Big Changes

Time waits for no-one, and before my last remaining braincells gave up & did a runner, I decided that I would follow the dream, bite the bullet (write loads of cliches here!!) and sign up to become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. Excited!!!!, well that did not cover it! But I will be back very soon with a link to my new fabby, whizzy SU space on the web with lots of projects and classes and workshop info!

I know I always say I'll be back soon, but this time I really do promise!

Now lets get my moon boots on float on down to the floor ................and breathe!

xx

Project Organise

Well this is still ongoing and probably always will be, why is it so difficult to find things...........?

I managed to pick up a lovely wicker basket at my local Charity shop for the bargain sum of £2 and it will look very nice, ..................now where to put it! I've been trying to put my shorter lengths of ribbon on these little spools I bought in packs for £1 each pack contained about 10 spools in 3 sizes brilliant value I think! All the small odd pieces that are just a few inches I've tied to the handle of the basket so at least if I can see it I should use it, well that's the theory anyway.

Belinda x

Catch up (again! Ooops!)

I shall make no more promises, for the heart is willing but the brain (and the timescales) are not.
In brief - Olivia had a Royal Wedding street party at her school, it was a lot of fun and as part of the celebrations the children decorated a 3 tier

cake with icing and sweeties fit for the Royal couple (not!)

I dread to imagine the amount of e-numbers this creation contained!!!!!!

We have had two new babies born in May in our street so I have been busy with the makes!

Daisy arrived first at the beginning of the month followed by Marley on May 10th. They are both such gorgeous bubbas, and I can't wait for more cuddles! Here are their cards:

Organisation with Digital files.

Printing Multiple Papers together & Organising Your Digital Papers and Images

In life and crafting I have to put my hands up and admit, I’m not an organised, methodically minded person, and that hampers me with the time I have to craft! If you have the same problem, loads of great stuff you buy and never get to use because you forget about it, or like me can never find it when you need it ‘now!", then perhaps try this method. It was recommended to me by my partner (who isa pretty organised type (groan) and can find his computer stored stuff easily).

You will need photo storage software, we are on Apple Mac here so I am using Aperture but I Photo,………………………. even Picasa (which is free!) is fine. In fact any photo management and printing system should work in the same way, although some functions will differ slightly, then that won’t be a problem.

Create a new folder in your photo storage software and give it a name e.g. PP Fairy Lights Papers. Now leaving your photo software open on screen, bring up your downloads folder and open the PP Fairy Lights folder (or other relevant papers folder) so that the papers or digital images are visible as individual files and drag and drop them into your photo software. They will then appear in your photo programme as a photo would.

Another advantage that I have found with doing this aside from the obvious ability to know where everything is and be much more organised, is that I have way more print options. If like me you struggle with your options as far as lack of control over size and wasting paper and card stock then fear no more. I suspect different photo software will vary, however generally within most applications you will have the choice to print thumbnails / contact sheets and several images to one sheet (set A4 printing for these). You can hold down shift and select multiple ‘photo’ digital papers and select print and choose contact sheet. Within Aperture and IPhoto you can choose the number of rows and columns this controls the size of the images on the sheet, allowing you to print the design scaled down for your smaller projects.

This is a real advantage to digital paper stored this way, when you purchase real designer paper in A4 or perhaps 12x12 format then use small sections the pattern can look too large for the scale of the project, but printed as an image file it can be scaled down or up to fit the smallest or biggest project you require.

Here are some screen shots:

The first one shows printing as a contact sheet and choosing the number of rows and columns then the size of the printed paper can be reduced or increased accordingly. You will see that there is a lot of space around these and they are great for paper piecing or mini cards. If you fancy creating an index that you could file in an A4 binder to help you match up your other supplies, paper pads, promarkers, copics etc then this really will help you see how the papers print out with your own printer inks and paper. I have found that sometimes the colours on my screen do look a tad different once printed, and matching with your supplies becomes a whole lot easier if you have a real life comparison.

The second one shows printing standard but selecting the amount of rows and columns that give you the image sizes you require this in turn creates multiple pictures to a page and are extremely adjustable. Again the pattern is scaled and this makes the paper really great for your smaller cards and projects!

The third shows printing 4 different papers on an A4 sheet, with my options if I chose three 'image papers' they print landscape in 3 bands. Brilliant for larger cards or maybe to decorate a 3D project where you need your DP a tad wider.

Give this a try with some of your digital papers both from a storage/ accessibility point of view and for easier more flexible printing, paper saving and getting the most use from what you buy. I am so glad I did!

Anything unclear pop a comment here and I will try to clarify.

Belinda x

Pink Petticoat Projects

This free picture collage customized with Smilebox

Back last year Liz Armstrong owner of Pink Petticoat had a design team call, it was the first one for her company, and I decided to have a bash, as I am a huge fan and have almost every product she designs anyway. I was not successful in my attempts, however it's all experience and I had some very nice feedback from Liz and it encouraged me to use many of the lovely downloads that I have purchased from Liz over the years having been a PP stashaholic (my laptop overfloweth....)

All papers and images used are PP.

Till some time soon......................

Belinda x

Some cards

Well although it's not two posts in one day they are consecutive so I am improving, well jury is out but............. Here are a few of my friends and families cards made in the last couple of months. I have been out of the habit of taking piccies of my projects with me not blogging as I should have but I have taken lots of pictures of other things, so my photography skills are hopefully getting better as a result.

I had an email from the lovely Kirsty Wiseman a few days ago to let me know she has showcased a project a did a while ago for my friend Sam's wedding. It involved the use of a product called Safmat, made by Letraset. It is a brilliant product, a vinyl type A4 printable surface that you can print at home with digital images, photos, fonts and sentiments then you cut it up peel of the backing and adhere it to almost any surface and it is virtually clear. I am on my second pack and it's really good value too! Check out Kirsty's post here and give Safmat a go if you love to personalise gifts and don't like lining up your alpha stamps it was made for you!!

Yesterday was not the weather we were promised, but while we have the wind around, I guess we have to take what we can get as long as it's not ra*ning (can't say the real word it tempts fate!!). Olivia broke up from school and had her last day until nearly the end of April on Thursday, so we headed for the new Aquarium in Bristol, and it was very good but very expensive!! We went by bus (which she loves and I don't!), now don't get me wrong I'm fine when I'm on the bus it's just that we were passed by approx 2 1/2 million buses while we waited but not the one we needed. After more than an hour waiting at the bus stop opposite where we got off, I decided to check the website on my IPhone only to find that although we got off at the bottom of the hill when we came into Bristol, the route back was totally different and the bus picked up a half mile away at the top of the hill. Arrgghhhhh!! A jog to the top with me carrying a weighty 4 yr old, was good for the diet but I looked purple as I got there and then another 45mins for the bus to finally arrive, we then hit the rush hour and crawled through traffic. After leaving the Aquarium at 3:30 we got home at 6:30 for what would have taken me 15mins in the car! And they wonder why cities are congested with cars???!! Just as well we both had a lovely time and I had a stash of Jaffa Cakes to keep madam going!

Will pop back with some Aquarium photos and all the Mother's day makes!

Belinda x

New Beginnings

Well lets just say that life got in the way of my blogging since urmmgh last time, and draw a line in the sand, and start again shall we?

I arrive here with a new and fresher outlook, almost at my weight loss target 2 1/2 stone lighter, thank you slimming World. I'm happier with me and ready for the next chapter!

Sam my son will be turning 18 later this month ALevel exams round the corner and Olivia who is now 4 1/2 is happily ensconced in her new little school, where she currently attends 3 days a week and is loving every moment of it. Her food issues are improving her friendships are many, she not only loves playing with all the boys now but relishes joining in with the lovely little girls in her class too. We are so very pleased to have made the move with her to this lovely school, it has been wonderful to see her bloom since she arrived there last November, we are very proud parents and with her continuing her education there from September in reception we look forward to happy school days for the foreseeable future.

I will be posting again later to pop on some of the crafty projects that have kept me busy over the time since I was last here, and to share a few pics of the beautiful weddings and portraits we have been lucky to have had the pleasure of taking too. New additions to our friends lives and our family some beautiful little people. A couple of friends with happy additions due very soon so some projects I would like to share as they take shape. New tools I have fallen in love with, and some great bargains that I have found too that I really want to share..............!

if you are still reading I admire your fortitude! as Arnie would say 'I'll be back'......................

Belinda x


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

............AT LAST!!!!!!!!!!

I am pretty sure the only person reading this post will be my Mum (you can always trust your Mum to stick with you!!), but I won't apologise for my lack of an appearance here as it's probably better to just see what's been happening in my world since.............last time!!

The above photos are from our friends Wedding that took place on a sunny February day at a beautiful Manor House in Castle Combe. N and I were official Photographers for the proceedings which was both nerve racking and fun at the same time. I am still a little learner when it comes to ISO's and F Stops and have a long way to go in that department, but I got some lovely shots that I was pretty proud of. The top shot of the beautiful Bride (Vikki) and Groom (Andrew) was one of mine and the lower one was one of N's of the gorgeous little flower girls, which I love!

This wedding was followed 3 weeks later by another friends, that again we were Photographing. This one was also a complete joy to be a part of although at times a bit of a challenge for the shots! The wedding was early March an absolutely glorious day with the weather (not great for taking photos though!) The day started for us and our cameras at about 7am (groan!) with the wedding taking place at the Roman Baths in Bath at 8:30am (yep you read it right 8:30). Followed by a fry-up in the famous Pump Rooms, followed by a river cruise on 'The Penny Lane' back to the Baths for Canapes, Dinner (amazing!!) and live band (accompanied by the Bride for one song!) and DJ in the elegant surroundings of the Roman Baths buildings. It was soooooooo rock'n'roll!!! Pictures to follow my Aperture application is playing up a bit so will add these as soon as my techs-pert (that's N) gets back tomorrow!

In other news........I joined Slimming World, the chocolate that goes along with the crafting had finally begun to protrude from my every juncture, so..........there was next to no choice!! It is going fairly well I am 10 and a half pounds lighter and determined to increase this!

Perhaps enough for now (eh Mum!!)

Belinda x

A quick review of 2009

Gosh! It has been far too long, no excuses................., just me being pretty rubbish with the plate wiggling!

Where has this year gone? Are there really 24hours in every day? Does time actually move faster as we get older?

This cold snap has brought such pretty scenes, and it was lovely to have snow on the ground on Christmas Day, sooooo pretty! Here are a few snaps of the rear of our house when the snow was fresh and new last week. We are very fortunate in that we are quite elevated, and there are some large trees behind the house and some very pretty woodlands. The sledging that takes place there when we are fortunate enough to have a snow flurry, is such fun. It becomes a mecca for '

snow fun'!

What I've been up to!

Well with no Mac to make uploading easy, my images stayed on my camera, but have now found their way into IPhoto and so here goes: the first card was for a friend, Shamsi (meaning sunshine) the DP is Stampin up, Penny Black Flower Sticker, sentiment from Craftwork Cards, MS Edge Punch.

2nd Card: Congrats card for my Son Sam for his GCSE success. Monkey Stamps CC Designs, coloured with Pro Markers, DP DCWV retro stack.

3rd An ATC Card made for a swap, I have been joining the swaps on BubblyFunk for the last couple of months, ATC's are very new to me. I've had some lovely ones come back. This is a Digi-stamp and I have to admit to loving these at the moment, they are instant crafting, which sometimes for me makes this hobby more possible!! She is from The Digi Stamp Boutique and she's called Marissa. I coloured her with water colour pencils a touch of stickles. For the main card I used some of Livvy's play sand (thanks babe!) and used sponged on distress ink (faded jeans) for the sky. THe shell was a 'firework' stamp from a Banana Frog set and I used a CM journalling pen to extend some of the circle lines to make a little shell. Added some small beads onto the water and voila!

4th and last one for now (more later, see I do make things!!) a card made for a neighbour's new home Owls from CC Designs (love these!) A NEW HOME made using my Karen Foster Snap stamps (these are my best ever purchase) the rest of the sentiment is by Elzybells.

I have been creating a poster today to advertise some Seasonal Classes that I will be running here in Bristol. It looks great on my screen, but when I attempt to print it then it's horrid, what was I saying about loving Macs????? Am of to try to sort it out, here's hoping.

Belinda

A Dead Mac

What is the worst thing that can happen to you? You are lucky enough to own a lovely little Macbook, white, shiny and all around fun to use. Now I wasn't always a fan, but I became converted to the Mac-side with a little time and patience and will never again return to the Microsoft - side! Anyway one evening you are playing oops I mean working on the said lovely white machine balanced elegantly on the arm of your leather armchair, when the magnetic catch gives way on the cabinet door above you bashes the top of said beautiful white workhorse, and also takes the large cup of lovely earl grey over carpet and splashy liquid into lovely shiny white machine! Aaaaarrrrggghhhhhhh!!!!!!

She is no more, she served me so well, I miss her dreadfully, I truly did love her in a needy sort of a way! The Mac repair man said we would need to replace her logic board to possibly get her to work again, but we called it, she had suffered enough!

Thank heaven for our House policy, and I now have a replacement, a Mac but not white & shiny, but matt silver. In time I will hopefully love her as much as my little shiny white one, I am warming to her already!

I am just so pleased that I am back live again!!!

Did do some Digi Stamp purchasing (used the IMac) and made this card with one of them.

Belinda x

Oops Kelly's Prom!

For some reason blogger didn't show this photo of the very posh Prom version of Kelly! A dress that was made espesh for her too in her fave colour!

I heard she had a great night! (minus the

silver clips that I used to hold the ringlet curls obviously!!)

Catching Up

My, I have sooo much catching up to do! Right here goes back in June I had a little jaunt away for a scrapping weekend with some friends. We were heading off to Bideford in Devon to stayin an old manor house and I had been warned that Helen the

lady that ran this B&B was a fab cook, famous for her puddings, well

I loves me puds, so..............I was

gonna be happy scrapping and puds, who

could resist!!

However the day before was School Prom Day for two special people, Neil's

eldest Son Tom and my Friend Tracey's Daughter Kelly, so I did a do on

Kelly's hair in my ex hair stylist status, and she looked tres glam! Tom looked very dapper too in his Tux!!! They were at different schools but as

GCSE's came to an end around then I guess most schools had them that night! My Son Sam had

chosen not to go to his School Prom but decided not to mention this to me until after the ticket

deadline.................! Apparently it wasn't his scene!! A right of passage I think but then I'm just an OLD, what do I know eh?? I was rather disappointed.

Got to Bideford on the Saturday and the manor house was just frozen in time, amazing really, although a couple of the girls didn't share my enthusiasm and were extremely freaked out, and scared. Although we had a room each 3 of them slept in one room it was hilarious to see them so spooked - I shouldn't have laughed at them but it was one of those moments I wished I had joined the Tena Lady movement!!!!!!! They were thinking their room was haunted by the china dolls around the house!!!!! Anyway I slept great!!

Food was gorgeous, puds first night an amazing layered flaky pastry, mousse and fresh strawberry ensemble, and a monster sized Treacle Sponge a large jug of custard and 2 huge dishes of Devon Clotted Cream! The best Clotted Cream I have ever tasted btw! Wow a little too stuffed to scrap for the first hour after but I managed 6 lay outs between Saturday evening and Sunday Lunch (1pm) that was very good for me!!!!! Sunday Lunch well that was another roast dinner followed by two more puds, Rice Pudding (one I really can't touch!) did taste yum according to the others, and Bread and Butter Pudding along with more custard and bowls full of Clotted Cream. Now if I could have I would have pinched one of those bowls of cream and brought it home, Helen told us where she gets it from so I will be searching the web to see if they deliver, but perhaps not because...................something else that happened recently I did a routine trip to the Health Centre hopped on the scales and nearly passed out with the shock!!!! That's the thing about loving puds and Clotted Cream there is a always a price to pay boo, hoo! Well I am totally and utterly determined to balloon no more!! Gosh I may even join a slimming club!! Why do things that taste so yummy make us fat and diet stuff taste like cardboard I wonder???????

I am thinking that positive thinking would be good so I am closing my eyes and imagining me a curvy size 12 (could require boob job 2 complete this look) and will borrow mum's exercise bike while she's away and rescue my stepper from Incy Wincey and his friends in the garage, to start the new healthy me!!

Back soon with my Cornwall Hols pics, got back last week with webbed feet if you know what I mean?! :-)

Back so soon....

Gosh don't pass out with the shock, but.........I had another card that I forgot to upload yesterday, shame as I love this one, even though I say so myself!!

Just wanted to mention that as A Creative Memories Consultant I, along with all the other UK (and International) Consultants have adopted the Make a Wish Foundation as our Charity for this year. What a fabulous Charity it is, they do amazing work and grant so many dreams come true to seriously ill children. I cannot read a single one of these amazing granted wishes with out a box of tissues at hand. They make a huge difference to Children and their Families at difficult times, when life can offer little or no fun and very little to look forward to they offer a fulfillment of a dream come true, some magic, I believe that every child deserves to have that especially when they have to endure such difficult obstacles. I would love to see a day when there isn't a selection process, but where every wish that is made by a 'Life Limited' child can have that wish granted, and most importantly it happens before it as too late!

Creative Memories is a perfect partner for Make a Wish, after all the albums we make are to tell our stories, to record our memories, and to make these memories last for ever. For some of the Parents of these children memories will be all they have in the future, but what perfect memories recorded forever of their precious Child's dream come true!!!!!!

You can visit the Make a Wish Site here, have the tissues ready, but, you it will I'm sure make you think about how important it is to record those events big or small in your Families too.

On that point I just wanted to share an email I received on Monday from my Leader in CM

Hi team,

I am writing to let you all know some difficult news. Sue, who many of you know, has a team in Abingdon and one of her team was a lovely lady called Kate. She has attended workshops in Bath and has been on 2 of my album weekends as well as being part of the workshops in Oxfordshire.

Tragically Kate died very suddenly last Sunday, suffering an annurism and of course this has been an incredible shock to all who knew her. Kate was always chatty and friendly and one of those people who would do anything for anyone. We will miss her dreadfully. She leaves behind twin girls of 9 and Sue has already spent time with them. She will have the immense privilege of working on albums with the girls in time ahead.

Kate is an inspiration to us all in that amazingly, she was up to date with her albums and so the reality of albums that last a lifetime, full of Kate's recording of times together and how she felt about her girls, are there for them....That is the power of what we do.

So please can Kate be an inspiration to you this week. Let us not be Consultants for the income we earn or for the flexibiltiy of our work, but because we never know who we may meet who needs albums like Kate's girls do now. I for one, will be on the phone this week to Customers to encourage them to complete albums, hold parties and of course I am making time to do more in my own children's albums, in honour of her.

Be inspired this week and remember, what we do makes a difference.

Belinda x

Lots to share.........!

Well so much for the back soon..........? Where does the time go? I think as I get older the time seems to get away from me more!! Gosh, I sound like a Granny now!

2 Weeks since I last blogged (shame on me!!), but at least I have things to show, and hey, you have escaped my waffle so that could be a good thing!!

In my last post I used the new Digi CC Designs, and there are more here, I am seriously in love with these! I also bought some great Greeting Farm Stamps from Dies to Die For, and as ever Tracie's customer service was excellent! I even had some lovely MS Butterflies and some label shapes in my package and it arrived so quickly, very reasonable p&p too!

The Door hangers I cut out from some thick card and used my Creative Memories Circle Shape to cut out the hole, Lilac Gingham paper from Funky Fairy Downloadable papers, Green Stars paper from Pink Petticoat, patterned paper on the card from Stampin Up, the label shape on the card was my new Sizzix Label Die (love this!).

Have been to a training day today in Exeter for Creative Memories, very good, but a long day (I left home at 7:15 am) so will blog hop for a short while then zzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!

Belinda x

Heatwave!!

Gosh where does the time go??  It has been really hot in our part of the world, and we decided to do the obligatory paddling pool purchase!  

There have been a few Births & Birthdays since my last post too!!  Baby Card is for a new baby Boy who has been called LEO , so seemed very appropriate and soooo cute!!! The Lion is by Hero Arts, embossing is Cuttlebug Swiss dots and one of their borders, ribbon recycled from a chocolate box! Mum card is using  English Paper Company Papers stamped and cut out from the Dimension Fourth  Alphabet. This set is fab and becoming one of my faves as it's great for so many occasions. Again used the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. This was for N's Mum's Birthday 81 years young and amazing for her age!

I love these new images from CC Designs they are so very cute, once more used emboss folders and Stampin Up papers and Fiskars threading water border punch.  This was for Yasmine one of Livvy's friends their Birthdays are 4 months to the day apart. There was a lovely little party on the Green with all the children and Birthday tea too very sweet!! I promise to post soon.................!!

Belinda x

MIA again. Friends 'special' birthday!

Not got round to posting recently but I have been busy with a few things, so...........!  Had a brill day on Monday it was my neighbour and friend Val's Birthday bash, she has been whisked away to Venice today to celebrate lucky thing!!!  It was a special Birthday but I'm sworn to secrecy over which one, but she looks amazing and I'm thinking I'll have some of what she's on.

This is the Mini Book I made for Val, shaped like a handbag, with lots of pictures of her and her family taken over the last few years at our parties and get togethers and weddings here in the street.

We had a BBQ planned but the weather had other ideas, after I had made a huge pile of home made burgers too, so we cooked indoors and went off to Val's for drinks and food and of course........Cake!!!!  

The sweetest sight all the little ones lined up on Val's sofa cuddled under a furry rug munching popcorn watching 'Jungle Book' -PRICELESS!

Roadshow Demo Day come 'n' gone!

Well, the day arrived and it was great day!  Everything went very well on Saturday in Leicester, and my nerves stayed in check, hands didn't shake too much and I didn't lose any fingers!!!

The only thing that could have been better was that I could have had a slow motion button as the 15 minutes for each demo whizzed so fast and I wasn't able to show as much as I would of liked with regard the decoration of the items made, but there were finished samples so...............!

The 15 minutes diminished more because after each session Consultants hung around asking stuff and taking photos of all my samples - this really ate into the next 15 min session!! But it was lovely that they liked the stuff and wanted to chat about what I was doing, so not a bad problem really!!   I had a visit at the end from the main speaker of the Conference  to tell everyone to get their butts back into the Lecture Theatre for the rest of the show - whoops!!

The  demos I did were ' CD case'(inspired by the Scor-Pal project guide) , 'Photo Wallet Card'  ( adapted from the little stamped image wallets we all know and love, size adjusted to take photos) and ' Photo Squash Box' (Adapted from an 'explosion box' by the fab Dawn Griffiths) they were all well received, especially the little box. 

Feedback on the day was really fab, and I was so pleased, but I did not anticipate my name appearing on the Conference evaluation form.  So it appears I will be evaluated..........um........arghh...........OMG!! I did have a bit of a shock as I thought when I agreed to do the demonstration that it would be as it was last year, several people in a room doing their 'thing' while the Consultants all milled around............uh, nope -new format!!  2 people demoing, each in a separate seminar room and 50 people at a time in four sessions coming in sitting down and hanging on my every word - well sort of !!!!

Not sure if I knew that I would be on the evaluation form I would have maybe been a little more organised with my delivery as I went for the chatty relaxed style I would use at a class or shopping party! Wish I had been told all this before, but you live and learn!!

I normally hold my Workshops on Friday Evenings monthly, but due to Easter and my Son Sam's Birthday falling on a Friday it was a little tricky so I moved it to a Saturday (this wkend 25th) Afternoon 2-5pm so if there is anyone out there that lives near to Bristol and would like to come, I would love to see you!!  We are very close to the Mall at Cribbs Causeway, so you could shop til you drop in the morning and Scrap til you drop in the afternoon!!!!!  It is a Creative Memories Workshop, but there is absolutely NO restriction on what you bring and use at my Workshops!!  All my tools are available to use for the session, and I have a Canon Selphy Printer and Bigshot that will be there also!!  There is a £5 workshop fee that includes Tea/Coffee/Hot Chocolate and choccy (-very important) biccies  I do have a small stock of CM papers Albums, Pages & Protectors that you can rifle through if you so wish!!

Having read on Forums and Blogs there seems to be a bit of confusion and many misconceptions regarding Creative Memories, the image is that there is  a lot of restriction at events and that it's all a bit old fashioned and rigid, it could be your opportunity to have a look at the stuff use the tools check out the difference in the Albums and make your own mind up?! There really, really  is no hard sell- it is really not my thing!!!  If you are interested in more info about CM or want to find out about Saturday (venue etc) you can email me at belindaw@me.com

Belinda x

Little Donkey, Little Donkey (can I have a ride?)

What a gorgeous day it was today here in the West Country!  Neil, Livvy and me had a trip out this afternoon, and joined the many others in sunny Clevedon.  As soon as we had parked the car and jumped out, Livvy spotted Donkeys and decided she would like to have a ride.  She really is not the bravest child so somewhat surprised we said yes and headed towards them expecting her to change her mind when she got close - but she wasn't put off, climbed aboard a friendly brown donkey called Ben, and waited patiently for the other children to climb aboard their donkeys.  Off she went stroking Ben as she went.  She did wobble loads on Ben's back as she informed me 'Mummy I'm all wobbly on Ben!!!!' I asked if she liked being wobbly and she shouted back 'I'm having fun'.  This is her reply to anything that she doesn't want to stop doing, generally at bedtime when I say come on sweetie time for bed her usual reply ' But Mummy I'm having fun!'. The donkey ride was closely followed by a ride on the little red train that circles the field just by the sea wall.

We walked to the beautifully restored Clevedon Pier and decided to partake in a cake and coffee en route.  The pier was fascinating to Livvy who thought in order to look through the boards to see the water below, it was necessary to lie down on the floor and peep through the planks, much to the amusement of everyone else walking past her!!  

She truly is a one off - quite crazy!!!!

A lovely afternoon!

Belinda x