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Thursday 30 June 2011

Another Good Week

I've just been on the scales at Weight Watchers and lost another 1.5lb

Total weight loss now 25.5lb :)

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‘Blogging for Scrapbookers’

I have taken the plunge and signed up for Shimelle’s ‘Blogging for Scrapbookers’ I am just waiting for the details to be sent to me… I will let you all know how I get on.

RAF Waddington Air Show

Well today is the start of the build-up for RAF Waddington Air Show. DH has taken all of the Kids to RAF Waddington to meet with a group of disabled children who are attending today.  He has taken his camera with him and I will add any photos later.

As for me I'm at work today, tomorrow is when things start for me.  For the last 13 years DH, myself and friends from Cambridge spend most of the weekend at Waddington.  We have a Charity Stand for the Raptor Foundation at the Air Show... for us (and the Birds) it is hard work.

This year things will be slightly different, our friends are not able to attend this year and the Charity is sending up other volunteers (who we don't know).  Unfortunately this unknown element has not helped my anxiety levels, although at the moment they are lower than I was expecting. 

I am getting the odd twinge but it is not too bad.  I am mainly getting what I call the ‘flutterbys’ (a tensing in my stomach) at this level I am able to cope with the anxiety and use diversion tactics.

Tomorrow (Friday) afternoon the team is due to arrive from Cambridge, we then will spend the afternoon getting set up and familiarising ourselves with the birds they bring up.  We try to get an early night, but this rarely happens!

On Saturday we arrive at Waddington for about 7am to get all of the birds out and the stand set up for the public, if we are able to leave site by 8pm we will be lucky.  All of the time in between is spent talking to public about the birds and the Charity.

By Sunday we are shattered and back at Waddington for about 7am.  From about 5pm we are able to start packing up, hopefully we will be off site by 8pm and heading home. 

As for Monday, DH has to go to work, but I will be at home recovering :)

I'm not sure if I will get chance to Blog during the weekend, if not I will try to catch up on Monday and add a few pictures.

If anyone reading this is due to attend the Air Show please come and find the stand and say 'Hello' we are going to be outside Hanger 2 - Just look for lots of Owls!

Wednesday 29 June 2011

Shower Time for Ufo

Last night when we went out to feed 'The Kids' Ufo our Little Owl had been sitting out in the rain and had a shower.  This picture is not brilliant as it was dark.. but you will have to believe me when I say that she was wet. 

'Less is More' Sketch

While looking around various Blogs I found the 'Less is More' blog, and decided to have a go... Here is my version of the sketch.


I used one of my Little Claire Design stamps, Paper Mania Flowers, ProMarkers, 3 Brads & a scrap of Pink paper.

I'm quite pleased with the look of this card and it is now sitting in my card box waiting to be used.

My Workdesk

Ok, if I have this right the idea is to take a picture of your work desk each Wednesday and add it to your blog.  Otherwise know as What's on your Work Desk Wednesday (WOYWW).

I do have a small table up in the 'computer room' which is my usual crafting space, however at the moment I seem to have moved down into the Conservatory and am using part of the table.

There are 2 things on the go a the moment... Adding to my 'toppers' that I use on cards, I have stamped a couple of pages of images and are in the process of adding colours using ProMarkers. My card making is very limited and basic, I do want to try out more things but never seem to have the time.



The second thing is a Double Page Layout sitting to one side waiting for me to work out what journalling I want to add - I am hoping to get a few minutes to think about this today (maybe...).


Well that is my Desk today, next Wednesday evening I will be at a Local Craft Store for a crop (1st & 3rd Wednesday every month) so my picture will be from there. 

Tuesday 28 June 2011

Living with Anxiety

I was first told that I was suffering from Anxiety back in 1994, back then I found that I was having major problems coping with life.  The strange thing was that while at work everything was fine and I felt good about myself and what I was doing.  The problem came outside of work, I had no 'Get Up & Go' in fact it had vanished!  I got home from work and went up to my bedroom, came out to have dinner with my parents, then went back to my room.

Eventually my Mum dragged by to see one of the GPs at our local Surgery, the result was that I was suffering from Anxiety.  There were 2 options available at the time: Tablets or a Anxiety Management Course at the local Hospital.  I knew that I did not want to go down the tablet route, so my GP referred me to the Hospital. 

Eventually I was offered a place on a course, each course lasted approx 8 Months with regular visits to the hospital.  There were about 12 people on each course and all of the meetings were based around the group, you could however arrange to see the individual staff if needed, but it was felt that members of the Group will also support each other.

Anxiety can mean many things to different people, as a group of 12 in the first session we had to list the symptoms we had been experiencing... we covered 3 pages of Flip Chart Paper, the amazing thing was that all of the symptoms were individual, none were duplicated.

My Anxiety was (and still is) anticipation based, my anxiety levels get higher closer to significant events - even events I am looking forward to.  As for my symptoms, compared to many they are mild - a tense feeling in my stomach, not being able to concentrate, my mind feels as if it is racing at a break-neck speed (but I can't slow it down).  When it gets really bad then I start feeling sick & don't want to eat (but knowing I have to).

During the course we were shown different ways of coping with Anxiety, some ways worked, others did not.  One thing that did work with me was putting 'pen to paper' (or fingers to the keyboard) and to write how I am feeling, to write down my fears and to try and put them into perspective - not always easy.  The plan is to use this Blog as somewhere to put my anxious thoughts - and possibly receive extra support in return.

Over the years I have met many people who also suffer and live with Anxiety.  Most of the time 'I Live with Anxiety' but sometimes it does take over and I then 'Suffer with Anxiety' until I get control back again.

I hope that I don't end up adding too many posts with the label of 'Anxiety', but this weekend is RAF Waddington Air Show & my anxiety levels are starting to creep up the scale! So there will be a few more posts this week.

Sunday 26 June 2011

Nature is Wonderful

Last night DH & I went out for a meal, on the way home we decided to go via a little country lane by the River Witham used to walk dogs.  Rather than walking any dogs we were looking for Barn Owls as a friend had said that while dog walking they had regularly seen the owls in the area.

We did see a Barn Owl in the area by the River, but the light was too bad (and it was too far away) to get any photos.  There are several spots around the county that we occasionally vist to see Owls, in Lincolnshire the Barn Owl is the one we see the most.

I did however have my little camera in my hand bag and took the following pictures of the River & Lincoln Cathedral.
River Witham looking towards Lincoln
River Witham with Lincoln Cathedral
River Witham looking towards Bardney
There are some times when I look around me and I realise how beautiful our country really is.  Maybe next time we visit this spot the local Barn Owls agree to being photographed.

On the way home we saw another Barn Owl out hunting as well as Rabbits, a Hare and several Bats.

Saturday 25 June 2011

Digital Scrapping

During the last couple of months I have been using a Digital Scrapbook program called Scrapbook MAX.  This is the first time I have attempted Digital Scrapping, up to know I have resisted.

After a day at work using computers I don't always want to use a computer when I get home... however after a holiday in Florida in November/December 2010 and thousands of photos I though that maybe it was time to try Digi Scrapping.

One of the Scrapping Magazines had a free copy of Scrapbook MAX, so I gave it a go, and found it very easy to use.

With so many photos to Scrap I think that it is going to take a while to complete, but here are 2 of my first attempts.

Forbidden Journey - a ride in Harry PotterWorld (Universal Studios)


Swimming with Manatee (featuring Overlays from Shimelle's June Digital Kit - UKScrappers)


Many Thanks

A big thank you to all who have looked at my Blog and left comments.

An extra big Thank You to all who have contacted me with help and offers to create a Header, Extra thanks to Jane who created a lovely Header using the photos of our Kids.

I hope to have some time this weekend to have a play around with the settings.  I think that I will enjoy this Blogging stuff :)

Friday 24 June 2011

My Kids

Late last night before drifting off to sleep I was thinking about what to include next on my Blog... Do I talk about my anxiety or the Kids. Well the Kids won!

So this morning I am going to introduce you to my 'Kids' - our kids have feathers and live outside in aviaries

The youngest is Delta, he is a European Eagle owl who is now 11 years old...
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Our middle child is Jumanji, an African Spotted Eagle Owl who is now 12 years old...


Our oldest child is Ufo (this stands for the Unidentifed Flying Owl) who is a British Little Owl and is now 15 years old...

DH & I have had all of the birds since they were young chicks and together we are a fundraising team for the Raptor Foundation in Cambridgeshire.

I guess over the life of this Blog you will get to hear & see more of our kids, this is just an introduction.

Thursday 23 June 2011

It's a good day!

I have just been on the Weight Watchers scales and I've lost 1.5 lbs.

Total weight loss is now 24lb.


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Picture of Me

DH took this photo the other evening on my phone - this is Me :)
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Big Hugs Card



After a visit to A&E and an overnight stay in hospital my Mum is on the mend again... A Get Well Soon card was not really suitable, so I created a 'Big Hugs' card.


I don't create cards very often and so I try to keep a few 'topper' type bits sitting around (just in case). This time I used 2 of my Little Claire Designs stamps and ProMarkers.

I have fallen in love with my Little Claire Designs stamps and now have several - most with the Owl theme.







Day 1 of my Blog

Well this is Day 1 of my Blog (Helen's World).

As today is Thursday i will be going to Weight Watchers this evening... so far I have lost 21 lb since 7 January 2011 :) Last week was bad and I added 1lb - I don't think this week will be much better, even though I have been good and kept with my points.