A sunny but wet day out in Wales

A couple of weeks ago 'P' finally managed to book his White Water Rafting experience at Canolfan Tryweryn that I bought him for his 40th birthday last year.  As luck would have it, his choice of weekend was superb as the weather was far better than most we'd seen so far this year.  The location of Canolfan Tryweryn couldn't have been more perfect.  Situated in Bala, North Wales the surrounding countryside was just lovely, made even better by the fact it was warm and the sun was shining.



After a talk on rafting instructions and safety, 'P' was then bussed up to the start point to begin his rafting session.  The children and I sat at the centre, where there were picnic benches and cafe facilities, awaiting 'P's first run down the river.  A few of the participants in 'P's raft had missed their slot which meant that rather than having a full raft, there were just two others and the instructor.  This unfortunately meant that some of the tricks that are carried out on the river weren't successful as the raft simply wasn't heavy enough.  This didn't stop 'P' having a fabulous time though.  He had 4 runs down the river in total which I thought was extremely good value for money.





The children and I walked Arnold along the trail that follows the river.  This allowed us to take up different vantage points for snapping pictures as 'P' whizzed past!  By the time he was finished he was completely knackered, but he did say he'd love to go back at some point and give the kayaking a try.





I'd really recommend Canolfan Tryweryn to anyway who'd love to give rafting a go.  The venue was smashing and all the staff extremely pleasant and helpful.  We've already said we'll go back and have even talked about the prospect of group rafting.  I have to say though, it's one occasion when I'm more than happy to 'walk the dog'.  Water and I don't mix and the thought of being drenched from head to toe does not appeal in the slightest.

Happy 1st Birthday to me!

Well yesterday, Tales from a Mother, Musician and Multi-tasker was exactly one year old, goodness me, where did the year go?

I initially started blogging very occasionally on Windows Live Spaces but when this was taken over by Wordpress.com I got the bug for blogging and haven't looked back since.

I look at my blog like a diary.  I love to look back across my own posts to reminisce or to see what was happening this time last year.  It's a bonus that other people like to read my posts too and I'm always happy to receive comments.

When I started Tales from a MMM last year my posts were centred around the difficult time our family was going through due to 2 family deaths.  Although, I've included below the link to a post on blogged on 6th Oct which was an update on our lovely pup Arnold.  It's hard to believe now how much he's grown and changed.  We still love him to bits though (he's actually lying in his bed making funny snoring sounds as I type lol).

[caption id="attachment_1156" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Arnold 1 year on"][/caption]

Arnold Update - 15 Weeks!.

Thank you to all those who've visited, followed, liked and commented over the last year.

A Gorjuss new stamp

Have been waiting a while to purchase one of these lovely stamps by Santoro's Gorjuss.  It's called 'Puddles of Love' and I've seen it used quite a lot on various card making sites.  It really was a joy to finish with Promarkers.

I decided to go with a lovely green and yellow theme.  I bought some papers whilst on holiday in Cornwall from a super bargain basket.  Although they were Forever Friends Easter papers they matched my theme perfectly.  I've used Kraft card for the base layers.

The paper flowers were made using the Marianne Creatables range to co-ordinate with the papers I'd already used.  The wooden flower was from a selection at Hobbycraft.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Secret Crafters Saturday Challenge - Inspired by a Song (It's Raining Again - Supertramp)

Charisma Cards Challenges - Inspired by a Song (It's Raining Again - Supertramp)

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for dropping by! x

Friends Forever

A new card with a 'Friendship' theme today.  The lovely stamp is from Sliekje Digi Stamps and the papers are from Pink Petticoats 'Wild Blossoms' collection.   The die-cut is one of Nellie Snellen's Multi-frames and a Martha Stewart punch has been used for the edges of the pink card.  The little gingham butterfly was from a selection at Hobbycraft.  I have also used a pink star Gelly Roll pen to make the illusion of stitching along each paper panel.

I've tried to keep my promarker colours in line with the 'Wild Blossom' colours (although I am now awaiting new shades as getting a little bored with using the same colours time and time again lol).

[caption id="attachment_1095" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Friends Forever"][/caption]

 I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Passions for Promarkers - #116 'Patchwork'

Stamps R Us - 'Friendship'

2 Sisters Challenge Blog - #55 Friends

My Time to Craft - #156 Just Between Friends

For Fun Challenges - Kids at play

Cardmakin Mama's Blogspot - Digital

Cupcake Craft Challenges - #158 Patchwork Quilt

A birthday bear

Our lovely niece was 15 on Friday, my, where does the time go?!

Using another freebie stamp from Cardmaking & Papercraft I created this yellow and pink card.  I'm quite please with how the promarker shading turned out as this was one of my first attempts.  I finished the bear's flowers off with a little silver glitter glue.



(For the first time ever!) I am entering this card in the following challenges:

• Passion For Promarkers #115 – Anything Goes


• I love Promarkers #81 - Anything goes


• Stamps R Us - Anything goes

A new bargain basket stamp

Whilst on hols in Cornwall I discovered a fabulous and friendly little craft shop called 'Moments' in Belle Vue, Bude.  'A' and I spent quite a while looking round and in particular at the bargain basket just inside the door where we found Forever Friends Easter papers and stamps, lots of ribbon, flowers, brads and a lovely little stamp reduced from £5.99 to just £1.50......bargain! :)

[caption id="attachment_1064" align="aligncenter" width="256" caption="Stamp coloured with Promarkers"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1065" align="aligncenter" width="254" caption="Stamp coloured with Promarkers"][/caption]

Due to my current addiction to Promarkers I decided to give the stamp a try and have made a couple of cards along the same theme but just using different colours.  The papers are from a lovely freebie selection I had from a recent Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine called 'Vintage Rose'.  I've used paper flowers purchased from Ebay and a Nellie Snellen die.  The image is a 'Whispers' stamp from docrafts.



[caption id="attachment_1062" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Blue & Pink"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1063" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Pink & Green"][/caption]

Mr G's BIG 4-0

It's now more than a week since the big 4-0 occurred in our household and it's been a rather long birthday celebration for the person involved.

[caption id="attachment_900" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Mr G with his balloon bouquet"][/caption]

'P' celebrated his 40th back on 2nd June and we wanted to make it a day he'd remember.  I'd been planning and buying for a couple of weeks, spending the afternoon the day before making a card and helping 'A' to make Pecan Squares.  The kids and I got up early to decorate the house with more than the usual number of banners and balloons with an added gesture of pictures of him as a child stuck, not only to the house, but also on various lampposts along the street :).  I'd ordered delivery of a balloon bouquet but this was unfortunately delivered before he'd descended the stairs.  It was therefore hidden in the front room until he was up and awake!

[caption id="attachment_904" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The house all decked out!"][/caption]

The kids bought him a fantastic Notts Forest shirt with 'Griffiths 40' on the back which he was chuffed to bits with and along with the usual line of clothes and nonsense I'd also bought him a voucher for white water rafting.  Believe me he was more than a little worried when he opened the envelope and read the words 'Are you prepared?' on the package.  As something a little different I made him up a basket of all the little things he likes such as fizzy cola bottles, Hoegaaden beer, Dr Pepper, Werthers and so on and even included a new tax disk holder seeing as his other one is on its last legs.  One of his gifts, a signed autograph of Derren Brown, was a little late but he loved it all the same.

After breakfast altogether in the kitchen (which made a nice change!) we headed off to Bridgnorth in Shropshire to spend the day walking along the river, moseying around the shops and generally chilling out.  We packed a picnic and were lucky enough to grab a bench by the river.  We caught the cliffside railway up to High Town which was a nice experience as I discovered that not only had the kids never been on this before, but neither had 'P'.  His day was topped off with a fab 'Star Wars' cake from Asda which was just ideal.

[caption id="attachment_902" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Cliff Railway - Bridgnorth"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_903" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="'P' on the bridge at Bridgnorth"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_901" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Lunch by the river"][/caption]

Both sets of parents came around on 5th for a spot of tea and then Saturday night saw us celebrating at the Lutley Oak where we just invited friends to share a few drinks with us.

[caption id="attachment_905" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Lutley Oak celebrations"][/caption]

To top off his 40th in style we're both off to Lake Como next week.  This was actually my main present to him as I'd been saving up for some time.  We thought it was an ideal time as 'A' is away with school anyway and 'S' is happy to spend a few days with his Nan and Grandma (and Arnold or course!).  We're both so looking forward to Italy as neither of us has been there before.  The pictures we've seen so far look amazing and I'm sure it won't disappoint.

All in all, Mr G has had one very extended birthday which I hope he has enjoyed.  Can't wait to report back in two weeks time with news and pics from our lovely break.

A May update (including wine!)

So......half term begins! Phew!

Been a busy last few weeks.  'A' had her SAT's a couple of weeks ago but the least said about that the better - a lot of needless stress and pressure if you ask me!  She's now moved on to Sex Education (or 'THE' Education) as she calls it and rehearsals for the end of the term show, so much more interesting times all round :)

'S' is pleased that he's been offered the Options that he'd chosen and has been informed that they're all off to Drayton Manor Park at the end of term as a graduation reward from KS3 to KS4.

'P' and I had a lovely trip to The Three Choirs Vineyard on 13th May.  I actually bought 'P' the voucher for wine tasting and a two course lunch for his birthday last year and due to the fact that it will soon be his birthday this year we thought we'd best get moving.  The Vineyard itself did not disappoint, set in beautiful Gloucestershire countryside it really was idyllic.  Unfortunately, the sun decided not to play ball on this occasion and headed off behind the clouds about 5 minutes after our arrival never to be seen again....well till the next day.

[caption id="attachment_881" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Wine tasting time!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_882" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Wine tasting in the courtyard"][/caption]

We walked around on the short guided tour and then returned to the courtyard to sample our selection of wines.  Shortly after this we headed to the Vineyard Restaurant to enjoy our two course lunch.  We were seated at a lovely table with a scenic outlook over the many acres of vineyard.  Being midweek the whole place was very quiet but no less attention to detail was paid by the staff.  The food was absolutely delicious, one of the best meals we've had and the fact that it was washed down by one of our 'tasting' choices made it even more memorable.

[caption id="attachment_883" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Lunch at the Three Choirs"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_884" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Lunch in the Vineyard Restaurant"][/caption]

School choir now have one rehearsal left before there Summer Concert next month and for once they actually seem quite ready! Shocking, I know !  We think the song choices have helped this year, funky as it is, all inklings of High School Musical have gone with their replacements being the likes of Hans Christian Anderson and South Pacific - much more choir friendly songs!

The ladies choir performed there concert 'It's a Man's World' again last night on behalf of Halesbury Special School to help raise much needed funds and awareness about the school.  This went well and a fair number turned up to support which was nice.

So now, on the brink of June all thoughts in the Griffiths house turn to the imminent birthday on the year.  Yes, 'P's big 4-0 that's coming up next week!!! So while he rapidly tries to complete his final year's uni work all celebration plans are left firmly in our hands.  Brave, brave man ;)

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New poem for Nan's 90th

[caption id="attachment_177" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Gran's 90th Card"][/caption]

Made Nan a lovely card for her 90th birthday next weekend using the new 'teabagging' technique I'd learned, but I always like to insert an appropriate poem or verse inside.  I did a bit of searching for something suitable but upon typing the words 'poem Gran' into Google most of my results were poems for funerals......how very cheery!  Due to this I decided to have a go at writing one myself and this is what I came up with (the reference to moving house is due to her having moved many, many times!).  It's not quite Shakespeare I know, but it will suit my Gran :)

Well, Gran it’s your birthday

So an ideal time to say

Just how much you mean to us

In every single way

You love to chat and tell us things

About your life so far

You make us laugh with things you say

But that’s just who you are

Now that you are 90

You really must slow down

No more moving house again

To another tempting town!

You really are so special

And though you don’t like fuss

Enjoy you’re 90^th birthday

With love from all of us !