My Life's Ingredients

Mmmmh... probably logical, but after my caffeine rush, doing all the stuff etc. I've been feeling totally shattered today. And zapped ... physically and mentally. Glad I managed to do stuff at work really ... although I had to force my brain to function. Got home, cooked (well... reheated Batchelor's Creamy Tomato Soup and put 3 pre-baked frozen rolls in the oven) dinner and then went upstairs to deal with e-mails and the league spreadsheet. Now I am not able to concentrate anymore, so will finish the spreadsheet tomorrow and am now going to watch Cold Case. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow!!!

Well... we arrived back home yesterday at around 11pm - and I woke up with a migraine this morning (no surprise... I had already headaches during the day and on the flight). Anyway... I got an ice pack, some mint oil and decided to take tablets to get the migraine at the beginning, so I wouldn't lose too much of today (have a full to-do list!!). BAD IDEA! At least to take those tablets (Excedrin Migraine)... was wide awake at 8:30am ... caffeine rush!! :o NEVER EVER had that before when I took those tabs. WEIRD!! Anyway... have just put on the 2nd wash and am still high and flying ... geesh!! ;) Good thing is that my migraine is gone. Let's see the to-do list today: Mow Lawn Check Potatos/Strawberries/Rhubarb/Fruit bushes and deal (water etc.) Start digging veggie patch Peel German asparagus and freeze Prepare "Gruene Sosse" and freeze Edit Wolves Photos for Dave Burn CD for Dave & send Do One Stamp swap Do Chinese Whispers Swap White Wash I White Wash II Dark W...

This one is from our Combine... and a bit more serious.

Mmmh... since we're here the weather is grey, misty and rainy... that's after they had around 24 degrees Celsius on Tuesday/Wednesday!! Typical!! ;) Today we skipped breakfast (well... I had the last 2 Easter Eggs - hard boiled) because we were still full and because we decided to go for a pre-birthday bash with my mum's 2 best friends. And we went to the restaurant we traditionally go to for my mum's birthday - "Zagreb" in Kriftel, which is Croatian food. YUMMM!!! And you REALLY have to skip breakfast (and/or dinner) when you go there. Really filling fayre and yummie! It's one of the things I miss in Edinburgh - Greek and Croatian restaurants, and "proper" Italian restaurants. And they are celebrating 40 (?) years in Kriftel now! I tell you, my tummy is trained by WW - I had to stop 1/2 way through with food, so DH and I asked for a "doggy bag". ;) After lunch we had a quick look at cars (and DH just couldn't understand that...

Today we went shopping ... non SB shopping at the "MTZ" which is a very nice shopping centre like the American Malls but with more outdoor decor. ;) Had a look at the Multimedia shop "Media Markt" (for CDs & DVDs) then went up to get my annual "Mettbroetchen" while my mum was searching for a jacket in different clothes shops and DH was looking for cheap LEGO. ;) Then I got more of my other "stash" obsession - Teas (leaf teas - no tea bags allowed there!). Got a new Roiboos (Lemon), an Easter Tea (black with flavours) and now bought a 100g bag of China Keemun tea (which I found through Sharon as tea bags at Whittards). Really looking forward to drinking that one. I also got a taster bag for another type of Keemun. For lunch we took Mutsch to Starbucks - yes, they are sprouting in Germany as well!!! - and treated her to a Cappucino and a NY Cheesecake, while I opted for the Chai Latte with Raspberry Cheesecake and DH had a Strawberry Milks...

Today we went shopping at the "Stempelmeer" - an SB shop which is 35 mins by car from my mum (and I only knew of its existence since 2007!!). It's my usual place to get my "Stamping Bellas" although I was already worried they wouldn't carry them anymore as I couldn't find ANYTHING about Bellas on their website. :o I had arranged for one of the editors of the "Scrap-Art-Zine" (SAZ), Jana, to meet up who visited her hubby in Frankfurt. Was absolutely fun, we had a chat about stash, the fact that I forgot to extend my SAZ sub (I promise I will re-sub, Jana & Nat!! LOL), SB trends etc. Really fun!! But of course forgot to take a photo of us two together!!! :( Then went shopping - 5 Bellas, 2 Mags, 1 Maya Road stamp tin "Cupcakes" and 2 "smellalicious" scented embossing powders from Gel-a-tins ("Chocolate Bliss" & "Apple Fresh") and I was €103 poorer. ;) That's the stamps, I tell you!! :) I ...

We're on our annual trip to Germany. And I am getting more and more the feeling we really need to increase the time we're here to 2 weeks ... or maybe come down twice a year. First time ever we (well I) went straight from work to the airport with a quick "fly by" at home to pick up the bags. DH had only 1/2 day at work and finished the packing etc, while the inlaws picked me up at 3:15pm. We were already a bit concerned as the weather was getting a bit foggy (well... let's face it, "Athur's Seat" was totally hidden when I got out of the office!) but flight was not cancelled. We went into the "Servisair" lounge as usual (another bonus having an RBS Gold account), this time it was cheese and crackers (we usually get the breakfast there). I liked the cracked pepper crackers!! ;) Arriving at Frankfurt in the mist/fog as well ... seeing my mum after the last OP was great, although she's shrunk about 5 cm (through the back OP?) - first ...

Was feeling a bit off yesterday (just missing Sundays doing stuff at home and not Football related really) and woke with a headache today. Not sure if that's still from the GA on Thursday, or if it's the weather or who knows what else!! :( Been staying in bed for half day, then did some cleaning in the kitchen and put on the slow cooker for dinner ("Greek Beef" - YUMM!! And this time with the right cheese!! ;) ). Now headache's come back. Decided I won't go to the weigh in on Wednesday as I know I haven't been good last week ... have been treating myself too much because of the OP I think. ;) Ah well, the week off will hopefully help. Am also wondering what I should get for my mum's birthday and my brain currently draws a blank all the time ... :o Not too keen to go to work tomorrow and Wednesday either... So not really in the best mood right now. :o Sorry for the moaning ... just feel totally "blah" right now. :( Off to check the slow cook...

OP yesterday went fine - and I only call it an OP because I was under GA (general anesthetics). No pain just feeling shattered from the GA. They have not found anything, and because of that didn't do a D&C either. So I wonder what they are going to tell me what their next steps are. I am not willing to shell out lots of money again just to get another negative. :( I've got a stuffed nose and sore throat, but I think it's more a cold coming along (DH has sinusitis right now) than from the OP. Will take it easy and stay in bed today ... should be back to normal tomorrow (apart from cold obviously). Was glad to have my anesthesist who "diagnosed" my difficult intubation last year, Dr Burns, attending my OP yesterday. She also told me that my mum's allergy to anesthetics components is not hereditary and that I had 2 of the components she's allergic to in my other GAs in the past so no probs whatsoever. PHEW. :)

Well.. new to me that is! :) Got up early this morning after a fitful sleep and got to ERI in time for t he appointment. Went to the wrong place first (why do they have Day Surgery/Day Patients in a different section of the hospital than the OP - Out patients???) but still managed to find the place ok. ;) Heather - reason for the sleep clinic is that DH is worried as I seem to stop breathing from time to time, and as my dad has sleep apnea and I hardly ever have a restful sleep my GP thought it couldn't harm. Assessment showed that I am not a typical sleep apnea patient, so I am going to get a machine at some point in the next 4 weeks or so to take home and monitor my sleep for one night. And then we will see what the result is and take it from there. After the appointment I went to Lisa to drop off the crop prizes/tea & coffee stuff/kitty and had a wee natter. Was quite funny, specially as Archie is really a handful now! ;) As it was still early when I left I decided t...

... was mostly slumping today, catching up with e-mails and manage paperwork for Wolves and the Edinburgh Crop. :o Tomorrow I'll be off to the Sleep Clinic at ERI in the morning, drop hopefully Crop off at Lisa's and then go home ... in the evening we'll have a meet up from the EFREC girls ... I think. :)

Huh... thought I posted those vids before ... at least the first one ... weird!! Anyway, the new introduction for the 2009 season is WOLVES TV - recorded & edited etc. by our own Ahmed. :) ... and it's getting better and better!! :) Wolves TV Episode 3 should be out soon!

Not sure why ... didn't have really lie ins this weekend after long days, so maybe it's that. Or maybe I am just at the point of the year (as it seems every year) to get fed up with football stuff ... Also have a runny nose and the house is darn cold. Planning on doing some scrapping later, and also do some house work. So hopefully I can show you a new layout later. ;)

Earth Hour Logo Originally uploaded by Earth Hour Global Only 1hr 10 mins to go - SWITCH OFF AT 8:30pm UK!!! Candles at the ready! ;)

Here they are... first of all, a birthday card for my BIL: Supplies: Diecut & emboss "Football & Tee" Cuttlebug, PP (unknown) with black ink distressed, card (Woodware?), "Happy Birthday" stamp (producer unknown) Another Birthday card, this time for Anja from the CJ group - belated birthday. Supplies: card (Woodware?) ,"Partygirlabella" (Stampingbella), Cuttlebug Border "Just my type", Promarkers, Stamp from Autumn Leaves And last but not least my MIL's Mother's Day Card - the fact that the Brits celebrate this day in March has caused some confusion and early/late cards being issued to MIL, my mom and my stepmom respectively in the beginning of my relationship with DH. ;) Supplies: Card (Woodware?, PP (unknown), Cuttlebug "Love Language", CS Bazzill Got the Cuttlebug "Love Language" a week ago and I just LOVE it!! :) It's great.. the little heart embossing folder and the diecuts. GREAT! Shame I cannot post...

Here's what I've done the last week ... 1 CJ entry plus 3 cards. Currently trying to get my head around the Chinese Whisper (sorry, ladies - I WILL have it ready and e-mailed to Pauline this evening!!) and wouldn't be allowed to post it here anyway. :o The theme for the CJ is "The most important people in my life" and there they are ... there are lots more important people in my life, but I had to pick some who are more important than others ... so sorry to all the others. :o I've also changed my Playlist to the right to stop playing automatically ... there were some people who've discussed that in forums and I had to take into account people who can read my blog at work (you lucky so and so's!! ;) ). And in the past it has annoyed me a little when I had other music running on the PC and then the playlist on my blog kicked in ... so just press "play" if you want to listen. :)

I planned to go down to Doncaster with DH tomorrow for the BAFL (British American Football League) AGM. Really was looking forward to it, as it meant I would be able to see my friends from Britbowl again. However, last Sunday after training the rubber "grommets" holding the exhaust on our car up have dissolved and we heard it scraping on the road from time to time. DH got new "grommets" and fixed them this week - I went to the garage today to make sure all is fixed ok and we're safe to drive down. They had the car up, the exhaust was fixed ok .. however, we've got another problem which needs new parts and it wouldn't be safe to drive long distances. So we're back to DH going down by train and me staying up here.... :( Have I ever told you I begin to HATE OUR CAR???? This year already we had the battery being flat (new one in now), the spring on one of the wheels needing replaced as it was broken (found out prior to MOT and fixed), the exhaust hanging...

View Larger Map LOVE IT!! :) And then in the stadium ... our pitch markings!!! :) Unfortunately you can't make out the "Wolves" in red on the home sideline (close to the stands) ... ah well, something to look into for this/next season. View Larger Map

Took me 2.5 hours (gosh, I am REALLY a slow scrapper!!) but it's done, in a box and ready to go to the mail tomorrow. Will post photos of the entry and the 3 cards I made at the crop - really should go to bed now. Tomorrow I'll do the slightly overdue Chinese Whisper #3 ... and then I have the next CJ from Germany waiting plus another Chinese Whisper. And I haven't even started on doing some more Wolves layouts... ooops! Night night!

I've got a new phone ... and unfortunately used it's options a bit already - which means I have to pay around £5.50 more when the March invoice arrives ... new contract only kicks in next month. :( Ah well... should think I should manage that. I've also moved my paperwork in a more stable box (was in a cardboard box from IKEA for the last 1/2 year and that was pushed and pulled so much that it fell apart ... really have to go through that box soon to file and shred ... have already put stuff in the recycling paper bag while I was moving it over). Did that because I was searching for the bank statements for the Junior team. :o Then I decided to go through my women's mags (I somehow have an urge to buy "Essentials" or/and (ooops!) "Prima" from time to time.... used to be fairly regular but have cut down a bit now) - have pulled out some recipes/sowing stuff/gardening stuff and have now handed the rest off to my GP and dentist. At that point I found o...