Two months later…..

.......WOW! Is it really 2 months since I updated my blog? Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun (not!)?
So, what has been so important that it’s kept me away from blog land? Firstly I’ve been looking for a job and one application in particular has required a lot of my time and attention. I applied for a vacancy with the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) with the job centre. The only people recreating at the moment is the job centre – a sign of the times sadly. The DWP are recruiting countrywide and in my area alone there are 70 jobs up for grabs. The recruitment process is very drawn out. The application form has 2 full pages of scenarios with a choice of 4 answers that you have to put in the order of which you are most likely to do. If you answer these correctly you’re invited to sit literacy tests. When I went there were 290 people being tested (this was only in my region of the DWP). In the English test there was 15 mistakes and you had to find 9 to pass (I had a score of 13). With the Maths there was 20 questions and you needed 10 correct answers to pass (I had 14). I was told on the day that I’d passed and then given a date for interview. They helped you prepare for interview by telling you the type of questions you would be asked so that you had time to think of situations you’d previously been in and how you’d dealt with them. Two weeks after the interview I had a letter telling me I’d passed – but this wasn’t a job offer. They then go on to do pre employment checks such as CRB, health checks and references. Well it’s now more than 6 weeks since I had that letter, I’ve received a copy of my CRB but my referees haven’t been contacted yet. I’ve phoned the DWP and they’ve told me there’s a huge backlog because of the number of vacancies being filled. So meanwhile I leap on the postie every day (he’s getting used to it now!) to see if there’s a letter from the DWP.
In-between keeping the DWP staff in employment I’ve been decorating. Hubby and I stripped FIL’s bedroom back to the bare bones. FIL was away on holiday at the time and we had to get it finished before he came home – he suffers with severe anxiety and he wouldn’t have coped with the mess and disruption. It was a lot of hard work and I was exhausted by the time FIL came home. The holiday did him good (he stayed with his sister) and he came home looking and feeling really well. Unfortunately that didn’t last! He decided that as he was feeling so well he’d stop taking some of his medication. The ones he chose were steroids! He’s also not been caring for him self – no bathing, changing clothes, eating properly nor doing anything (probably because he’s been feeling really rotten due to the withdrawal symptoms from stopping his meds). So we’ve had a bit of a battle getting him to take them again and to understand that he can’t just stop taking them. Hubby’s been to his dad’s every morning, before work, to make sure he’s taking them and to sit with him while he has some breakfast. He’s then left instructions for his dad to have a bath and change all his clothes. I then go to the bungalow in the afternoon to check he’s done everything, collect his dirty clothes and help him prepare a meal. We then phone him in the evening to remind him to take the rest of his tablets. Thankfully he’s now a lot better and I just hope he keeps it up.
On top of all of this, under Doctor’s supervision, I’ve stopped taking the antidepressants. I think it’s a sign that I’ve overcome the depression because I’ve coped with everything that’s been thrown at me lately.
Well I think that’s everything that’s been going on in my life – thanks to those who have managed to read this far! LOL! As a Thank You for sticking with me, and my blog, during my absence, and also as I’m fast approaching 1000 visits, I’m going to look out some of my stash for a Blog Candy. Watch this space for further info. Bye for now, and hopefully it won’t be another 2 months until my next posting. I'm now off to check all of your blog entries from the last 2 months.

Hubby's 50th Birthday

My dear hubby was 50 yesterday bless him! I made him a word book - I'm afraid there's six photos all together!

The photos are from the day he spent at the rugby in March. He and his lifelong friend had a hospitiality package to see the Wales/Ireland match. The were chaeuffeur driven to Cardiff Castle where they were greeted by a Welsh Male Voice choir. Then into the castle for a 4 course meal and free drinks, off to the match and back to the castle for more food, drinks and after dinner speeches. They had a great time and were given special treatment as they thought there birthdays were that day! They even had a cake with candles for them both.

I've been blog hopping today and there's some great candy on offer over at http://katharina1704.blogspot.com/2009/04/woj-elisabeth-bell-summer-stamp-kit.html

It closes tomorrow so get ver there now to be in with a chance of winning.

Blog award

Nothing for ages and then 2 posts in one day! LOL.

Just been blog hopping and I've been given a blog award by my mate Hazel (http://didosdesigns.blogspot.com/)
I now have to pass it on to 5 others. I've chosen these blogs because I just love their cards:

1 http://rosaswelt.blogspot.com/

2 http://pinkgem-janet.blogspot.com/

3 http://charmedcrafts.blogspot.com/

4 http://kimpiggott.blogspot.com/

5 http://kimfeecrafter.blogspot.com/

Neglected Blog!

I've been missing from blog land for sometime - my poor blog! But thanks for sticking with me and continuing to add comments. It's greatly appreciated.
I'm having a break from Craft Forums at the mo as something on one has upset me big time! So my blog is now getting some much needed attention.

Anyway thought I'd do a catch up on a couple of cards I've made recently.

I made this for my godson's 12th birthday. His parents were buying him a guitar so I thought I'd use a guitar image as my theme. You can't tell from the pic but there are 3 frames surrounding the guitar,a yellow, black and black/yellow one. These are raised onto 3d foam. The top frame then has music note peeloffs added to it. The card was created using Card Creations+ Toolbox CD.

This card was for a friend's birthday and again I used a card making CD. This time it was My Craft Studio The Finishing Touch. I changed the colours and printed it onto card. I also went over some of the flower petals with a sakura clear glaze pen.

I always thought Match-it peeloffs were a bit pointless - until I

used them! This card was made using the oriental matchits and is

an A6. The vase has been curved slightly so the flowers would fit behind. Some of the flowers are also

lifted up with silicone glue to make them look more like a vase of flowers would in real life.

I'm now going to try and make a card for hubbies 50th birthday as it's......tomorrow! See Ya!

Some cards - at last!

This card was for a RAK group I belong to. The image is from a Fee J CD. I created the background using Card Creations + Toolbox CD. The swirly pattern under the image was stamped straight on the card but it didn't stamp clearly. So I restamped it onto a piece of card and placed over the original messy bit!






I liked the previous card so much I made a second version. Again the image is from a FeeJ CD and I created the paper using the Toolbox CD. This card was for Hazel ( http://didosdesigns.blogspot.com/) and I also made 2 ATCs to go with the card.

For the first ATC I used a paper I found on a teabag folding site. The ribbon slides were freebies from a magazine - I think!
The second ATC I used up the remaining BP from the card. The flowers were a freebie from a magazine and the button I found in my late MILs button box (it was way too pretty to throw away).

I always say that I hate making ATCs but I did enjoy making these. I even like the second one and had to force myself to put it in the envelope to Hazel!

The weather is beautiful here today, hope you're having the same. Enjoy the rest of your day everyone.