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!

Payton Lilly Dykstra

 

I wanted to say a big congratulations to my James and Tina  on the birth of their daughter who is now already more than a month old! Hello Payton Lilly Dykstra, hopefully you will get to meet your Aunty Coutenay and Uncle Daniel soon!

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!

A Mixed Bag

This post is going to be a bit of a jumble of things to say as I haven't posted in a bit and its been a pretty busy sort of week, so enjoy!

So Dixon left for Brazil on the 30th, so that means he has been away for six days already, and yesterday was the first time I got to speak to him, which makes it officially the longest we have gone without speaking ever. I know, a bit of a sappy start for the post, but it was hard! He said he was doing really well though, its really hot, even when its raining and I am really excited to hopefully see some photos and stuff when they get back. He was busy most of the time though so I don't know if he has seen anything other than the back of another seat on a bus.

So since Dixon was away I have holiday time I needed to use up at work so I took some days off and visited my pal in Ayrshire, and we went out to the coast to see The Electric Brae and Culzean Castle. Even if you don't believe in The Electric Brae's super powers, the views are beautiful, where you can see the Isle of Arran across the Firth of the Clyde, which I did take a photo of, but with my film camera so it might be a wee while before we see it. The tiny island you see in the second photo is Ailsa Craig, which I only just found out is inhabited with a number of gannets and puffins, I would mostly like to see the puffins. Hopefully I can make out for a sea life tour and see them all first hand.

We were a bit late to see the interior of the Castle, and even though it was a a bit cold and windy, the skies were clear and made for some excellent photos, Scotland is really a beautiful country and hopefully this year I will get to see more and more of it. 

I took a bunch of photos, with this camera, the Fujica 35 Automagic, but in the process I seem to have jammed the film, or just as possible I don't know what I am doing and can't rewind it, so if anyone has a manual for it or any ideas. I know there is a bit at the bottom that should rewind it but it is just as stuck as the mechanism to advance the film. So if anyone has any ideas they would be much appreciated. 

And on another slightly related note, I have a new project, similar to the previous one, but not quite the same. In any case here are some hints and see if you can work out whats happening. And hopefully there are more to come soon, I have a bit more time off next week. Productivity will be the theme!