Snowfairy tales

Why does it have to be so slow?

2011-12-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

Made it back into cleavage of the Broads group to submit another short and sweet number.

Today's prompt - What are your biggest pet peeves from Em (but not me)

I am quite a tolerant woman and even when someone has let me down, I'm quite understanding when probably I should be ranting. But the thing that annoys me so much that I boil and shout out loud is bloomin' computer virus software and updates.

Imagine I only have 30 minutes to spare and I need to quickly use the computer to print off a map, or amend a document or write a blog post and what happens? The evil creeping virus software decides to scan or update something and slow everything down. I can't even shut it off because the whole computer universe has slowed down until it gets to the stage when I type a sentence and the words have a 30 second time delay because it's running so bloomin' slowly. Please note this is happening even as I write and my window of opportunity is short before my daughter gets bored with playing, calls me to read her bedtime story and another post will sit unfinished in the file.

The time I waste sitting waiting while the computer chug, chug, chugs away, it just makes me crazy. Then it has the audacity to tell me that it needs to restart my computer. Shut down my computer, take more valuable time away from me, does it not know how long it took me to get to this point and by the time I get back to where I was, my moment of time and inspiration will be gone!! Outrageous!

Ooh nice to get that out.

2011-12-02T13:24:00.001-08:00

"What is the stupidest thing you did this year? What about in your whole life? You can take stupid to mean: embarrassing, dangerous, funny, lame, whatever you consider "stupid."

I've gone with stupid meaning a little bit incompetent. I am an incompetent internet shopper.

This week we had our monthly food shopping delivery. I have my groceries delivered firstly because I hate walking around supermarkets it's just not a pleasant experience in overcrowded south east England and second because we live down a single track lane, where you can't park outside the front of the house and there are lots of steps up to our front door. So for a small fee I get a man to do all the heavy lifting.

Anyway, this week along with our standard food and cleaning products I accidentally ordered four jars of Nutella, two large jars and two small jars but only one single lonely apple.

To assure you that this is not a one off occurrence, there was the time I bought 10 large bags of onions.

Oh Pandy, if I had a time machine I'd rescue you.

2011-12-01T11:45:00.001-08:00

Reasons for not blogging for months are many and too dull to go on about. But I've been inspired by the Reverb Broads to give it another chance. I'm well aware that I may crash and burn after one day, so I'm keeping my posts short and my expectations realistic.

December 1: Reverb Broads Prompt: "If the you of today could go back in time and give advice to any of the previous yous, which age would you visit and what would you tell them?"

Honestly, there are many versions of me that I would go back and visit but who needs the visit more? A university Christmas party me that was about to learn why not wine before beer. Or a teenage me, who, confined to the sofa for years couldn't believe that they'd ever feel well enough to lead a normal life. Or the me who was so shy that to even speak in a group took huge effort.

I have the power to potentially change my life and what would I do? I'd save my panda of course.

I'd visit 7 year old me and prevent something that at the time was devastating.

I'd say: Emily Victoria Beauchamp on the night of your 8th birthday your younger brother Jim will misunderstand the comment that Mum made about you being too old for a toy panda. He, with good intentions, will take Pandy your best friend and companion since birth and throw him in the dustbin outside.

Don't give up looking for Pandy that night. Don't just go to bed thinking you will look again in the morning. Don't think Jim is only joking when he said he'd put Pandy in the bin, because the dustbin men are coming the next morning to empty the bin.

Pandy would be saved and all is right with the world.

7days - Whizzing through days 2 to 6

2011-03-24T13:34:00.000-07:00

Day 2 - I reached a point on Sunday when I just had to lie down, then Tilda came home from her party all excited but also needed five minutes to calm down. So we attempted to get her to be still for a moment by having a who could pull the best funny face game.

Day 3 -

I felt terrible all morning, so bad that after taking Tilda to school I just blobbed in front of the television watching rubbish. I just couldn't move. But after lunch and a creme egg I felt much better but still not a face shot day. So the photo ended up with us walking home up the hill from school.

Day 4 - I volunteer at an under 5s toddler group and the sign in the kitchen just makes me smile, but then I am easily amused.

Day 5 - I wouldn't normally dress like this to do gardening, but I only wanted to spend an hour in the garden and I was too lazy to get changed only to have to get changed back to go to school and then onto ballet class.

Day 6 - My first book this year. Due to my inability to stay awake, I haven't read a book or even a chapter of a book since the end of November.

This week, not only am I able to stay awake but I discovered Rebecca and I've not been able to put it down, I've just got to find out what happens next and why. I can't believe I've not read it earlier.

So I sneaked in a quick chapter before I had to head off to school to pick up Tilda.

Day 1 - Toys R Us

2011-03-19T14:51:00.000-07:00

The start of a new week of 7days, last time I gave up after two photos, due to a pregnancy scare that changed my focus on the world and my ability to move around.

Today was a beautiful blue sky day. We drove up to Luton to meet my new and exceedingly cute nephew, (fresh out of the oven on Monday).

On the way home we stopped at the Luton branch of Toys R Us to use a voucher that we were given two years ago, the store near us is too much of a mission to get to.

So this is me reflected in the security office window, holding our purchases, a Strawberry Shortcake fashion boutique and a dinosaur egg for a party tomorrow.

A slow starter

2011-01-17T12:56:00.000-08:00

You would have thought that for someone who has not gone anywhere in the past month other than my parent's house, the doctors and a funeral that I would have had plenty of time to make, create and blog.

But nothing is flowing, I haven't drawn, created, I haven't even taken a single photograph this year and the weird thing is that I don't mind.

Anyway, I'm a bit slow with the annual review, but that's just me at the moment. I've wanted to put a mosaic up of 2010 as I'd made one for 2009

For all it's bright happy pictures 2010 was really hard work. Around April I couldn't believe how many horrible things were happening to us, so I wrote a list of all the bad things and then to see how life balanced out I wrote down all the good things. I kept the list going for the rest of the year (it was a long list) but I have to admit that I did fiddle it so that life always ended up with a positive glow.

I have no vision of 2011, no specific aims, no goals I'd just really like to make lots more bright, happy, sunshine filled memories. I suppose I'd better start by taking some pictures.

7days dropout

2010-12-21T09:12:00.000-08:00

Things aren't quite right with me at the moment and as a result I haven't got the heart to take a self portrait. I just don't feel like focussing on me but I'm still feeling positive with the world.

7dayers are such a fun and friendly group and although I can't take photos I will still participate by commenting.

Day 2 - Bright new street lights

2010-12-19T14:16:00.000-08:00

Another cold and snowy day, another Christmas event postponed, this time afternoon tea in Covent Garden, with my old work friends. I didn't want to take the chance with the trains to London, I probably would have made it there, it's getting home that is always a worry.

But the snow doesn't stop us getting around locally, we just piled on our snowboarding clothes and marched across the town for roast dinner.

For those interested in street lights. All of Surrey is getting all new, environmentally friendly street lights, replacing the orange glow with energy efficient white light.

Day 1 - Mulled wine over snow

2010-12-18T14:02:00.000-08:00

Winter 7days has arrived, cosy, festive fun.

The plan for today was to go the Christmas celebration with the inlaws, starting with a visit to Father Christmas, then a full on turkey dinner and homemade Christmas pudding and presents.

But our plans were changed by a huge dump of snow and we couldn't go anywhere in the car. Tilda was very disappointed, she'd even set out her party clothes for the day.

So we decided to make the best of the day. We sledged, played in the snow, Dan built an igloo and drank warm mulled wine.

Not the day we expected but still a fantastic day.

Secret

2010-12-13T05:12:00.000-08:00

Don't tell anyone, my Dad is Father Christmas.

Actually, he was the star guest at the Under 5's Christmas party and he did a spectacular job, out of the 90 kids there, only a couple got scared.

Snow report

2010-12-02T06:12:00.000-08:00

We had to sleepover at my parent's house on Tuesday night, due to the amount of snow that had fallen, my car was stuck, the roads were sheets of ice and the surrounding area was gridlocked. I decided I wasn't going to spend two hours in the car on a 10 minute journey, just to get to a cold house, with no Dan, who was busy taking four hours plus to get home from London.

Wednesday, I came up with a plan. I would walk home, pick up the sledge, walk back to my parents and then pull Tilda all the way home, so that she could get to school for the following day.

So 50 minutes to get home (I popped into a shop to get some bread, milk and chocolate on the way), 30 minutes back to my parents (I took the shortcut through the woods) and then another 40 minutes home this time pulling Tilda.

Using photography as an excuse to rest

Taking the shortcut

At the start of the journey home

May I say, I took full advantage of the fact that I'd burnt off so many calories and scoffed as much ice cream, chocolate and crisps and I felt my body needed!!

An afternoon in London

2010-11-22T09:06:00.000-08:00

We're only 40 minutes away from London but we hardly ever go there as a family. We took advantage our free Saturday afternoon, wrapped up warm and headed off to see the sights.

We started at London Bridge to see where Dan works, wandered around Borough Market and worked our way along the river to the Tate Modern to see the Sunflower Seeds.

Stopped at a Christmas market for some mulled wine and a carousel ride.

Then struggled along Regent Street and Carnaby Street admiring the Christmas lights.

We also managed to take a family photo.

Highlight of the visit was Tilda's amazement when she saw Big Ben for the first time. Next time we're going to find some dinosaurs.

Hairy car roof

2010-11-17T14:06:00.000-08:00

Tuesday morning I noticed the beauty of frost. Before I started work on scraping the car windows I just had to pause, admire and capture the cute hairy coat on top of the roof.

Beach time

2010-10-14T04:40:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was our only free weekend till mid November, so we needed to fill it with a visit to my Mother in law's in Somerset.

We took a trip to the beach on Saturday, for a blustery picnic, exploring in rock pools and ice cream in hot sunshine. The photos make it look colder than it was.

I decided that the orange boat that lives on the beach could make a nice photo. Something that would work well either with the orange accessories in our lounge or join the holiday hall wall (we have a photo wall of holiday photos in the hall).

I took some pictures of the boat and then I got Dan involved too, as he often takes better photos of static objects. I really like what we both captured so now I need to get them all printed and see how they work in a frame.

Dark tangled forest

2010-10-12T14:22:00.000-07:00

I feel like the past year, perhaps longer, has been a dark tangled forest. Things have been difficult and bad things just seem to pile up rather than disperse, no escape, no clear future path. When I reached a point where I was weighed down and almost couldn't hold a conversation without feeling the need to cry. Suddenly the darkness lifted, it feels like we're finally making our way through.

Of course things aren't easy and I'm sure there will be a kick in the teeth just lurking around the corner. But the positive things have lifted my spirits enough to keep me going.

Day 2 - Old necklace

2010-09-20T03:00:00.001-07:00

Day 2 - Old necklace, originally uploaded by Snowfairy.

A quick shot taken before we rushed out the house to go to my niece's Build a Bear party.

At the time I was insecure, nervous and panicked about the day ahead, not the bit about going to party but other elements of the day. So I didn't really put much thought into my photo and Dan's review of the photo was that "it isn't as quirky as usual, you must be getting old"!

The old element of the photo, the necklace belonged to my Nan, which makes it old ish, it's plastic and it's from the 80's but I think it's still wearable.

Day 1 - Not a Super Hooper

2010-09-18T14:28:00.001-07:00

Day 1 - Not a Super Hooper, originally uploaded by Snowfairy.

This week I suddenly thought, does the way I dress impact on how people approach me? Or more importantly, are people intimidated by those who dress in a more unusual style?

I don't dress overly wacky, I wouldn't wear a carpet and call it a dress. I'm not a fashionista, I just like wearing colours and keeping warm.

But this week, I got this feeling that I didn't want the parents and teachers at Tilda's new school to judge how I dress and therefore use this to judge Tilda. I know they will to some extent, it is the nature of first impressions, but nevertheless I tried to dress averagely.

By Friday I realised I was being ridiculous and just went back to being comfortable as me. Anyway, it all leads to this photo, I like dressing like this and also I can't hula hoop anymore.

First day of school

2010-09-14T03:59:00.001-07:00

First day of school, originally uploaded by Snowfairy.

The big day has arrived at last. She spent the morning saying "I don't want to go to big school, I have things to do at home."

We walked to school, I went in too, she was clinging on tight to my leg, but after ten minutes I had to be strong and leave. I couldn't look back, Dan did it for me and he said she looked fine. We'll find out when I pick her up after lunch.

Whether the weather

2010-09-10T15:54:00.000-07:00

A changeable showery day. The weather was gorgeous when we arrived at the park, ten minutes later there was a heavy shower and everybody else went home. So there was just us left hiding under a climbing frame, in our rain coats knowing it wasn't going to last long.

As soon the last family left the playground, the rain stopped and we had the whole place to ourselves, shortly followed by glorious sunshine.

We wandered through the woods until we found a cafe and sat in the September sunshine eating our ice creams in a peaceful walled garden. There is something quite magical about woodlands and gardens when you're the only people there. A magical afternoon in our own personal park.

One more week

2010-09-07T02:45:00.001-07:00

Pirate fairy in the rain, originally uploaded by Snowfairy.

One more week before BIG school starts.
One more week of lazy mornings.
One more week of wearing pink all day.
It's the next step in a big adventure and we can't wait!!

Hanging out in Florida

2010-08-31T15:07:00.000-07:00

Our summer holiday was wonderful. The D&C was a setback but I didn't want to wallow and waste precious vacation time, although things have caught up with me emotionally since being home, but that's for another time.

Anyway, back to holidays. There were ten of my family, all in a villa; parents, brothers, sister inlaw, niece, nephew and us. Then we had some day visitors, close family friends and my Dad's old school friend, who came down from Virginia with her family.

We swam, barbecued, shopped, had two birthday celebrations, theme parked and laughed our way through the two weeks. Lots of memories, plenty of photos.

A test of strength

2010-08-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

I was so happy, after 2 years of waiting we had 18 days of hopes for a new future. Which in 24 hours and a trip to the ER were wrenched away.
As we're on holiday I'm surrounded and supported by my family and my beautiful girl fills my world with smiles.
I feel strong enough to recognise what happened, realise how lucky I am and enjoy what I have.
I will also crumble but Dan will provide the cuddles.

The ladybird kite and a blustery afternoon

2010-08-06T14:40:00.000-07:00

It was a cool and blustery afternoon, a perfect opportunity to test out Tilda's new ladybird kite in the park (an early birthday present from her Aunties).

A fantastic flying day, Tilda nearly exploded with excitement.

Creative blog

2010-08-02T14:51:00.000-07:00

My creativity has been exploding and I've been making, creating, designing so much that I decided to put together a new creative blog.

Somewhere to store details of the things I've made and somewhere to direct people to when they are trawling my illustrations on Flickr, rather than point to my pages of family based waffle.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, I'm not sure whether I'll keep it going, but it's worth trying.

It doesn't look too creative at the moment (need to find time to sort out a banner etc) but it's a start.

4th birthday planning

2010-07-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

I have started thinking about Tilda's 4th birthday party at the end of next month. Only really because I needed to get the invites out before she finished preschool for the summer and forever!

She keeps changing her mind about a theme, not that it has to have a theme, but fairies seem to be the most consistent. Which is lucky, because I can draw fairies. I just felt sharing, so the invite is available here to print and use, if you want.

My next step is creating lists for the party, lists for food (kids and adults), for party bags and for decorations... Ah, my list making happiness.