Blue sunset...

Celebrate the best things in life ;)

Ribbon scraps....

(glue wasn't dry when I snapped the piccy - sigh...I'm so impatient ;)

Thankful for...

Smoke alarms!!

My smoke alarm in my mud room went off this morning - about ten minutes after I had put a load of laundry in the washing machine and a load in the dryer.  It's a TERRIFYING noise isn't it?  When you aren't expecting it.

I mean sometimes it doesn't scare me - like when you burn the toast or something and you KNOW why it's gone off - but other times when it's unexpected, it is just the most terrifying noise EVER :(

I swear I literally stopped breathing and ran into the hallway to try and tell where the noise was coming from.  I could then smell burning :(

I raced into the mudroom and the smoke was already thick :(  I ran into the laundry room in a panic and pulled the plugs out of the wall and switched both machines off - not knowing which the smoke was coming from - flung open the window and grabbed the fire extinguisher.  I half expected it to be the tumble dryer.  It wasn't.  It was the washing machine.  

Thankfully - because of the smoke alarm, it was caught in time and there was no fire - just a LOT of smoke and a really NASTY burning smell.  My house stinks - but I am grateful it is still here!!!

After sorting it all out and making sure everything and everyone was safe and that there really was no fire - I phoned Lloyd, and promptly burst into tears!  I think it was the shock lol!

I am so glad we have smoke alarms in almost every single room here - and fire extinguishers and everything else.....I am so grateful for that piercing loud noise that scared me into action!!  

This washer has served us well - I guess it's time to go shopping for a new one this weekend!!

Horton Park Farm, Epsom

We used to go HERE all the time when we lived at West Park Hospital - as it was right next door!!!

I have sooooo many pictures of us there - even though we didn't have any children it was just a nice place to go - somewhere different for coffee and cake and to see the animals - somewhere for a walk on a nice day :)  I've just always liked doing things like that so I would drag my Ex along (lol) or go with friends :)  My Irish friend Maressa :)

It looks as though it has changed sooooo much though - there certainly wasn't a play barn there when we used to go!!!

Lol sorry - just reminiscing.....  :)

West Park Hospital, Epsom

I was just googling the hospital where I did my nurse training, and I found this photographic website of Britain in ruins.  There are some wonderful - and wonderfully sad pictures of the hospital I lived in - and trained in - for three years.  The hospital where I met my first husband.  Where I had my engagement party.

On this first page you can see so many places I worked and socialised - so many memories.  We lived in the grounds - in fact my first room was in the building in the bottom picture on page 1:  HERE

And I can't believe the burned out hall HERE  (scroll half way down) where my ex husband used to play badminton in the evenings.....

Seeing many of these pictures makes me feel quite sick - how the government could let such beautiful buildings go to waste - I understand some of the beliefs behind closing down the institutions BUT the way they did it was sooooo WRONG and now seeing the waste left behind - remembering the stories and the personalities of the people who called this place home for so long :(

I remember walking THESE corridors many MANY times with friends, with patients, boyfriends....to get mail....to go for dinner...to head to work on shift....to head to school.....to the store or cafeteria....

I remember being given a tour of the PADDED CELL when I first arrived as a student - it wasn't used though even then - just kept as a piece of history!!

It's wonderful to see these pictures and remember back - but so sad to see somewhere that meant so much to me in such a sad state - I was hoping it was being utilised in a better way!!!  :(

You can read about the hospital HERE  it's really interesting!!

I moved there when I was 17.  I have such great memories of my time as a student - fun times :)

Sooooo funny ;)

Ooooh my Husband thinks he's so funny ;)  

Last night was a really bad night for one reason or another and we didn't get much sleep - poor Sam just couldn't sleep and was pretty unhappy and restless - Lloyd left me to sleep this morning and when I woke up he had left me two thermal mugs of coffee by the bed and this little note tucked on top.  Normally his little notes are very romantic and I have them all in a big glass jar in my craft room.  I opened this one wondering what it would say......and then burst out laughing.....

I am sooooo NOT doing star jumps this morning ;)  

Friday Fill ins!

1. Today I will be cuddling and caring for my itchy, scratchy, sad little chicken poxy boy and sadly NOT going out for dinner as planned with Dave and Tracey :(.
2. There doesn't seem to be much attention on tv on the Paralympics at ALL and I say why not?
3. What do you think of Annoying Orange??  Or Marshmallow Murder??  My kids are a little addicted and I have to admit I find them funny too Don't forget though we're a family who likes Salad Fingers*.
4. At Starbucks on March 23rd it's free Pastry Day til 1030 Friday!
5. People say that what we're all seeking is Happiness.
6. The image I cherish most is My babies all curled up sleeping contentedly.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Hhmmm not sure now as we were supposed to be out for dinner, tomorrow my plans include seeing how Sam is before I decide whether to follow through with my plans  and Sunday, I want to see what the day brings!


*  Youtube them lol


Find your Friday Fill-ins HERE