Eek!

It's been weeks and I haven't written a single thing in my blog. Sorry, sorry, sorry and I was doing so well. Life has been pretty full, unfortunately of work, work and more work but I did escape this weekend for two days of cutting, sticking and general stroking of lots of pretty stash.

I went on my first scrapbooking retreat last October (2009) with Scrapagogo at Theobolds Park in Essex. I really, really enjoyed it. Met some great people and was really pleased with the pages that I took away. So I decided to go again and the friends that I made last time, Donna and Kirei were there too. I didn't get most of my first choices of classes and didn't take any photos so it was a bit challenging but I still had a good time and came away with lots of lovely stash. I need to get some photos printed this week and finish off all of my pages so that I have something to show for it. Will post photos as soon as I can.

I also got a good way through that 30 things to do before I'm thirty book, its now ready for me to get on and do the challenges! More on that to come I'm sure.

Will try and do some more updates this week!

Rach xxx

Busy

Monday night flight to Glasgow, room service glass of wine at 11pm, 7am in the hotel conference room, training 9-12.30, meetings, emails, phone calls, crisis averted, problems solved, agendas written, work distributed, plane delayed, flight switched, sleepy flight, long and cold train journey, home, tomato soup, blog reading, kazza catch-up, date texts, sofa, sleep...Wednesday

Currently

Sitting...on the sofa with my laptop on my knee and the TV on

Searching...for the ultimate curtain fabric for my newly decorated lounge

Hoping...that this week at work is a little less tough than the last few

Eating...cheese on toast for tea (I really need to start eating properly)

Watching...the X-Factor results show

Dreaming of...a finished flat full of gorgeous things

Looking forward to...a busy couple of months with mum and dad, travelling up to Sheffield and Manchester, a weekend catch up with the girls, Center Parcs, scrapping

Wearing...jeans, white top, coral cardigan and my Tiffanys jewellery

Wondering...what my upcoming dates are going to be like

Reading...blogs, blogs and more blogs!

Loving...all the news of new babies on facebook and a nice catch-up with Mum on the phone today

Scrapping...my 29 things at 29 mini-book and feeling a bit uninspired

Putting off...cleaning the bathroom, I really should just get a cleaner

Planning...millions ofscrapping projects

Feeling...a bit bleurgh and like I need a change

Monday, Monday

Has been a very long (12 hour) day at work but feel like I got a good few things off the to-do list so at least it was productive.

It was a busy weekend in London too. Travelled out to deepest, darkest Essex on Friday night after work to see the Conachers. Matt and Hannah are very, very special to me. I lived with them for a few months a couple of years ago and they took me right into their little flat, no qestions asked and lots of shoulders offered. They moved out to Essex a few months ago to start their new family life with Hannah working for her family business and I really miss them not being round the corner. But there's no point in whinging so we're doing our best to see each other as much as we can and we had a really nice evening watching the first Strictly, brilliant!

Saturday it was home bright and early for the builders to come round and sort out the back door, waiting for the plasterer to come round but its on its way. Then out in the pouring rain to Kirstens for a take away and X-factor, perfect!

Sunday I went over to see Grandma and Grandpa for some lunch with Mum and Dad and then we spent a very happy hour looking through some treasure...

A box full of Grandpas family documents. Mainly his father and uncles war documents...medals, medical docs, school papers and poems they had written! Priceless!

A blood pressure chart from the hospital when Wilfred (Grandpas uncle) went in to have some shrapnel removed from his shoulder (seemingly two years after it went into his shoulder!).

The announcement in the paper of grandpa's grandfather's wedding.
The documents start coming together with some pictures.

A few documents and some very special medals gathered together for a very secret upcoming project :o) More on that to come.

Have a good week

Rach xxx

10 years ago

I left the small rural town of Spalding and started three years of university at Warwick University. I remember my mum and sister dropping me off with the car full of stuff and taking them to the Rootes building for lunch. I remember hearing the Californication album blasting out from Nims room and wondering if she liked S Club 7! And I remember meeting all of my flat mates for the first time, Rob who would go onto be my boyfriend for seven years, Ben who I'm still in touch with now and has been like a little brother, Nim of the Califoonication album who only lasted a year at uni, Kate and her boyfriend Andy who always seemed to be there, Sam and his curtains, Al and his crazy fencing playing and a girl with agrophobia and her carer! That week I went to my first lecture and discovered Top B! And most importantly I sat next to Karen and Charlotte in my first lecture! It was a brilliant three years, failing half my exmas in the first year was not exactly a highlight but going to Revelation Rock Gospel choir, meeting some of my best friends and endless nights out boogying and drinking apple sourz were! I never wish I was back there (the thought of revision or essay writing constantly hanging over your head are thankfully gone) but I have really fond memories of that time.

In the last ten years I have...

Lived in Warwick, Leamington Spa and London
Been to Australia, Thailand, Bali, France, Portugal, Spain, New York, Copenhagen, Budapest
Got engaged and unengaged
Been a bridesmaid twice
Sang in a choir almost every week
Put on too much weight
Bought three flats (including one on my own)
Worked at two investment banks
Managed a team
Developed some awesome friendships
Met my friends lovely babies
Got into scrapbooking
Bought a Mulberry handbag
Grown my hair

Wonder what the next ten will bring???

Happy Sunday, have a good week all

Rach
xxxx

A whole week

Since I got back from the lovely Port Grimaud (5 miles from St Tropez) and it feels like a life time ago already. London is cold, wet and very, very grey and work has been more than a bit manic. Having a quiet at Saturday afternoon at home sorting out my clothes, doing the washing and making the builders cups of tea! Finally 7 months after moving in I am finally sorting out the back door and all the damage caused by the leak from upstairs. Helps that the builders are pretty good looking :o)))

Five nights in the south of France with the lovely Charlotte and Kazza was just what the doctor ordered after the craziness of work and my birthday shenanigans! Unfortunately we really only got four full days but all the same the sunshine, sleep and time with Kaz and Charlotte was a great tonic. Am definitely going to make some kind of minibook (how often do I say that?!?) In the mean time some of the best moments...

Going to St Tropez on the speed boat on the first day in beautiful sunshine, absolutely glorious!
The fat bottomed girls statues in St Tropez

Being on the speed boat, around the bay, on our way to St Tropez or water skiing.


Charlotte all togged up for water skiing, both Kaz and Charlotte managed to stand up (Charlotte was a bit of a pro.) I didn't have a go, was too embarassed to try and get into the wet suit :0( maybe next time.

Yummy al fresco lunches and dinners cooked by Charlotte's mum, they were the perfect hosts. Jo making sure we were always fed and watered (including Jo worrying that I had overdosed on anti-hitamines after I was bitten to death by mozzys) and Chris being the best tour guid in the South of France!The bonkers visit to the vinyard, getting up close and personal with the wine making process!

Spending lots of time with these two gorgeous girls.

Perfect, when can we go again?

xxxx