R.I.P the lovely Mark

A year ago today we lost a fantastic friend.



Words cannot express how generous he was. For several years he kept me supplied in elephants of all types:- ornaments, tee shirts and my absolute favourite item- a decorated blown ostrich egg that he carried on his lap all the way back from Zimbabwe.








Mark's favourite was the warthog.




Shawn the Panda held so many secrets, Mark would sit in him for ages after aerobics telling me all his worries and concerns but where we also had so many laughs... he loved to casually mention the celebrities he had brushed shoulders with... Michael Owen, Nicolas Anelka, the cast of "Heroes" - he became a very close friend. (Until he fell in love. I heard all about that too.)

I think about him so much. I don't think he realised how much we all adored him. Top bloke. I will never ever forget him. R.I.P.Mark.

(Diddy) and The Official Baked Potato Party 2011

I'm glad I don't know too many Man City supporters

(haha Diddy)

cos this mug took me AGES to paint!



So it was a welcome break from painting when, today, I got into the Christmas spirit with our Annual Baked Potato Party. The Arena potatoes are fab, they are baked in the upstairs oven. I couldn't believe it though when over 40 ladies turned up... I didn't make enough crackers!!!!!

It was a great party - most of the ladies kept their festive antlers and baubles on after sploshing around the pool in them, we played Heads and Tails, and we had a communal "scratch"-the crackers all had lottery scratch cards inside. (NINE winners whoop whoop!)












Me and my Janets!!



OMG DOT!

Dot had a great time, she won the Heads and Tails and then won a fiver on her scratch card! She is now 81 - I want to be like Dot when I am 81 - and still does Aqua every week. I don't think she had ever scratched a scratch card before though!!!

R.I.P. Gary Speed

The private funeral of Gary Speed took place in Hawarden today and I believe his wife Louise requested this song by Stereophonics singer Kelly Jones to be sung during the service.

I'll miss seeing him around Chester and I particularly liked his TV interviews because he always seemed so "normal" like your mate down the pub. It is just so sad and I really feel for his lovely family.

R.I.P. Gary you will never be forgotten.

Sam, Bears, Christmas, Mugs, Stockings...

Sammie is a teenager!!!!!






So she had a brand new Sky Blue collar. Husb felt there was a slight bias to this colour choice but it really suits her and hey PUSB PUSB we need to KEEP THE FAITH guys (until it is mathematically impossible...)(hmmmmm)



Meanwhile my twinnies have been bear spotting! Look at these magnificent creatures... the first being very dramatic in the Natural History Museum, London



and this one shimmying up a tree in Vietnam. Classic!



Back home and AT LAST Husb and I have had a mozey round some shops in an attempt to be inspired with Christmas present ideas. The trees at the Choaks never cease to amaze me...



..is this the tallest tree in the country? There can't be many/any higher than this, it towers above everything.




We deserved a meal at the Red House with our taste card- all that mozeying was tiring. Mozeying has passed the spell checker-is that really how you spell it?



I've had an eventful month with one thing and another and all the TLC I gave Husb slightly scuppered my production line but I did manage to paint my "staff" a 30th birthday mug.




And have now baked my first batch of Christmas mugs









Naturally with the oven on it was only right and proper to make some of Lorraine's "twisties" and sausage rollers...they didn't last long.





I've painted some football mugs...... I'll be an expert in team badges at this rate. Phew only 2 red devils, my paintbrush had a few problems painting those.




The biggest challenge was Tranmere - a tricky little badge.




And as usual I've been in the attic sewing stockings...





So if anyone is wondering why my blog has been a little quiet of late, this is the reason why (!)

October half term 2011

Its the end of October already (can anyone believe it?) but the weather was nice enough for our half term week.

While Husb and Drake were in our capital city researching various glass artists and exhibits, I met Fiona at the Choaks woooooo!



It was also graduation week at Glyndwr Uni and my goodness, doesn't Kay's daughter Karen look fantastic in her cap and gown, it brought tears to Kay's eyes and so it should, she should be very proud of her.

WELL DONE KAREN on your 2.1 degree in Social Studies!



The Pixen drove home for a few days and naturally we went geocaching... firstly down by the canal and secondly down by the river and both times wearing her gorgeous new red coat which will be SOOOOO cosy for those snowy days up North.

The exciting part was finding a TRAVEL BUG in the geocache by the river OMG OMG!!! We now have to make sure we help it to fulfil its mission, I personally think Malaysia could be a good next stop!! (?)