Humbled

This broken foot business has made me feel very humble as so many friends have helped me out as I have struggled along. I have been so touched that people have really gone the extra mile for me.
But today was a special one. Someone I have never met IRL, only chatted with online or by email, made the effort to travel 70 miles on public transport, with a three year old so we could chat and have lunch.

So Cath (yes, that's her blog in the sidebar) and Corey, it was so lovely to see you both! Darling Girl and I loved you visiting us. We had a lovely time and hope you did too.

A new friendship. Corey and my Darling Girl were both extremely prem babies - just look at them now!

Cast

After 31 days the pink cast has gone! Yay!

BUT....my poor broken foot is still painful, can you believe my toes and foot are still bruised? Apparently there is a lot of ligament as soft tissue damage as well as the break.
So I am bandaged but can remove it for, oh yes, at last...a bath! I am also still on crutches for 3 more weeks and under orders to rest, keep it elevated and no walking or driving! So I have another sicknote.
It's as bad as the cast as far as mobility and generally carrying stuff is concerned, but without the heaviness and the pinkness.

Hub took the afternoon off to take me to the fracture clinic, and so Darling Girl had to come too (no available 'sitters this week). She was as good as gold and chatting with the nurses and technicians. She is such a charmer. So much so, she was allowed to feel the cast cutter and look at my x-rays. A doctor in the family would be so useful!

Journal of Impossible Things

Darling Girl and I have made this slideshow from screencaps of John Smith's journal. Hope you like it!

Detention?

Well I am rather fed up and because I try not to moan on my blog I haven't been posting. Its all down to the pink plaster cast.

However, Doctor Who on Saturday really cheered me up...so full of references for fans, just what I needed! So here is a new avatar I made in honour of Mr John Smith!

Screen caps to follow when I can spend more time online.

Edited: 10th June to amend avatar.

Knee Crafting

I have been trying to scrap on my knee, and I have almost managed it, with the help of a very large children's dictionary. It is easier if my LOs are not too ambitious or are 8x8. As a result my 2007 Journal is more than up-to-date! However, I have 2 new 12x12 LOs to share.

The "Beautiful Sweet" was mainly cutting and colouring easy to do when you cannot move. Tried to do the same with "Never Still" but I couldn't have finished it without Hub going off to fetch things I had forgotten or couldn't reach.

I did manage to do some ATCs today. Pol came round, not only with starbucks treats but also with Disney ATCs to complete. Lots of fun, and all cutting rather than stamping - so really easy to complete on my lap.

Darling Girl had a real treat this afternoon. C, who she adores, collected her from school and took her home to play with the boys. Darling Girl has been looking forward to today - and I think C enjoyed it too.

Utopia Clip

Squeeeeee!

42 screencaps!

Admittedly there aren't 42 caps...just four favourite ones to sum up the episode!

Expressive eyes!

Silence... *shuddery squee*
Gallifrey looks for a cushion to hide behind!
Burn with me!

This week's avatar

In case you see me in my different guises about the interweb:

No mates?

Poor Ruby Wax, she might have the latest accessory - a pink leg cast - but her friends didn't organise a wheelchair for her at the Baftas!

Want that one!

I was treated to a day out yesterday! Some of the fabby Chorley Roses rallied together to get me out of the house and around the craft show at the Reebok Stadium. So I spent the day in a wheelchair doing bad Andy Pitkin impersonations: "I want that one!" "Don't like it!"
Joking apart it was a real insight as to how many people treat wheelchair users. Most peopel were lovely and considerate. But we were ignored by many and I lost counts of the bags in my face. And as for the patronising woman on one stall ....its my foot that's broken not my mind!! I have fresh, new and deep respect for my mate Wez.
And I am really grateful to Tree, Cara and Scrappykaren. Tree was official pusher (so extra thanks to her); Cara was my chauffeur and keeper of the stash; and Scrappykaren was the personal shopper and clearer of the pathways!
We were not proper scrappers, however, not one of us had a camera to record our day!

But the shopping was great. Not as much scrapping stuff as last year, but plenty to keep us going! We spent time and money at Banana Frog stamps, and then ooohed some more at the Clever Cut stamps. The Oyster Craft stall had the long sought after DCWV "Once Upon a Time" paper (too beautiful to cut!); and the bead stall had millefiore glass beads. But we loved Paddy's Stamping Place. Lovely use of inks and the new sticky fingers acrylic inks on stampboard. And teh other hightlight was Once Upon A Stamp, which had been on our hit list anyway! But the demos were superb, with really striking use of shrink plastic but combining it with lumiere paints and alcohol inks and their own glassy embossing powder. Looking forward to being able to sit at my desk again to play properly!

And this is me..

My Darling Girl drew this at school today "to make you happy, Mummy!"

And do you know what? It worked!

Don't you love my curls and crutches?

Stir Crazy Moan

I think over 2 weeks stuck in the house has finally sent me over the edge!

I have been quite down today and am not quite sure why...apart from a big pink cast on my leg. I let my mother's obsession with cleaning and against anything crafty get to me as well. Normally I just let it wash over me and gloat when she asks me to make her something, but today I let her upset me.

Things I am currently missing!

1) Hot cups of tea when I want, not just because someone else can make it.

2) Being able to pick things off the floor.

3) Spending more than10 minutes on the PC.

4) Carrying things.

5) Work! Its that teacher guilt trip thing.

6) Climbing stairs.

7) Driving.

8) Walking Darling Girl to school.

I just don't like the loss of independence, always having to ask and being beholden, rather than having ability to do something for myself first time.

Friendship

If you count your fortune in your friends then I am indeed very rich!

This week I have had visitors to keep me from going stir crazy as I sit here nursing my pink plastered foot. A has been with news from the front! C and her boys came round to play with Darling Girl and cheer me up. Pol came with a light lunch and lots to chat about.

I am very priviledged to jobshare with A. She does not suffer fools gladly and I am so pleased she is on my side! We work together really well; sometimes its a bit scary how well we know each other's style!
C is one of my oldest and dearest friends. She is the kindest person I know. I know she is the person I could phone when ever with any problem and she would support me; she has so much in the past. She has been through so much in the last few weeks and has faced it all with her head held high. She is a very special caring woman. I only hope I am a good enough friend in return.
I cannot believe I have as much in common with any other person as I do with Pol! Not only do we have the same job - our husbands do as well! She is the only other sci-fi, bookreading, left wing scrapper! And we do laugh, and cry, together.

And today I have spent with time with an amazing group of women. The Chorley Roses! They are all such lovely people. I don't know what I would do if I didn't see them every month! Tree, Cara, Sue, Rachael, Wez, Karen and Helen all looked after me today. We all celebrate each others' sucesses and we are there to support each other when life is tough - online and for real. And they all supported me today...thank you all!

A Button on My Blog

Tomorrow, the journalist Alan Johnston will have been missing for 60 days.

We know we live in a free country when we have journalists who can say or write whatever they feel is correct and not be in danger. I may not agree with them, but I will defend their right to say it.
The news today has been full of Tony Blair's imminent resignation; and, whatever I think of the man, his policies, successes and failures are all reported upon fairly. We know the British press is doing something right when all sides of the political spectrum complain!

But it takes brave people to report from a war zone and do so fairly. Without such reporting all sides would lose. Whatever our beliefs we rely on our reporters to bring us the true story of what is happening by speaking to both sides. In his reports Alan Johnston did that, speaking to both Palestinian and Israeli, letting us judge for ourselves.

Everyone needs to stand behind this campaign for his safe and swift release, since his kidnapping damages all in the region and damages their freedom of speech.

Re-plastered

I had a day out today, a trip to the fracture clinic. I am still getting used to those crutches.

Good news: I have only broken the one bone, my navicular!
Bad news: I have sustained severe ligament damage, which is as bad as a fracture.

So I have a groovy new cast and another three weeks in plaster ahead of me.

We finished late at the clinic, so because it is close, Hub took me into work (always easier to get seeing the Boss over with first) to hand over my sick note. But she wasn't there, however, it was nice to see some of my colleagues, even if I did get some stick!

Found them!

I have been sent a link to a screencaps site: www.time-and-space.co.uk. So finally I have got my screencaps of some bitching Daleks!

Late update!

I have been asked how ADP got on in the London Marathon, and I am pleased to report he completed the course in 4 hours and 55 minutes. Although he was overtaken by a bakewell tart!

I am in awe of him, and the fact he reached and passed his fund-raising target, raising a huge £17oo for Traidcraft!

Well done Alistair!!

The Lazarus Experiment

Absolutely loved it...and not just because of DT in a tux.

Lots to squee about!

These are the screen caps I have found so far...apart from an unflattering one of DT up close with Martha!

Just love that tux!

New trailer:

Hope this link works.

Amazing trailer to promote the second half of season 3.

May the Fourth..

...be with you!!


Couldn't resist.
Happy Star Wars Day Everyone!!

By the way, 200th Blog entry
...and they said it wouldn't last!

Daleks

I haven't posted my favourite Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks screencaps yet, so here they are!

There are some really negative threads on OG about these stories, but I just prefer to squeee!

Skaro!! Oh no!!

Kill me! *Gallifrey hides behind cushion*

This week's avatar:

Because I haven't got a screen cap of the Dalek bitching scene!

Vote

Being just that little bit interested in politics, I always take a keen interest in Election Days, whether local or national. I was brought up on the mantra: women died so you could vote. So I have always voted, whatever the election.
Even if there is no candidate for me, as in our old home in one ward election there were only two candidates and neither of them my colour, I will still go to the Polling Station. However, in these situations I do tend to spoil my paper. I still want to vote. I don't want to be counted as one of the apathetic millions. I could be bothered to get out of my chair and take part in democracy. I think spoiling the paper is a democratic choice.
So imagine my disappointment with myself today. I did not vote. For the first time since I was 18 I stayed home.
My democratic rights taken away by a brick wall and a plaster cast!

A normal service will resume...

...as soon as possible.

Where have I been? Have I been busy cybercropping? Have I been enjoying my new car? Have I been squeeing about Daleks?

No.

I have broken my foot. Well actually 2 bones in my foot! The 5th metatarsal and the navicular to be precise!

How did I manage this? I fell downstairs!

Actually I was on my way to Padgate Crop and was carrying my tote down to the car, when I slipped on the top step and my foot hit a wall. I really screamed! But Hub was around to administer ice packs and soon I was up and about, limping, but convinced it was only a sprain since I could still wiggle and bend my toes! There was no way I could drive, so Hub took Darling Girl (she really wanted to go) and I to the crop, and Ickleviking kindly brought us home.

When I got home, my foot had swollen so much, even my crocs wouldn't fit. But I carried on with the cybercrop...and enjoyed what I did! I also took a break to enjoy Doctor Who. I stayed up 'til the small hours cropping and went to bed.

Sunday morning my foot was so painful and my foot and toes were turning black and purple. Hub decided I needed to go to the NHS walk-in (or should that be hobble?) centre. But not until I had uploaded my cybercrop projects and claimed my points.

So now I am in plaster, or if you want to be precise: a back-slab! Going up and down stairs is not much fun but I am getting better at using crutches. Darling Girl and Hub are just so lovely to me, even if I feel so stupid.

I can't get online for long since I cannot elevate my foot when I am at the PC. The same goes for using my desk, so I am BORED! But I have been lucky to have had visitors, even if they have to make their own cup of tea - and one for me!