Jamie Finishes Junior School (A catch up a year on!)

A catch up post - almost a year later - although I did write it at the time never got the pictures into it and finished it off so here we go

Today has been a very unusual day as it was Jamie's last day at EVS, his junior school. We took a couple of photos this morning and then walked Jamie up to that school for the very last time. There was very little work to be done at school, and in the afternoon they hold a leavers assembly for those leaving and then leave at about 2.15. We wandered up to school again to have a final meet up and chat with Mums (and Dads) at the gate.

I had predicted tears, both from the children and from us and there were. We were trying to be brave but as soon as the first children came out some fighting back the tears and other giving in and crying it was very hard to be brave. I went when Jamie's friend G came out, he's been with her since nursery school and was waiting anxiously for Jamie. He eventually came out and there were tears - he did well and coped - his friend Jack was coming home with him so all was quickly OK.
As we walked home, we walked past a group of girls leaving and I overheard one of them say that "they hadn't thought saying goodbye would hurt so much" - it really cut me up, and I thought how unfair we are to make our children so sad. But then I also thought that we all have to move on in so many aspects of our lives and I guess they are learning in a small and supportive way how that process works. But so very sad for them all - all the same.

I guess I really felt for those whose parents were not there for whatever reason and were stood there looking sad, lonely and bewildered. I really do hope that those who are going off to other schools stay in touch, I will certainly be encouraging Jamie to do that - and with the likes of facebook it shouldn't be too difficult for them to do.

Jamie headed off this morning with his presents for his teachers and I'm sure his teacher really liked the Peterborough Football Scarf (but not a typical football scarf - its a bit classier than that) and lots of thank you cards, and an extra special lunchbox.

And so that is it, the end of junior school - it hardly seems more than 5 minutes since we were taking Jamie to school for the first time - it is scary.

Ciao
Sue
XX

More Bo Bunny Etcetera Layouts

Here is another layout from the Etcetera collection and a Tag Album updating the previous post here.

A layout of Jamie on a funfair ride at the Birmingham Christmas Market a couple of years ago. Below is the tag album - a first for me but like it and it has set me off on a mini-album spree!

 Above the front page - a tag album seems to be a great way to use lots of odds and ends that have sat in the drawer for far too long!

 Above at a Dr Who exhibition in Cardiff and below at the Dinosaur Park near Norwich

 I teach a Memory Albums class for local Adult Ed and this is one of the areas I want to explore next term so this has been useful to put one together to show the learners what they can look like.

 Jamie - Dr Whoing it again in Cardiff on a different occasion and having a josh with Mum below.

 I think a Tag album could be a great way to get children involved too as they are quick to put together.

 Birthday boy 2010 above and another shot from the Dinosaur Park.

 You don't have to be too precious with photos either as they are small and not too many are needed so it keeps the costs down too - always important in adult ed!!

 Above out and about on a Thomas the Tank day and below a more recent pic.

 A tag album enables anyone to practice lots of different techniques too such as inking etc and allows for experimentation too which can be a great learning process and enjoyable too - allows you to see what you like and what works for you.

 My Kindle has provided a good background for these shots and not surprisingly my case in bright green - no surprises there!!

 Below Jamie in Ely, above Christmas Day 2004 and above that an earlier Birthday boy

 Tag and mini albums also make great presents

 Enjoying the Moments which was the theme with lots of images of Jamie enjoying the moment! 

 Above the final page Jamie just before he met Steve Harley in Suffolk and in Ithaca doing the Odysseus trip and the back cover.

I think mini albums and tags are now going to be a great favourite of mine!

Ciao
Sue
Reading challenge 4/20 - currently reading on Kindle The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and in print Drop Dead Beautiful by Jackie Collins

Lost!

Beware Spoilers!!!!

We are addicted to to Lost, the TV series, Jamie and I are working our way through and are currently onto Series 3 episode 2 so are nearly half way through but it can get addicting.  Thankfully due to work and school commitments we now get a few days respite before we tackle some more of Season 3.  Not sure all of it makes sense yet but was pretty shocked by the deaths of AL and L who were shot by M (really gone off him now)  Favourite characters Jack, Sawyer, Claire, Sun, Charlie, Hurly and Jin (well at the moment!!).

Ciao
Sue

Reading challenge 4/20 - currently reading on Kindle The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and in print Drop Dead Beautiful by Jackie Collins

Simple Monochromatic Scrapbook Layout

A layout from a couple of weeks ago - largely monochromatic which is a big favourite of mine, lots of green and about one of my favourite flowers Chrysanthemum 'Anastasia' which is just gorgeous.  A bit of stamping, layering and using up some odds and ends I already had.

Two main areas of focus on the layout which was something I wanted to have a go with, joined by the stamping, lots of flowers (of course), lots of layering and some favourite ribbon which works really well.  A simple layout but not too bad.

Ciao
Sue
Reading challenge 4/20 - currently reading on Kindle The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and in print Drop Dead Beautiful by Jackie Collins

Book Reviews

Beware Spoilers

Some one liner reviews of some of the books I've been reading recently ....

Roots of Evil by Sarah Rayne - another Sarah Rayne that I just couldn't put down and was reading well into the early hours.  A story which spans modern day, WW2 and Auschwitz, the silent movies - great story and good characters - can't wait until the next one - probably save it for my holidays now!!



Hotwire by Alex Kava - another good Alex Kava Maggie O'Dell novel - I've jumped over a couple here so must go back and catch up but really enjoyed it - love the character and the writing - great stuff - aliens, bio-engineering, food safety and murder.  The next one is on my Kindle waiting....



A Town Like Alice by Neville Shute - a re-read of a favourite book and it gets better with every reading - can't wait to see it all for myself before too long I hope.


Ciao Sue Reading challenge 4/20 - currently reading on Kindle The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and in print Drop Dead Beautiful by Jackie Collins

Bo Bunny Etcetera Layouts

A little while ago I 'treated' myself (the way scrapbookers do) to most of the Etcetera collection by Bo Bunny as I liked the antique(y), newspaper, printed look and felt I could do something with some of the papers and embellishments so here are some pics of the scrap crap and the pages I've made with the collection so far.  Overall I probably spent about £22-25 on the bits and added to from the supplies with flowers, cardstock etc.

 Some of the embellishments and some prima flowers - Harlow I think

 Ribbon and trinkets and some threads courtesy of Craft Obsessions

 The jigsaw mini-book which accompanies the line and more prima flowers from my stock - I've had those a while and cannot remember what they are called but there was a great selection some crochet, some tulle, some ribbon - a great mixture in one pack.

 Some chipboard and I just love the chipboard alphabet in the line.

 Shaped cardstock - probably bought 6 or 7 sheets of paper from the line and used SU cardstock which I truly love.

 Some more paper and some alphas

 More cardstock, I love the Bo Bunny sheets where you have multiple embellishments and interesting images you can cut out and use thus getting a lot out of one sheet of paper

 The paper with its sepia, antique, printed look!

Some flowers from my flower box with an orangey theme going on here!!

And this is what I've created out of these items so far - I'm hoping to get at least 6 - 8 pages out of the line and still have some leftovers for use later!

The first one called 'Mam' what those of us from my part of the world call our Mums.  This was the biggie from this selection as its about my Mum and I used lots and lots of flowers including some in blue which was my Mum's favourite colour.  I loved the journalling card as it said "little moments big memories" - I've added "My mum in very familiar poses to me, working in her garden in her housecoat and carrying a cup of tea back to us whilst we were on holiday, these are small everyday events but so very important to me as there were so few" (My mum has been gone for 33 years now - I had her around for such a short time)

 Layout 2 is Live for the Moment Your In - First Class Jamie.  I took the ideas for this from a page maps layout so I guess this one is scraplift - a couple of cute photos of Jamie - one on Kefalonia waiting to go into the  Melissani Lake at the Drogati Caves and the other dressed up and hair spiked up for a school disco - he looks so yummy.  Lots of distressing on this layout and inking the edges which I am very into at the moment.

 A close up here of one of the elements I used adapting a floristry prop - a trimmed giunco stick - into a scrapbooking embellishment - I love it when I can bring the two hobbies together!!

 A layout about Binnie - "Every little thing she does is magic"  - she is looking her cheeky and delightful self.

More layouts to follow soon - allowing for work commitments!!


Ciao Sue Reading challenge 4/20 - currently reading on Kindle The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and in print Drop Dead Beautiful by Jackie Collins (I will finish this book even if I have to take it on the plane for our summer holidays and read it during the flight!!)

Friday Fill-Ins

1. It's always nice when England win!

2. I like to hear of Jamie laughing at something that tickled his fancy and that I just don’t get!

3. Positive space; negative space are things you really need to consider when creating any flower arrangement.

4. This is England!

5. What I heard – I hope was the sound of my husband washing the pots!

6. Often, I search the internet looking for flower arrangements and can get such inspiration.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the England football match tomorrow my plans include taking Jamie to the cinema and Sunday, I would like to have a great time at the crop catching up with the girls and come home and enjoy Father’s Day with Mike and JamieCiao

Sue

Reading challenge 4/20 - currently reading on Kindle Hotwire by Alex Kava and in print Drop Dead Beautiful by Jackie Collins