bougainvillea

Bougainvillea, one of my favourite flowers, you can see them flowering everywhere in Greece, growing wild, run down and dry but still blooming profusely, they, to me are the epitome of Greece.

Mad Hatter

My Daughter Amy, messing around with her daughter Eloise's hat!! Looking COOL Amy!! March 2011.

Kerkyra

A few of my favourite photo's of Greece, the Taverna on top left is in Paxos, The houses are in Parga, the mainland of Greece, and the church is in the Harbour at Parga. 

My Story

 

In November 2010 I had been feeling quite unwell, very tired and listless, then I started to drink a lot, when I say a lot, I mean a pint every half hour or so, maybe more, then of course I was peeing every 5 minutes too, Then after about a week of this I notice my eyesight going very blurry and scratchy, I went to the opticians to get an eye test and he asked me if I was diabetic? I said ‘no’ not that I know of…. Anyway the next day or so got worse, I couldn’t even climb the stairs without a lot of effort. Mike said I think we’d better go and see the doctor, the next day we went. And without so much as a blink, the doctor said I think I know what’s wrong with you.. He did a urine and a blood test and there and then declared me a diabetic !  I was 61yrs old.. I had just retired and was enjoying my retirement, but  ah ha, we don’t escape that easily.
 I went into hospital whereupon I was put on a drip for 3 days, declared a type 1.  I have to take insulin now for the rest of my life. Although with modern technology the actual act of injecting, with a cartridge loaded pen, isn’t  a problem at all, it’s the constant watch of your blood glucose level , not too high, not too low!!
Well it’s been 4 months now since the day I was diagnosed. I now carry with me in my bag the assortment you see in the picture. It’s all ‘in case’ in case of a hypo (v.low glucose levels)  jelly babies, a digestive biscuit.  And  insulin pens, test meter, test strips, finger pricking devices, tissues… to mop the blood!!
So, Diabetes, I have you,  I’ll make the best of my life with you if I have to, and I thank my darling Partner Mike for all his support too, without you, what would be the point?

JOE

I Love my coffee, there's nothing better on a cold morning, a cold evening or just anytime. The stronger the better. The paper I used here is Ella Blue, Martha Stewart edge punch, 'doily lace' Vellum flowers from my dear friend Marcy, also K & Company little flower stickers which are my favourite.

Amy 1982

My daughter Amy's first 'real' photograph. Age 1yr. Newmarket Suffolk. 1982

Spring Cards

Cards

A couple of cards, one for Easter one...well just because....

Turning back time

Mike's daughter Sooz, at about 1yr old till she was about 17. Now she is 21.

some easter cards

From then til now

My Son Steve, on his very first day at school aged 5, and then first day at middle school. then as he is now aged 40! He always loved clothes, even his school uniform, he still loves new clothes now.

birthday cards

The top card I made today with the Iris Vellum overlay sent to me by my dear friend Marcy in the USA. she is such a true friend. The bottom card is one I made for one of my grandchildren.

Me. aged about 6

I found this old crinkled photo, I tried to patch up the creases - it's not too bad, you can still see the patch on the lower part of the photo, but I wanted to keep it as it's only of only a few I have at this age. I used Tim Holtz's idea-ology pp for the background, slightly distressed, some home-made flowers and stamped flourishes in the corner to make a vintage look layout.