Photo A Day - Day 36

Today's theme was circles.


My first though was the xbox 360 logo, then maybe the PS3 controller as one of the buttons is depicted by a circle. Then I though maybe the sky box as that has a circle on the front and we've just got it all transferred to the new house.


But they weren't very inspiring. I then noticed my craft lamp and all its circles. It was a birthday present from my Mum for my 30th. It's the last birthday present that I will ever get from my mum which makes it all the more special.

Photo A Day - Day 35

Todays theme was the contents of your handbag.

So here is my current handbag (ok most of my handbags are Radley) and its content again a fair bit of Radley (I have a 'few' items).

• There is my beloved filofax without which I would be lost (now if only Radley....);
• My epi-pen (auto injector of adrenaline. In case of anaphylaxis); Emergency vet receipt;
• info in dog trainers and grooming parlour;
• Some make-up (occasionally I can be bothered);
• car keys;
• girlie bits;
• screwdriver;
• building society account book;
• keys;
• my lovely purse and mirror;
• mini nail cutters;
• plasters;
• table hook thing for bag; and 
• my watch (which being a witch I don't like to wear).
• My work ID and security pass should also be in my bag but I am guessing I left it in my lunch bag.

And yes my bag is a bit of a tardis - most Radley bags are they simply have loads of pockets to put 'things'


(damn I now have to put it all back....I maybe sometime)

Pet A&E

I spent last night at the emergency vets - or what I like to call pet A&E.


I came home from work yesterday afternoon and we went round the house making sure all the cats were in, Ceasar was upstairs in his corner curled up asleep, Luna and Ulysess were in but no Drusilla.


So operation hunt Lady Dru commenced eventually we heard her crys from next doors gate, she was affraid and couldn't work out how to get home. So I got to meet the neighbours and had to explain that my cat was stuck in their garden. They were lovely and let us in to get her. It took a few minutes but we got her back safe and sound. 

She had her dinner as we sorted out our dinner and the rest of the hoard.


We settled down to watch a movie I then decided to have an early night, as I was about to get into bed we realised that Ceasar had not come down for his dinner.


I went to him which is when I noticed a gash just under his eye and I was immediately alarmed. Well having just moved, getting the pets registered at a vets was my next job. So I had no idea about the out of hours service.


At first it looked like it was just the gash and therefore something that could wait for the morning. But he then got up and we could see he was stiff and limping. He wondered downstairs so I tried to tempt him with food. That was the second indication that something was really wrong - he didn't want to eat. The last straw was when he had a pee and I noticed blood.


So we are new to the area, have not registered with a vet, have no broadband, have no landline phone, have no yellow pages - how do we get the medical attension we need? Thank god for smart phones. googled local vets, rang number, got out of hours service - Vets Now.
I have to say a big thank you to the wonderful vets now service and the PDSA Animal Hospital that they use for the Pet A&E.


They were very calming on the phone and explained where they were (tomtom still tried to get me lost). I walked through their doors at about 10.30. First we went through triage and as he was stable we had to wait - there had been a number of emergencies, but they assured me should his condition change he would get seen immediately.


Now I also have to say a big thank you to the man (never found out his name) who had come in with a poorly rabbit named Bella. He chatted to me, we talked about our pets and it really helped to calm me.


It was distressing being there - some very poorly animals.


Anyway our time came. The vet was wonderful and clearly explained things. My fears were right he had been hit by a car but he was lucky and just appeared to be sore and bruised. They gave him a scan to make sure his insides were ok and made me a cup of tea while I waited.
Finally we were able to go and got home at about 2 in the morning. Once home he had something to eat. I checked on him after a while and he asked for food.


This morning we registered with a local vets and got him an appointment. We saw another lovely vet and he was carefully checked again. All ok and came home with painkillers.


We are having to keep an eye on him, and he has to go back Monday when he may need xrays. But all indications are good.

Photo A Day - Day 34

Todays theme was feathered friends.

I would have loved to have taken a picture of my chickens but there is one small problem.....they are still a dream.

But soon....I have the house, I have a garden, couldn't see anything to stop us in any of the paperwork we got during the sale, and the mythical local by-laws to stop you are apprently rare according to one of my chicken books.

But I will check with the council first - with fingers crossed (i really really want chickens I have even named them!).

So I struggled with this one, as we have just moved into the house we haven't had time to attract birds to the garden. I thought about a Robin heat pack that i've got but its packed in a box......somewhere.

So feathered friend just had to be Arthur...again

But this time you get to see all of him and he really is lovely :)

Photo A Day - day 33

Well I am back and looking forwards to continuing with the challenge.

Move is almost complete, still have a few more things to collect and there a still boxes that need unpacking and decorating that needs doing.

Todays photo challenge was favourite shoes.

Well I love shoes but they don't like me. Or rather I have awkward feet - high arches that are now dropping which mean my big toes are starting to fuse so very high heels are out.

These are my fave pair but they don't really get worn as they pinch my toes, I have put them in the pile of things to donate to charity a number of times but I always end up rescuing them again. They make me smile:

Photo a Day

Well I almost managed to do it - to take each photo everyday as planned and blog using phone when possible.


So where have I been? Well.... moving. Apart from a few things that have been left back in Essex (another trip tomorrow) we are all done and in Mouse Manor :)


But emptying boxes hasn't left me much time for photos so I have fallen a little behind - but I will pick back up from where I left off next challenge is favourite shoes (I will have to locate and open box).


Photos will be taken and blogged where possible using phone as we have a little wait until our broadband is up and running - we thought that we would be able to cope as we would at least have tv! But due to a slight technical error (i gave the sky home move team the wrong date) we haven't got that at the mo either.


What did we do before broadband and the internet?

Photo A Day - Day 32

Todays theme was 'what sums up home for you'


I thought about postponing todays entry until I have moved properly into my new house. But while I was thinking about its not the house that makes it home.


So home to me is:

My wonderful husband, my dog and the rest of the tribe that didn't make the shot - Queen Zara, Captain Kirk (Rabbits), Ceasar, Lady Dru, Luna and Ulysses (cats). 

Photo A Day - Day 31

Today's theme was inset and I was getting pretty worried about what I would get to photograph. Out of desperation I thought that it was going to have to be a fly as they seemed to be plaguing our holiday cottage.

Then fate took my hand and while out a dozy bee landed on me with a little bit of help to hold up my cardigan I got this shot:

Photo A Day - Day 30

Day 30 and the start of a new set of themes from Jan @cajamecreations

Today's theme was water.

A trip to the beach in the hopes of seeing seals and look what I found :)

Photo A Day - Day 29

I have been on holiday in Norfolk :) 

But while I was away I took my photo a day with the hopes that I might be able to find enough signal to blog using my phone. Alas it was not meant to be as Norfolk is a little bit of a dead spot for signal.

Day 29 was the last day of my chosen colour - red.

At the end of a very tiring day:

Ferdinand with very fetching red colour and harness

Photo A Day - Day 28

Another day of red


Today I have been packing for move, we have a van (and a very kind friend to drive it) and we have the fun of moving tomorrow. When I say 'we' I mean Mr Mouse as I am going on holiday with my dog (Ferd), but I will be helping to load the van in the morning.


What has all that got to do with todays photo? Well I haven't had time to look for something red and 'arty' and I have only just finally been able to sit down and stop for the day. I thought about postponing todays entry but then I noticed that my Filofax is red (I had it out to sort out dates for sky move) and so is Ferd bow tie (he likes to look smart) and as my camera was close to hand ready to grab tomorrow when we head off I knew that I wouldn't have to miss to today. 


So here it is 

Photo A Day - Day 27

Today I decided to do a little drawing with my colour I hope you like it

House sneak peek - the before...

Well as you know Mr Mouse and Me have our very first home (thinking of names at the moment 'Mouse Manor'!?).


We picked up the keys last Friday (which I have to confess was a little anticlimactic) and spent the weekend decorating - a tour will be coming soon. But I thought that I would do a little sneak peek a before....


These pictures are from the estate agents advert for the house and it seems such a long time ago that we stumbled across it on Rightmove and fell in love and never dared dream that it would be ours :)

Photos from Charles Newton and Co Estate Agents and Solicitors

'Stuff' not ours

The 'big' move has been set for this weekend (me and Ferd will be enjoying a holiday while Mr Mouse and very kind friend will do all the hard work of shifting all the boxes of books).

Getting excited now :)

Photo A Day - Day 26

More red.

I picked the colour because I was excited about my paint. The following day I started to worry about my chosen colour - would I find enough red for a whole week? Well I am amazed at just how much red there is in the world.

And doesn't this look very very yummy?

30 things about my invisible illness you may not know

1. The illnes I live with is: ME (Myalgic encephalomyelitis and PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: ME - 1998, PCOS - 2010
3. But I had symptoms since: ME, 1996 - PCOS 2004 
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: ME, planning and learning a new way of remembering things - PCOS, coming to terms with my fertility and some of the unfeminine side effects
5. Most people assume: ME, that its in the mind - PCOS, that you are infertile
6. The hardest part about mornings are: depends on the morning sometimes its simply getting up
7. My favourite medical TV show is: Embarrassing Bodies 
8. A gadget I couldn't live without is: smart phone 
9. The hardest part about nights are: when I cant sleep
10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please): well I dont take things each day but I have 10 items on my prescription repeats list
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: believe they help with managing symptoms but you have to be careful some are just a con
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: doesn't matter
13. Regarding working and career: I am able to work but I have had hiccups - I am lucky that I work for a great organisation that offers flexible working that has enabled me to have periods of part time working when needed and a great occupational health policy so I have been able to get physio advice and a special chair to make me as comfortable as possible
14. People would be surprised to know: ME, the energy it takes to keep words straight in my head and make them come out of my mouth in the right order.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: ME, when I was a teenager it was not being able to go out and do normal teenage stuff. Learning my limitations. PCOS, that I might not be able to have children (I have sub-fertility, I am one of the lucky ones one of my ovaries is perfectly normal).
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: enjoy life
17. The commercials about my illness: there are none
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: being able to just do something without having to think about the consequences 
19. It was really hard to have to give up: being a teenager
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: a renewed passion for needlecraft's
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: I wouldn't want to, this is who I am 
22. My illness has taught me: ME, to enjoy being still
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: ME, you're not ill again are you (well actually no, not again I've never got completely better). PCOS, so when are you going to start a family or it will happen (yes I haven't given up hope, as there is hope. But its hard. I have to be realistic for my own sanity. But sometimes children and pregnant women just upset me - I feel betrayed and let down by my own body)
24. But I love it when people: Dont make my health the 'issue'
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: keep going it has to get better...
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: rest and become your own expert dont wait for someone else to tell you what to do. There are so my books, blogs, help groups etc but remember that somethings you will have to take with a pinch of salt. Be open with your Doctor and if they are not helping see someone else. I love to hear when its gone well for someone - but I also dont shy away from the bad.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: I can do it
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: made me sit down and rest (and brough me tea and food)
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I saw this on another persons blog and thought that it was a great idea - a small insight into our world
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: happy that you are willing to gain a small insight into my life and will hopefully take something positive away with you.

Please see the link below for the post that I read and made me give it a go

http://worldhasteeth.blogspot.com/2011/09/30-things.html

Photo A Day - Day 25

Still on the theme of colour and my chosen colour of red


These are my oh so gorgeous Hush Puppies 

They are my lovely lovely lovely Victorian style ankle boots and I love them 

Photo A Day - Day 24

The second day of Red.

The photo doesn't really do it justice and it looks more pink, but in the flesh its more oxblood red.

This is my lovely Radley Grosvenor handbag that I had been lusting over for such a long time, when I found it in my local outlet store at an amazing price I just had to have it :)

New House + New Keys = Trip to Radley

Well OK not a main Radley store as the nearest one to me currently is in London, but near me there is an outlet village with Radley.

Of course Nottingham does have a Radley store *mouse grins in happiness and husband hides wallet*

Anyway so I figured that new house keys deserved a new keyring.

And here it is:

Photo A Day - Day 23

Ok so the theme is to pick a colour for the week. So for the next 7 days expect to see lots of red from me.
No one would ever say that Mr Mouse and I are affraid of colour - this is one of our paint tins - I won't tell you where it's going, you will see when I can take you on a tour of my new house.
Now, there is a story behind this paint. We brought it last year as it was only a pound a tin - yes just one whole pound (it had been discontinued). The colour was so us. We knew that eventually we would have something to paint. So we snapped up 2 cans (then went back for another 2 cans - well we wanted to make extra sure that we would have enough). And ever since its been sitting in my farther-in-laws shed.... along with a bargain light fitting....ummmm I wonder where I am going to put that?

Photo A Day - Day 22

Todays theme was yourself
I hate pictures of myself. I have self esteme issue from my farther bullying me as a child - he didn't do it intentionally, it was just the way that he was brought up so he knew no better.
The first real photos that we have of me as an adult were my wedding ones. There is the occasional time that I will let Mr Mouse near me with a camera and other times he catches me unawares - but that doesn't mean I wont delete them.
I tried a face shot but I have been decorating all day and I look awful so I decided not to inflict that on people.
I went for a shot of my eye - why? Well I actually really like them :)

Photo A Day - Day 21

Todays theme was weather
This 'sunny' picture was taken from my new back garden :)
I almost took a picture of the temperature reading in the car it said that it got up to 24 degrees - a big difference from the cold and wet for the last few days but too hot for the long drive to Nottingham.

Photo A Day - Day 20

Today's theme was a different perspective well here's mine

Its a picture across one of the garden ponds taken at ground level.

One More Sleep

Ok so as you have probably gathered by now Mr Mouse and Me are moving - Wooooo

Why one more sleep? Well tomorrow is completion day and we get the keys to our new house.

This will be our first married home and the first time that we will have lived alone since getting married so as you can imagine this is a big deal for us.

Circumstances have meant that we have had a rough few years so this is the start of a new chapter.

We were priced out of the southern property market and so we decided that we would take the plunge and move back to Nottinghamshire where we had been living up until 2010.

We are sad to be saying good bye to our native Essex, we will always be southerners in our hearts and will have plently of opportunities to visit 'home' as Mr Mouses parents and my Dad remain.

In the same the village - were we grew up.

The village where our Mums met and then we met (we were in nappies)

The primary school in the neigbouring village that we both went to....

Then Mr Mouses family then moved away - we still remained friends - but they came back to the village

So its a very special village (although I can't help but think some of its heart has gone over the last few years, the younger generation just dont seem to appreciate it... but thats another issue).

And yes Mr Mouse and Me may have got married in 2009 but we have known each other all out lives - so we're special too

Love you Mr Mouse x

LittlemouseLilly Makes Part Two

My main passion is sewing, but recently I have discovered that jewellery making is very soothing.


Here are my latest creations (a couple have been posted before, but I have taken better photos of them).


Please tell me what you think - and if there is one that you would like please let me know :)


Do you want to play:

Crown of Luck:

Penny Farthing:

Lucky in Love:

Tweet Tweet:

Lady Luck:

A little bit of luck:

Ring ring:

In all their collective glory :)

I love the little dice beads so each piece has at least one, I have also used crystal beads, pearls, charms and garnet chips that were up-cycled from a broken necklace.

Photo A Day - the next few weeks

Two more sleeps and we get the keys to our new house 


So I will be very busy over the next few weeks and will have intermittent internet access. 


I will still take each days photo (I have written the list into my trusty filofax), but there will be some days that I wont be able to upload them. I will upload as and when I find internet access.


And I using my trusty phone I will try and keep up to date with everyone else's.


I am really enjoying this challenge and look forwards to seeing every bodies interpretation to the themes. And most importantly I have made some lovely new friends.


:)

Photo A Day - Day 19

Looking down


Clinging on to summer

The temperature still has to drop a little bit more before I retire my fitflop for the year - I have been known to be sockless into October :)


(But I do have to admit to putting on socks in the evening as I suffer from mild raynauds syndrome).


And the bonus shot for the day because we were very excited about new toys* (even though post office stung us £17 some for VAT (which we were expecting) but most of it was for a handling fee - handling fee WTF we paid postage and packaging so why does a package from American attract a handling fee? - oh well rant over):

*Limited edition collectables - which we will devalue and take out of the box to play with :) 
Yes we're in our 30's but you're never to old for toys.....

I had to admit defeat today

This morning it took me an hour and a half to get up.


An hour to drive to work (as I left latter than normal I hit traffic).


And then about another hour and a half to admit defeat.


I am not Super Mouse

I rang the doctor and got an emergency appointment (one of those appointments where you have to tell the receptionist what's wrong so she can tell the doctor who then decides if you are sick enough to be seen).


I barely made it out of the office building before bursting into tears and cried the whole way home.

Trip to the doctors:
Sat in waiting room fighting back tears and then came my turn.


Burst back into tears before I had even got into the the doctors room.


Doctor: so what's wrong
Me: I been stupid and have been over doing it.....again. In Pain. Not as bad as it has been, nerves dont feel on fire (yet) but hurt all over. Have headache. Wake up and don't feel like I've had any sleep at all. My normal painkillers just aren't doing anything. We're moving so that's not helping and I had an infection a few weeks ago that. 
Doctor: so do you think you need time off work?
Me: No. Think I can cope if I can just get the pain under control
Doctor: You've had Tramadol in the past does that help
Me: Never taken it for ME before, had it for bad back and ages ago when I had wisdom teeth out. Had to take it with the co-codamol for it to have any effect.
Doctor: Well you can take it with your co-codamol, as the co-codamol normally works the Tramadol will just give it that bit extra
Me: Ok - I find that I do respond better to opiate based pain relief
Doctor: Give it a try, start off using both and you may then find that just the Tramadol will be enough. Come back and see me if it doesn't help
Me: Ok. Thank you


So 2 tablets of co-codamol* and 2 tablets of tramadol* latter I still ache but not as much and  headache has gone, think I might finally be able to manage a nap (once I have drunk my tea - think I have stayed awake long enough to rule out an allergic reaction).


*these are the type of painkillers they would give you after surgery and normally only one type - the packets warn that they are for severe pain


Now anyone who has taken any form of opiate painkiller before will be well acquainted with the opiate fairy, she sprinkles magic fairy dust and soothes away the pain. Well here is a picture of mine:

My biggest fear is that I will have a total relapse :(


I have had ME my whole adult life, you would have thought that I would have learnt by now....


....but then everyone slips up once in a while and its how you deal with it that counts so maybe I am super mouse after all!

Photo A Day - Day 18

Todays theme was Looking up


I was going to look up into the branches of a tree but well its a bit grim outside today and I didn't fancy getting wet.


Now as I was trying to work out what to do I spotted Ferd lolling on the sofa with his head hanging off the edge (its a pose that he likes - generally the term 'spaniel' pretty much explains the mental things that he does). 

Doodle Monster

LittlemouseLilly Makes Part One

Quilts

Winnie the Pooh:

One for the Girls:

Cushions


Buttons of Love:

Home Sweet Home:

Animal Bubbles:

Cat Cuddle Cushions

Blue Cat:

Butterfly Cat:

Love Cat:

Grey cat:

Brown Tailed Love Cat:

Pale Blue Cat: