Back into the Swing and Beware of Scammers

And so the year has started in full swing and the daily routine starts again.  The alarm sounds and gradually I hear lights being switched on in bedrooms and the stirring of teenagers along with the usual 'life is so unfair'.  Those precious moments of getting myself ready before everyone else is up and wanting things from me (they'll find their own brains one day!).  Each day a bridge to conquer and to live it with a smile on my face.

Now, last week was a bit of a wash out if I'm brutally honest.  My dreaded lurgy came back to haunt me and my third chest infection decided it liked the previous two stays and to revisit again.  I tried everything but now think I have the formula!  Buttercup syrup, BIG spoonful of honey and a vitamin C and zinc dis-solvable tablet with some water.   I really do think that did the trick... or was it that I was coming to the end of this hell?... personally I like to think I found the cure.  This meant that I was fortunate to almost be myself at a meeting as planned, and able to show what I truly feel passionate about.

Anyway, enough of this woe is me, the January blues, the can't wait for pay day, the impatience for the year to really get started.  Let me bore you with the story of my camera dilemas last month...

It started with the sudden and snap decision to buy a Canon.  A Canon 700D.  My ever faithful Fujifilm Finepix HS50 EXR was sent away and the new Canon arrived.  Now, I know there are MILLIONS of Canon lovers out there, and yes it is a sensational camera, but you know when you pick something up and you think 'No, this isn't me', that was exactly how I felt.  I lifted it to my eye and was so disappointed.  With the hole in my retina, the view finding lens is an essential part of the camera, and with a floater in the way when I am that close to something, very annoying.  I need brightness with this piece of kit and found it dark, I couldn't focus, and when I did (and that was in auto too), it was blurry.  So, I cut my losses and sold it within two days.

After losing on Ebay on the two Fujifilm Finepix HS50's that were in the country, I then found a Fujifilm Finepix SL1000, again, high expectations.  But once again, No!  This did not have the field of vision, the sound of the auto zoom was incredibly annoying.  No, back on Ebay.

I soon received an email saying that someone wanted to buy it overseas for the full price and £36 postage.  Well, I said yes of course.  I put the invoice through on Paypal and waited for the payment along with packaging the camera up for overseas travel.  In the morning I checked my Paypal account, no payment but there was an email from Paypal saying that the payment was ready to go into my account all I had to do was type in the reference number on the proof of posting and the money would be sent to me.

Now, as I have never had this happen to me before, and a seasoned Ebayer, I continued reading.  I don't know why, but I was looking for a spelling mistake, was this a scam?  Then, right at the very bottom, an email address... paypa.lcom@outlook.com.  Alarm bells rang, Paypal had an outlook account??? Straight away I sent a copy to Paypal asking if they had sent this and received back an automated email saying the usual 'thank you for your email, we will investigate and get back to you in 5 - 7 days', well, it took them five minutes.  This was indeed a phishing scam where I would have put the details in the scammers system and they would be able to get into the account.  Everything was cancelled within an instant and I was then subjected to a number of emails from the scammers saying that the money was in my account and why hadn't I sent it - ignored of course apart from the first email when I told them that Paypal was on to them.

And so, the camera went back on Ebay and in the meantime, my Fujifilm Finepix HS50 was coming back to me, happy days!  The SL1000 was bought in the end by someone in the next town and everything is now back to normal.  I just need the decent weather and trips to London et al to get it working at its full potential again.   So be warned, check those emails and the spelling mistakes.

So, with my right hand 'man' attached to me again (as you can see from my new profile picture), here's to an exceptional new week, keep positive and keep those New Years Resolutions forefront in your mind.  To those of you giving up smoking, chocolate, drink, losing weight etc etc, keep going! You're amazing individuals and I know you can do it!!  Be proud of yourselves!  (I personally think the lack of chocolate is the reason why I have had my third chest infection though!  Really, I truly do, but I'm soldiering on!!).  The box of Thorntons is still intact (and yes, that's both layers!).

Take care.

Chel xx

My Word for 2017

2017 is going to be a year that I want to remember.  A year that I rediscover and push myself to the limit.  It's a tall order, but as the countdown begins to that day when I turn 50, I want to enjoy every moment.  I am looking forward to this phase of my life and have a lot more confidence to hit that day hard with a beaming smile on my face saying 'I made it'!!  Time to embrace life and be comfortable and confident enough to enjoy everything around me.  There will be challenges, things that take me out of my comfort zone, times when I will not be my usual self while I rediscover who I am, how I used to be before becoming a mother, connecting with friends again who are so far away, and those who I am so so grateful who are a lot closer.  So what would be my word?  It's been so hard this year to think of something appropriate.  New Year's Eve had me all of a tizz, words were spinning around in my head, enough to keep me awake well into the small hours, and then going onto the fen mid morning to listen to the rain pounding my car windows while I jotted down word after word after word.  

T I M E, M E,  S E L F I S H,  R E D I S C O V E R, 

C H A N G E,  H A P P I N E S S

As I wrote words in my book, they had a common theme - ME.  With my two teens fully independant it's MY turn to think about what is important to ME.  Am I being selfish?  Well, yes I suppose I am, and that's something that takes me out of my comfort zone, but as a couple of close friends said to me on New Years Day, it's about ****** time!  You see, I look for the good in people and get let down (a lot), this is what I want to get away from.  I want to be the person I once was and not be afraid to do that.  Believe me, the last 24 hours have been quite an eyeopener and nerve wracking as my mind tackles 'the word'.  So, what word have I settled on?...

I D E N T I T Y

This word encompasses all the others, rediscovering who I am, changing parts of my life that I no longer want to live, learn to be ME again , learn to be selfish in a self preserving way and enjoying any happiness that comes across my path, which I am hoping will be in abundance this year.

Have you discovered your word yet?

Take care.

Chel

2015 Review of Sweetbriar Dreams

I don't know about you, but once the last roasting tin, wine glass and gravy boat was put away, I breathed a sigh of relief!  Another Christmas over.  Another year now draws to a close and what a quick year it was.  Each month passed with disbelief that the next one was about to start.  With the unusual weather of extreme mild temperatures for December, floods throughout the country and stormy winds, it feels more like April.  Maybe that's why Christmas didn't feel like Christmas and it had nothing to do with my post op recovery!

There were lots of trips taken in 2015 to places I haven't seen for a while or totally new.

Bletchley Park     Southend on Sea        Chatsworth House

Highclere Castle - (The Real Downton Abbey)     Norwich

Melton Mowbray        James Herriott Country     London

There was however a very sad point of the year that fell on us at the beginning of April when our darling dog Coco was lost to Syringomyelia.  The life was sapped from us and will never be the same.  But one day as I was looking through some favourite pages on Facebook, a little face shone out at me. I showed the family and everyone was in agreement that this poor little rescued dog was going to come home to us.  After a while, operations and assessment, little Tia came to live with us and it was plainly obvious that she just wanted cuddles and to please.  She has now settled in, has her own Facebook page and believe me, guards my feet as if her life depended on it... well, her walks on her favourite Fen will!!

What I have enjoyed this year is escaping from everyday life and playing with my camera, both my bridge and my new mobile one, and that is one of my hobbies that I will be enjoying every moment.

Crafts once again were on the back burner, so next year I plan on getting myself organised to do more.  My fingers need to be busy!

So, what will 2016 bring?  Hopefully it will be a happy and healthy one (especially feet wise!).  I can't wait to be able to ditch the crutches and oh so beautiful sandals and be able to walk normally once again.  Don't get me wrong, I am so glad I had the operation on both feet, but for someone who loves to go walking and being out of the house, these last three weeks have been incredibly hard.  How I would have loved everyone to rally around but I am a control freak so why ask for something to be done when I clearly enjoy the pain to do it myself!  Yes, my own worst enemy!!  Bunion removal, two broken and pinned toes and the removal of arthritis is not going to stop me.

So, here's to a wonderful 2016.  I wish you all a very Happy New Year and incredible health to you and yours.

Cheers!

A Late White Christmas

With the mildness of the winter so far, the last thing I expected was to see snow on Boxing Day!  It would have been amazing to have seen this 24 hours earlier, but I can live with it being a little late.  Mr Teen was acting like a toddler once again and shouting out that it was settling but I just let him believe that... until I went out in my pyjamas to put the rubbish out and was met by the crisp, white, untouched snow!

The flakes were huge as they fell from the night sky, reminding me of little angels fluttering down to earth.  Just a couple of minutes outside and we were soaked through!

I couldn't wait to get in the garden first thing in the morning and kept hoping that there wasn't going to be a thaw (for once I was not working and having to drive out of the village with ungritted roads!!).  A certain little Cavalier wanted to be first to make her mark!

For a little dog that absolutely hates rain, Coco certainly loves sniffing around.  Her medication was kicking in, so I suppose she didn't mind too much this morning.

With the camera settings on macro (I couldn't torture you with photos of the whole garden - it's depressing at this time of year!), I set about capturing the cold icy structures that had formed on the everyday objects.  I love how the individual flakes group together to form such a solid mass.

The garden broom wore jewels of ice with fluffy undertones of snow.

The garden gate had shielded the drive from the drifts of snow being blown by a strong cold wind.

The little pile of sticks and logs for the insect hotel are hopefully keeping the guests warm and dry from the elements.

There will be no washing on the line today!

The tiles on the roof were showing signs of good insulation!  Phew!!

On the floor a little Robin Red Breast was searching for some seed that had been scattered on the garden for its lunch.  A certain Cavalier's heavy footprints did not make the seed easy to find!

Also a certain Mr Teen was rather eager to throw the first snowball - apparently the snow was just the right texture and consistency according to the expert!

The winter pansies have taken their own battering.

The ice hanging from the rotary washing line was my favourite though, looking like the surface of the moon.

The thaw was beginning though and the branches of the trees were gladly letting the extra weight from their limbs fall like sap around them.

But now it was time to dry out and warm up a certain Coco who had worn herself out!

As I looked at the heart shaped snow on one of the branches, I realised just how much I love this type of weather, especially when I don't have to go out!

And so, the candle is about to be blown out on 2014 and my last blog post of the year.  It has been a year of learning more about myself as I put my blog posts together  and I am so very grateful that you have come along and supported me along the way. 

I do hope that your celebrations go well, no matter what you are doing and I wish you all a very...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

      

A Review of 2013 at Sweetbriar Dreams

2013

How can I sum up this year?  I think the first thing that comes to mind is 'discovery'.  I have been 'riding the wave' a term I say to quite a lot of people, meaning just going with the flow and seeing where I land.  Sometimes it is a good place, sometimes it is a place that I am not entirely comfortable with, but for me this has helped me carve out what I want to do in 2014.  My blogging journey has been one of the good places that I have landed, where I have found so many wonderful, like minded people on this particular 'wave'.  My blog has gone through many changes this year, with twists and turns, but I think I have finally found my voice and how I like to write along with the visual input as I tell the story.  

I have had lots of fun  today looking back on this year and re-discovering the different events.  Each month was so different.  

The days we went out on either locally or a little bit further afield were always fun and educational.  One risk I took during 2013 was taking my two teenagers to Greenwich, London for the first time.  Our visits to London were numerous this year but I skirted around Greenwich as I felt that I would not do my Grandad justice by bringing the place to life with the history he imparted to me as a child.  This ended up to be a great success with my kids falling in love with this quieter part of London and begging to be taken again and again.  2014 will be full of weekends here as I bring the stories to life as we walk around the streets, some still standing and then through the London Docklands where so much has disappeared and been re-generated.

From looking back at 2013, my crafts obviously took a back seat!  The wallpaper is waiting patiently in my dolls house and the amount of unfinished crochet projects is quite embarrassing!

Our garden was beautiful this year, even though a bit slow in waking up from its winter slumber.  The flowers all bloomed in the glorious summer, giving a spectacular show throughout the months.

However, the produce from the greenhouse was pretty poor, in fact quite pathetic!  But, the fruit crops this year were huge!  Along with the lavender which was tenderly cared for by the bees.

The wildlife was more abundant in the garden, with the bees arriving quite late but then being so busy that they actually slept on the lavender at night!  So much life this year.

2013 also has allowed me to plan ahead for the journey of writing 'the' book on my Grandad's research and stories.  The pens and note books are ready for notes, my fingers are itching to tap away at the keyboard, the papers, maps, photos and books are ready and waiting and I have an idea of how to start the initial lines of the book, I am excited to start to see how this flows.  

So what do I have planned for 2014?  Well, 2013 was 'discovery', 2014 is going to be 'change'. Change is a good thing and should be embraced fully.  I am one that loves change, things start off as a mess but then after re-organisation and diligence, everything falls into place for the better.  I plan on changing things in a lot of ways next year so I can concentrate on the things that really matter to me  (such as the book) and not focus too much on things that I do not agree with and that hinder my progress in my life.  There have been times where I have not felt comfortable with situations around me and where they are totally against my own morals, so these things have to change.  Hard words I suppose but 2013 has made me discover who I really am and what I want to do.  

One thing that won't change is my love for reading your blogs and discovering new ones. It's a catch up at the end of the week with friends over a coffee and a chat.  Around the world in 80 minutes... usually longer!!  I love the evenings when settling down to read what has happened in blogland.

So as I close the door on 2013, may I wish you all a wonderful 2014.  Thank you all for your generous and kind comments and visits during this year and encouraging me to continue by following me with all the various methods that there are now (I've just discovered Feedly - great for Kindles!... a gift from hubby!).  I look forward to reading and seeing what you get up to next year.

Happy New Year!

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Happy New Year!

What a year it has been!  I think the fastest one I have ever lived through.  Looking back I am so fortunate to have such lovely, happy kids (even though they don't want to admit it as they are teenagers where everything is 'so unfair'). We have laughed so much this year - I love the teenage years.

Along the way we have lost two of our elderly relatives within two months of each other.  The end of that generation in our family.  So sad.  But a baby was born to my cousin and next year we have another baby due to my other cousin and of course, I am going to be an auntie in May.  Life continues.

I have also discovered 'blogland' and some lovely people who are following my ramblings and leaving comments so I don't feel like I am talking to myself!  Thank you so much.

So, may I wish you all a very 'merry' Happy New Year/Hogmany.  I look forward to reading your blogs in 2013.

Take care xxx