Application

I don't really know where the time went, but it is almost time for my application for Indefinite Leave to Remain, and you know what, I am a bit anxious about it. I suppose I am bound to be with my success rate of 66.6% in these kind of applications. That is to say that only one of them failed, but it still makes you feel really  nervous as you lay away at night. Pretty well everything is in order, as far as I  know, just waiting for some different papers to come through and a bit worried about funds as Virgin Media, TV Licence and Council tax are more than I thought they would be, though I have had a bit more of a heads up for the Council tax side of things. So money will be tight this month.

Other than that I am pretty good, I have started recycling which has made me walk more, because our local recycling spot is not far away, same with the library which is less than five minutes away and today I walked to work, more out of economical need rather than anything else. But it kind of does make you feel good, though I don't know if after this month I will continue, and hour and a a bit each way is a pretty far walk, but we will see.

I have finished Counting at the Zoo! Which is very exciting, I can't wait to send them over to James, Tina and wee Payton. Hopefully sooner rather than later. So here is your wee peek.

I also made soup and roasted my first ever batch of peppers! Which were pretty darn good and the soup even better! So Yay for some cooking.

Sorry that this post has mostly been whining about money, but I have had it on my mind a lot.

Cramond 2013

Its that time of year again and the Island of Punk is upon us, I didn't take as many photos with the Holga this year as I did last year, but more with my iPhone so at least I have some It wasn't as nice and clear and warm this time as the last few years, but it was dry and that made it brilliant. We also were not as prepared this year as last, but I blame Mhairi and Darren, cause they didn't come this year so we didn't put the effort in with the BBQ and everything. Still though I got pretty steamin and had a wee nap and in general had a brilliant time! So can't really complain. The Island of Punk is always a good time.

Dixon also played in the Fuk Redding festival down in London the Day after Cramond so I got some painting done, nothing I can show the whole thing of though I am probably giving away too much already but I am pretty excited that I did some painting at all! So what the heck! Just one more painting to go for Counting at the Zoo and then I can send the last batch off!

New Flat

So I posted a while ago saying that we were looking at a new flat, and if I stopped talking about it, it would probably mean that we didn't get it. Well I stopped talking about it but we did actually get it. So that is extremely exciting. We got the keys on Friday, so over the weekend we were doing a lot of cleaning and on Sunday Gail and I removed the wallpaper from the master bedroom, while Gordon and Daniel cleared out a lot of the overgrown ivy on the wall in the garden. Which was a mammoth undertaking, it was huge and well grown into the wall, we are hoping that once we get it cleared out some more we will only have to do minor repairs on the wall. So as nice as ivy growing on a wall looks, you have to keep it in check as the mortar has just turned into dust. 

I've realized I should be taking some before and after photos as we do up the rooms now! So its a bit late for the master as we have stripped the two layers of wallpaper off, but I'll head down this week and see if I can snap a quick photo. We are going to be moving into the spare room there next week as long as we get the water tank sorted this week. It is unfortunately broken, but because they wouldn't let Dixon's dad up into the attic to check to see if it was ok, due to health and safety, we will have to see if we can get some compensation for that, as it should be in working order.

So a lot to do for then next long while. I will be cheerfully looking at paint and wallpaper this week and hopefully getting some in the bedroom so we can move in as quick as possible.

I also did a wee bit of painting as Baby Dykstra is due in the next couple weeks so I should really be finished but hopefully I will find some time soon.

And some more photos of Edinburgh, because even though it wasn't beautiful out every day some days were gorgeous.

Cooking x Drawing

So as I have stated before, I have been cooking a lot lately, and so that has spilled over into my blog quite a bit. But in a recent development, they have combined! What I mean is, I usually find my recipes online and then print them out and then I am left with the recipes lying about everywhere, which if you know my husband, is not a good thing. However, on my day off I made some more cornbread muffins, because they are awesome, and because I have a mountain of too hot chilli I need to eat, and with some cornbread I will hopefully not burn my mouth off! So I have started my own wee cookbook!

Its nothing too polished or anything, just a bit of fun, and then all my recipes will be in the same place. So its pretty cool! I will hopefully keep adding more recipes as I find and like them. So more might just appear on here!

Also another teaser for Counting at the Zoo.

So lots of painting fun for you guys!

More Counting

So it's been a while once I've had any posts about painting or drawing or anything like that. It seems my blog has turned into more of a food blog with dodgy photos at best. It's fun baking and cooking but this mostly started as a place for my art and things I do. Ah well, the thing I have been doing is cooking. But yesterday I got another page of Baby Dykstra's book done!

I was thinking of going out and taking some more photos with my Halina or possibly my Holga (it's been a bit neglected), but the weather isn't cooperating. We will see if I can build up the will to head out into the cold.