressure on yourself.  Yes it is nice if people read it and yes it is nice to be able to share creative ideas and thoughts with others BUT I don't have to BLOG all the time and I should not worry if I have not done it for a while.

My dad asked me recently why I BLOG, the simple answer is that it makes me feel better.  I have kept a paper diary off and on for years and I truly believe that writing your thoughts and feelings down is a good thing.  I still keep a diary, all though these days I use a computerised version, mainly because my hand writing has got worse as my eyesight got worse and I write things in there I would never dare put on my public BLOG.  Even so I still like to do both, everyone should do it, it helps clear your head and put things in perspective!

Anyway enough waffle from me, have a lovely day.   Below is a little project I made a while ago, it makes me smile and makes me think of days gone by!  It is my nan, I still miss her dearly!  Everything used is available from www.stampeezee.co.uk

Are We Mad ?

Well, I have a long (ish) weekend off from work.  I managed to book Monday off at short notice and originally we were going to go to Devon.  Of course not having any children we forgot it was half term!!  Several hours of frustrating calls later - we could find no where to stay (well not that we wanted to stay in, nor places that would take our dogs).

So we have decided to go local - yep we are trotting just a few miles up the road, doing a nice walk around Abberley ruins then spending the night at the Manor Inn, where apparently the food is good and we can take our dogs!  Below is a picture of the Mannor Inn (looks nice eh!)

The only trouble is  -  well have you looked outside?  It is pouring down, we are going to get soaked!!! Oh well never mind.

Wish us luck.

xx

Can You Help?

This last week has really been a revelation to me!  I have been investigating the possibility of some help at work with equipment etc to help me see better and do my job.

I honestly did not think I would need it but these last few months I have been coming home with real head aches and my eyes have been so sore, the final straw was realising that I needed another change of glasses, someone at work kindly pointed me in the direction of access to work, so I phoned them.

They sent this fantastic chap out called Patrick Adams, who is blind himself, what an inspiration, It makes my tiny little problem pale into insignificance, anyway he suggested all sorts of stuff that might be of benefit to me.  Today the first company came out to demonstrate some of the equipment available and boy how fantastic, I can not believe how much easier things will be for me without me having to struggle to see properly.  Especially reading documents and when I have to go to training events.  It makes sense having this stuff as it will take a massive strain of my eyes and perhaps will help them stop getting any worse! (well we can live in hope)

I also can't believe that these products and services are not well known!  It is a crying shame that people could be helped and given tools to make their lives easier, and that there is money there to help people who need this sort of equipment, but no one suggests it!

For the last 18 monthsI have been backwards and forwards to the hospital, to the opticians and to low vision clinics and not once has anyone suggested any of this stuff, which would have been available.  Of course I knew about access to work, but it was not emphasised just how much they could help out with equipment, only really with travel. 

Apparently if we lived in France, the minute you are diagnosed with conditions that affect your sight and glasses are not always that effective, you are introduced this sort of equipment at the start.  After talking to the equipment company today, it is common place here that no one really suggests equipment and companies supplying that equipment that could help you.  He said that it is a massive problem and all they want to do is make peoples lives better.  He said that there is this huge pot of money which is under utilised!

I can not stand to think of others struggling on, especially those with much worse problems than mine, I am on a mission now to try and get knowledge of these products and services out there so others can benefit from them too.

If anyone can suggest a way to help me do this I am open to suggestions!

Lizzie

xxxxxxx

OK OK I can not settle

Sorry guys but I have changed my template again, I was having a bit of trouble with the other one getting things lined up and the right size, so until I can fix it I am back to basics!

You will notice though that I have managed to upload some pictures of card samples and I am hoping to get more projects on in the coming week. 

If you like any of the card samples, everything used is available from http://www.stampeezee.co.uk/

I am off to Ally Pally for the Big Stamp and Scrapbook show this weekend and I am really looking forward to it.  It will be the first show I have been to in ages, if you are going, stop by and say hi, I will be on the WS Designs stand.

Thanks also to Gracie, who is such a support to me and a major inspiration, she has a super blog called dancing angel and is a talented card maker, why not stop by her blog and check it out!

http://gracie-dancingangel.blogspot.com/

Thank Crunchie it is FRIDAY

What a wonderful thing to be able to say "Thank Crunchie it is FRIDAY!"

When I used to work for myself, and even when I worked at the NEC, I have always had a job working odd hours, long hours and weekends.

Now I work at the Council I have really started to get that Friday feeling.  I never got it before, but I do now.  I was so excited as 5pm got closer this afternoon as I knew the weekend was here and that I could have a lovely two days without thinking of work.

I am so lucky as I love my new job, but boy it is nice to have regular set days off.

This weekend I am off to a hen do at Stratford races, which I know will be really good fun.  I have never been to the races before.  I am sure we will all behave ourselves (not)  In fact we are borrowing a "prop" from my cousin Kates hen do, his name is Roger More!  (no he is not a real person, but I am sure he will provide entertainment!)

Anyway, what ever you are donig, have a good one.

xx