Phew, that took some typing...

OK, here it is at last. You,ll need a cup of tea, couple of choccie biccies and a comfy chair, cos its a long one.....just for a change...!!!!!

So there I was last Friday feeling sorry for myself, when I thought , bugger this for a game of soldiers, I need a break. Two hours later it was sorted, so 8.30am Mon morning found me on a plane back to the lovely Sharm el Sheik. This was the 7th time in Egypt, but this time was a little different as I went all on my own. Yes you heard me I went all on my own, lol. I have said before how anti social I am on holiday, as I just need to unwind and do my own thing. Mark knew me like the back of his hand and just left me to it, bless him. But when I,ve been with others I have always felt awkward and not really enjoyed myself. The fella I went with last year was so bad that I rang Mark and asked him to come and get me before I pushed him off the hotel roof. Now before you all think its just me being an arse, I feel I need to point out that this was a long standing friend, as in FRIEND and nothing else, or so I thought. Unfortunately when we arrived I found he had only gone and booked the honeymoon suite and spent most of the week trying to convince me he was the one for me. I can laugh now but it wasn't funny at the time. So I thought the easiest thing to do was go on my own.

And what an ace time I had. I had booked a hotel that I had already been to, because I felt happier knowing my way around. The first day was a little strange and I felt quite sad at times and wondered if I had done the right thing. But I soon realised I was enjoying myself so much, pleasing no-one but myself. I could get up when I liked, eat when I liked, do what I liked. It was heaven. With my IPod permanently in and a flashing sign above my head that said, bugger off and don't talk to me, I was in my element. I would recommend it to anyone, seriously. You just need to be a little double jointed to get the sun cream up your back, but apart from that you are laughing.

Here's my daily routine. First of all nice cup of tea ( of course ) at 6.30 am and shower.

Here's the view from my balcony. How cool is that...??

Now I hate sitting around a pool, I have to be on a beach, its the law. This hotel has lots of little beaches and this one was my fave. How far away are those beds..?? Love it. I am always on the beach by 7am, and usually all on my own, amazingly. I just feel if the sun's out, then Dy's out...

Here's the view in front of me, oh yes one of my fave places the massage tent. As well as my usual massages, I treated myself to a full Egyptian, which is sauna, jacuzzi, coconut and coffee scrub and finally an hour long massage. Ooh I had to crawl back to my room after that one..

And here's the view the other way. How gorgeous..???

I spent my mornings Art Journaling, much to the amusement of everyone. Oh yes Art Journaling on the beach. I was in my element.

I didn't take much in the way of supplies, just my absolute essentials.

10 Adirondack dabbers

8 watercolour pencils

paint brushes

4 Distress pads

1 black Archival pad

small selection of Tim's stamps

old book pages

black pen

white pen

new Moleskin journal ( surprise treat at the airport )

Magazine images

Lisas altered art images

and crappy babywipes

Ooh wouldn't Ranger be proud of me..??? Hope He who must be obeyed is impressed with the way the products stood up to the 40 degrees of temperature everyday..

Here's a journal page in progress.

I used to wander up for breakfast about 9.30 am. always omelette and sausage, lol.

Then it was back to the sun lounger, and of course my trusty IPod.

Feet up and a quick read. I always read really fast and got through 9 novels this time. My fave was given to me by Bezzie Su. Well she lent me it really but she ain't getting it back lmao.

Its called The Shack , and is by WM Paul Young. The story is based around the abduction of mack,s youngest daughter Missy. Evidence that she may have been murdered is found in a deserted old shack in the middle of now where. After four years of terrible grieving and self blaming Mack receives a note, supposedly from God, inviting him back to the shack for a weekend. Against his better judgement he makes the journey, and the weekend completely changes his thoughts, his outlook and , indeed, his whole life.

To quote from the book cover

" In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant, The Shack wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him"

I loved this book and kept rereading parts again and again. Hence shes not getting it back, ha ha. I have a strong faith anyway, but it can falter at times especially with the horrendous year I have just had, and this book just strengthens it even more.

You know me and quotes, well here's my favourite two from the book.

" You can kiss your family and friends goodbye and put miles between you, but at the same time you Carry them with you, in your heart, your mind and your stomach, because you do not just live in a world, but a world lives in you." Frederick Buechner, Telling the Truth

"Growth means change and change involves risk,

Stepping from the known to the unknown."

I have journalled both of the above and will show you in the next few days.

So then it was back to more journaling as you can see

This is the life...!!!

The locals were all fascinated by the" crazy" , smiley English lady who painted all day, lmao. Everyday they would come and look in my journal and practise reading their English. They were all so sweet. Quite a few asked me to do a page for them, and so That's how I spent most evenings, on commissions, lol.

Unfortunately I didn't photo them all, but here's the ones I did.

This was for Abraham, who was in charge of the boathouse. He got my phone working properly and supplied me with drinks and time checks. I decided I would make him into a little guru sitting atop a magic mushroom. He loved it and much to my embarrassment he fixed it into his brochure and showed everyone on the beach...!!!

This next one was for Salvatore , who became a good friend and insisted on making me Egyptian tea twice a day and regaling me with his stories. The first time he made me tea he neglected to tell me that it was made with leaves. I drank it round down and ended up coughing, spluttering and spitting leaves all around his shop, lol. So I made him into a suited business man, with a Liptons hat and holding an English tea bag. I also stuck some quotes on tags for him.

This is him in the flesh in his perfume shop. It was full of the most amazing oils and the most beautiful glass perfume bottles. Salvatore and Ali were absolutely fabulous, so friendly and welcoming to everyone. At night all nationalities would d gather in there and drink tea. It was like the local meeting place .

The last picture here was done for Salvatores cousin Ali, who was so funny, always laughing and singing and doing a little dance. He wanted me to make him look really macho for the girls, so I did the opposite, for a laugh.

I found this image in a magazine and cut it out.

I painted a background, stuck the image on and added Ali's head.

I them drew some clothes onto a piece of paper.

and painted them in.

I cut them out and added them to the collage.

Doesn't look very macho does he, ha ha

But at least I gave him big builders boots..!!!!


Believe it or not, he really loved it, and both pictures are on display, pride of place in their shop.
Here he is when he finally stopped laughing.

So my whole week was spent, reading, Art Journaling, massaging, drinking tea, and socialising. Absolute heaven. Cant wait for the next time. And if that's whetted your appetite so that next time I go, you want to come with me, well the answers NO...!!!!!! lmao

So I will show you pages from my journal over the coming weeks, but here's two with a Queen theme.

And heres one from the lovely Michelle, aka Ink fairy. This is her first attempt at anything like this and I think she has done a cracking job.

I am keeping the challenge open until next Tuesday evening, for all you late stragglers out there. So thats one more week to send me any images and then they will be judged and prizes dished out... yayy...!!!

Heres a sneak ay my Moleskin Journal.

So, if you are all still awake, that's it for tonight...! Yes I am finally done, in more ways than one..!!!

Enjoy xx

Oops..!!

Ha ha , sorry about not blogging, but slept all day and night. I am sooooooo far behind now, lol. How can I be so knackered when I havent done anything..?????
Will update soon as, but got classes right through till 9pm, so dont expect it too early now will ya..??? xx

she returns...

Yayy I,m back....!!!!

Not so yayy..I,m knackered...!!!!

Ha ha well it is 2.45 am..Will tell you all about it tomorra..

See you then xx

The things you do for love..!!!

Well its the night before my holiday, I have tons and tons of things to do, so what do I end up doing...?? Painting in Bezzie Su's lounge. Yes you heard me correct. I was invited round for our customary pratting around, drinking tea and putting the world to rights. She mentioned that the her family where celebrating Christmas Day tomorrow.??????? Quite normal for her. They are going to buy pressies for each other and have a fun Christmas Day. I made the mistake of asking if she was putting a tree up. Jokingly I said I would paint her some of my Blonde Moment trees on the walls. Well before I knew it, there I was paintbrush in hand. So here we go step by step to transforming your living room into a grotto. Please excuse the rough state of me, remember I only popped in for a cuppa and some rhubarb crumble.

Oh yes I still use my trusty Adirondack paint dabbers, even on walls.

Filling in the design.

Maybe I should have worn my heels..!!

There are four trees, one for each of them but of course I had to have five stars, lol.

Cheeky monkey Georgia...

The outlining gives the finishing touch.

Love to add the little details, see I even need to doodle on walls.

There you go ....the finished article...

I think shes pleased, don't you..??

Do we look like little elves..??

That's me about done. I just love it though..

So here I am, its 2.25am and I am blogging whilst watching back to back Project Runway and eating After Eights. I haven't prepared or packed a thing yet, still..!!! Hilarious.. I am having to work really hard at not allowing myself to start painting trees on my own wall. Maybe when I get back, yayy.

Enjoy xx

Yayy thats it over for a week...!!

Fridays class was the melt art workshop and we had a packed class. Here's Sharon, Carol and Barbara.

Sara, and Sue

Sue, Kay and Lynn

and Kirsty, Diane and Sarah.

The class was fab even though Diane tried to Ultra Thick one of her boobs..!!!Yes really, haven't a frikkin clue what she was doing lol.

Friday is one of the days that Maisie stays and yesterday the girlies came for tea as well. I know Jay, our resident bit of glamour, likes to be cutting edge but I think this look is a bit too way out even for me..!!!

I think Maisie thought the same as she didn't want to focus when she took this photo..!!!

And look at this...Yes its Maisies first proper bike.. She had our Tom running up and down the street like a man demented . She is soooo fast and doesn't half get the streamers blowing in the wake.

Then me and Maisie had a girlie night. We went holiday shopping in Matalan where she acquired a dress ring, golden bangles, a dolphin watering can (yes really) and 3 footballs. Oh yes she knows how to work Mama..!! We met Bezzie Su in Sainsburys where she was returning a piece of wood that her daughter nearly swallowed in a can of kidney beans.!?! We then went home for some sticking and gluing and a long warm soak in the bath. Then it was back in the car to pick her Dad up from his night out, who then decided that he needed to go to Asda. Oh yes, it had to be that minute, no other time would do. Maisie was mortified that she was going to be seen out in her pyjamas, but was bribed with the promise of a new magazine. So that was that, 10.15 me and Maisie crashed out. Thats the life in a Friday night these days.!!

Today's class was the canvas created with Claudines paints. Always one of my favourite workshops... This is the main reason why I love it...

And here's the finished canvas's.

Michelle, Jan and Issy.

Kate, Tara and Lorraine.

Aren't the canvas's fantastic..??? I love the fact that they all turn out so different.

Here's some more queens for the challenge.

The first is from Chris, 2 more pages in her queen journal, in homage to my little excursion.

And here's Kate's. Proving she can do something in less than 3 weeks, lol. Hop over to her blog to see close ups pf her fabby work. HERE

And this little beauty from Dawn, the cheeky bugger.!!

Ha ha that is soooo hilarious.....

Ok so now onto my news. I went into the travel agents yesterday and booked a holiday. Yes just like that. And I am going - wait for it - to Egypt, lol, just for a change. I love it there, it is,

a. red hot

b. 5 star

c. all inclusive

d. red hot

e. not many kids

f. red hot...!!!

I have decided to go on my own, I really need to rest and recharge my batteries. The plan is to read and sleep all day, and to art journal and paint all evening. My Ipod will be permanently stuck in my ears so that I don't have to make any polite conversation with anyone, ha ha . I am the most unsociable person on holiday. I don't want to talk to anyone at all, how bad is that..?? lmao. So at the moment my suitcase consists of 10 novels, paints, pastels, journals, book pages, gel medium, lisas altered art images, sun screen, and after sun,. Which doesn't leave a lot of room for much else. Maybe 7 bikinis, 2 kaftans, flip flops and 3 overdresses. That,ll do it..!!!

Right I am off round to bezzie Sus for a cuppa and some rhubarb crumble. Whey hey..!!! See you later..I,m around tomorrow and then that's it. So get your queens in and we,ll judge when I get home.

Enjoy xx