Hi, I'm back!

It has been absolutely ages since I last visited my blog. I have sat down on so many occassions to begin typing only to be interupted by other things that are going on. It now appears that my life is beginning to settle down a little (not a lot!) and I may have the time to visit a bit more often.

The house is now almost complete and I will add pictures over the next few weeks to show you. I absolutely love it here in Devon, although it was a bit scary with all the rain that we had recently. The sweet little stream that runs through the garden came very close to over flowing but luckily didn't do so.

To begin with I would like to share with you a card that I made recently. I can't remember who the rubber stamp is made by (if anyone can tell me I can add the details later)and coloured it using my trusty copic pens, the green and purle papers came from my 'scrap drawer' (which seems botomless!) and Prima purple flowers. The little glitter butterfly came from cheap plastic bracelet that a saw in a local sweet shop. I always decorate the inside of my cards to compliment the front making sure I leave enough space to add a personal message.

This card is now for sale through my on-line shop. (link is at the top on the right)

Take care
Lots of hugs
Hayley and Graham.

Happy New Year

Hi everyone

We have had a fantastic christmas and new year in our new house. It was so nice looking out of the windows onto the rolling hills full of sheep. I have finally got the hang of lighting the log fire (Graham's rubbish at it) so sitting here in the cottage snuggled on the sofa with a roaring fire and PussKat curled up on her rug is all very idealic.

We have done quite well with the decorating and unpacking so now all that is left to do is the kitchen and 2 bathrooms. We have chosen the kitchen that we like and had a quote for it and now we just have to win the lottery (several times over)

Graham took lots of photos of the cottage when we first moved in and we are now taking photos of the rooms as we complete them (a bit like a before and after thingy) I am particular proud of two of the rooms that are finished. They are both bedrooms and were probably the easiest rooms to do. We have entered them both into a competition run by Lloyds TSB. If you click on the link below you can see them. our bedroom is under my name (Hayley Thorpe) and the guest bedroom is under graham's name (Graham Noon). You can vote for your favourite room just by clicking on the 'Vote' link and we get a chance to win some money to buy more paint. Yipppeee!

http://www.lloydstsbmyfavouriteroom.co.uk/gallery

have a great new year

Lots of love

Hayley and Graham

Finally!!!!

Hi All,

Well we have finally moved into Blake Cottage. The moving day went so smoothly which was a relief after all of the hassle that we went through in selling London Road. The removal men arrived at 7.30 in the morning and had the van fully loaded by 11am. We had had several phone calls during the morning from the solicitors saying that although the contracts had been exchange on our part they had not been exchange on our sellers’ part. My response was to bury my head in the sand and carry on. We eventually got a call saying that everything had been finalised at 3.20pm which was a bit of a relief as we were already on the M5 heading towards Devon. PussKat was sedated for the journey although she did try to fight against it. I had her on the front seat of my car in her cage and she just stared at me the whole way. Bless her!

Our furniture arrived the following day and once again the removal firm were absolutely brilliant. They had trouble getting the van down the lane to the cottage but managed with only inches to spare. I was just relieved that no one else wanted to use the lane that morning.

It is so nice waking up to views of rolling hills and trees. PussKat is still not sure what to make of the sheep. She sits on the fence just mewing at them.

I have finally managed to get a job but it doesn’t begin until January so that gives me plenty of time to get the cottage sorted out. It is a maternity cover for a Year 6 class. (What was I thinking???) The school have said that I can do some supply teaching in the meantime but I am having problems having a CRB check. They want a copy of my birth certificate (still in one of the millions of boxes that are in the garage) and a bill with my new address on it (haven’t been here long enough to have a bill for anything). I am being really productive though, making loads of Christmas cards and presents.

Graham has been busy making work units and shelving for my study/craft room. It’s coming together nicely. I can’t wait until it is finished and I can finally get all of my crafty stuff unpacked. It’s a bit like Christmas at the moment opening the boxes and discovering thing that I had forgotten that I had because they had been packed up for so long.

Back to opening more boxes.

Hayley & Graham

Not a Good Day!!!

I have had a terrible day and as a result have an enormous headache. 1 day away from moving and our buyers have pulled out. Here I am surrounded by boxes, my DH already in Exeter settling into his new job, all of my teaching equipment packed and then at 4.45 I received the phone call to tell me that my buyers were pulling out and no longer wanted to proceed with the purchase of my house. I feel a bit numb and not quite sure what to do next. Do I unpack boxes and try to showcase the house again for any future viewers or do I leave everything as it is (like a packing warehouse) and just hope that people can see through the stack of boxes and bubble wrap. DH, who is always so practical seems to be at a loss as to what to do. He has suggested sleeping on it and then looking at the situation again in the morning butwith a massive headache I know that I wont be getting much sleep.

Lets hope tomorrow is a better day.

Take care
Hayley X

On the move!

Our offer for our ideal cottage in Devon has been accepted and I am now officially excited. I am so relieved that it is the summer break and I have got a few days to pack things up. It looks like we will have to move in temporary accomadation for a few weeks as it appears that the solicitors are having difficulty with co-ordinating everything but I don't mind really. I am just happy that things seem to be on the move. The only thing I am not looking forward to is packing up the craft room!!!!

Have a good evening

Hugs
Hayley

A sea of cardboard boxes

Good evening all

Great news. We have sold the house. Now comes the fun(ny) bit... Trying to pack the contents of the house into cardboard boxes. It's amazing that the contents of 1 cupboard uses 6 boxes and then where do you put the sea of cardboard boxes. PussKat enjoys the boxes but not the hustle and bustle. I just have to make sure that she is not inside when I seal them. We have been asked if we can be out by the end of August and so it's full steam ahead. It's lucky that I am on a summer break from school. I just hope everyone else can move as fast as I can.

back to the packing

Hugs
Hayley

Hello

Hi Everyone

I can't believe it's been so long since I last visited my blog. I admire those people who manage to post something every day (If only I was so disciplined!)

Now that I have finished work for the summer I am hoping to spend more time crafting but I am under strict instructions not to make a mess. The house is lovely and tidy as it is up for sale and when ever I use anything I have to make sure it goes back straight away.

PussKat is enjoying the number of cardboard boxes that I keep bringing home for packing. She thinks that they are hers and gets quite ratty when I start packing things into them. She can't understand why strangers are walking around her home or why I keep shutting her bowl and toys away in the cupboard. Hopefully things will settle down soon.

Have a good day

Hugs
Hayley