My birthday again, really?

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, 38 today! Really? NO really???? 38 I'm sure someone has got my date of birth wrong, my mind is still that of a teenager. My body is telling me something else though, definitely seeing/feeling tell tale signs of aging...

Only joking really (well kind of), I know I'm not old but it's still weird, the years go by so quickly don't they. More importantly what I seriously can't believe is my dad is 80 this year! Now, that is ridiculous, I mean does this look like a very nearly 80 year old man to you?

So far so good!

I'm back again!

Hey there peeps,

How you all doing?

I've been laying low for last couple of weeks due to exams. As you may remember I've been hard at studying for most of this year and on the 16th of July was my exams!

Looking back at my year so far...

Can you believe we're zooming through June, half the year already gone by! I swear time just seems to be going faster and faster. So how are your years going for you?

Mines been kind of

Arrrggh!

Hey my friends,

Wow  I'm tired.  Today was examination day!

It was my OSCE, for those who don't know what that its. I had to do 2 of 4 random 'stations'. Mine was cardiovascular and abdominal. You go in and there is the examiner and a patient/actor. You have half an hour to take a history, do a physical examination and decide on diagnosis.  Well sounds ok maybe but it is mega nerve racking! It is amazing how quick half an hour goes.

Do I think I passed?

Unfortunately not, I took to long in my history taking and nearly run out of time on both so the last part of my examinations were rushed and for one of them actually missed bits.  The first examiner said I did well and my problem was I ran out of time. The 2nd on didn't say anything. Although I did some things well I don't think I've done enough to pass.

So I should get my results in 2 weeks, I can resit if I don't pass one or the other or either.  Just have to wait and see.  But for now now I just have to get my but in gear and focus on my essay which I thankfully got an extension on but I plan to get it all done by next week so I can get it checked by tutor etc. Just want to get it out of the way.

I'm looking forward to getting back to blogging more regularly got a few posts lined up.  and desperately wants to do a bit of sewing!

Well that's it for tonight, just a little update now time to switch my brain off and catch up on some of my programmes, hmmm I think a bit of 90210 *Hubs is now rolling eys and calling me a saddo*

Ok I'll be back soon so hang in there, oh and when all my work is done I want to celebrate with a give away, so keep your peepers peeled!

p.s I hope there is not more spelling mistakes I am very tired, think I have corrected them all now.

Weekend catch up.

Can you believe we're over half way through May! This year is just whooshing on by.  I suppose since we're getting near to half way through the year I'll have to be reviewing my new year post and the goals I hoped to achieve this year.  Today lets just have a little catch up.

The last week and a half has been pretty busy, which generally seems to be how my life is at the moment.  Last Thursday week my Mum went in for her 2nd knee replacement.  Bless her, its a horrendous operation but she has done really well and was discharged home after 6 days which is much better then last time when she was in for 8 days.  She would of come out on day 5 but they kept her an extra day to make sure her kidney function was improving because one of the tablets she had been taken had affected them.  She is getting there though.

Last Sunday I had a lovely day at the Fluff-a-torium in Dorking and made a lovely bag that I am seriously chuffed with but I'll tell you all about that tomorrow in my 'Crafty side of me' post.

A little catch up

I've missed just having a chat on my blog what what with the busy schedule of the A to Z challenge.  I am enjoying it and I've met some lovely bloggers but it's not easy.  So what's been happening in my world? I'm having a busy April with weddings, birthdays and even a craft exhibition.

*Warning, pic heavy post*

Last weekend I was lucky enough to have a long weekend off, which meant after Easter I only had a 2 day working week!  On the Thursday, I braved my first craft/sewing exhibition on my lonesome   As I say it was my first but very possibly my last.

Creative Stitches and Hobbycraft Show

Life goes on...

It's cold and a little snowy outside so a fine time to sit down on the sofa with my laptop and check out the blogmosphere and write a post too.  It's been quite a week this week, work is just crazy busy and will be for the next week or so.  Our workloads are ever increasing in the wonderful world of Primary care.

It's been a bit of a strange old week, at work I had to do some home visits to my housebound patients which often gets me thinking and I feel sad at the way some people have to live.   Going to Nursing Homes is rarely an upbeat and happy experience.  It  gets me thinking of thinking of the future and some not so nice thoughts but we'll leave those thoughts alone for now I think.  On top of that it was my aunties funeral last Wednesday.  So today I'm definitely heaving a big sigh of relief that it's the weekend.

♥Friday Delights♥

I've got lots to share with you today.  I've discovered some fabulous things on the internet and in my local area this week.!

First things here's the motley crew at our masquerade  dance. We had a fabulous time and it was so lovely for us all to get our glad rags on for the evening.

Now one of Pete and I, unfortunately I closed my eyes but it's still a nice picture.

Pete and I went to the B&B early afternoon and then had a potter round Dorking.  It's only a small village but I discovered some fabulous shops. The first one is called Shrewd.  It is a gorgeous shop which sells all kinds  of vintage stuff from men's and women's clothes to jewellery and accessories.  I didn't have time to look around at all the clothes but that is definitely something I'd love to do.  They have a seamstress that works there who can alter the clothes to your size.  I suspect some of them might be a little pricey but they are all definitely wonderful.

http://www.shrewd.biz/  The lady who runs the store said the website is a work in progress.

I went into the shop looking for a skinny belt to wear with my dress that evening. They did't have one but the clever owner suggested I bought a vintage Rhinestone buckle and attach it to my own piece of ribbon. I loved the idea but explained, I needed the belt that evening and wouldn't be able to do it.  The lady kindly offered to do it for me if I went and bought some ribbon and then pointed me in the direction of the 2nd fabulous shop I found, your gonna love this, it's called The Fluff-a-Torium! what a fabulous name.  More about that in a bit.

I nipped to The Fluff-a-Torium and got myself some black ribbon, then the wonderful seamstress sewed the buckle I bought on to it for me! How great was that.  I love those random moments.

Here's a picture of my vintage 1920's buckle, I stupidly didn't actually take a picture of me wearing it but it did suit the dress well and I love the idea that the buckle was vintage. It makes me think of how it may of been warn originally and by who.

Here's a couple of the homemade belt placed on the dress, you can kind of get the idea. Sorry about the quality of the pictures, they really don't do the dress or belt any justice but it's getting late and I'm afraid they're the best I could do this evening.

Now I mentioned earlier The Fluff-s-Torium. I think that's a fantastic name for a shop.

There is so much gorgeous stuff in there from craft making to haberdashery bits and bobs.  There are several classses and workshops tha tare run here. I am seriously considering doing one to help get me started with my sewing.

 Here's the link to the fabulous webiste and blog, http://www.gilliangladrag.co.uk/.

As you may have read in my Christmas posts, I was a lucky girl and Hubby bought me my first sewing machine. Finding out about the classes at The Fluff-A-Torium got me thinking, so I started searching for some other local classes or workshops and I found another 2 great places which hold workshops.

http://www.makemeworkshops.com

Make Me workshops our held in Cobham Surrey. They have workshops ranging in all sorts of DIY crafts, jewellery making, paper crafts, sewing and knitting and Embroidery to name but a few.

I also found a shop called Thread Bear, which is about 10 minutes away from me and I never knew! It's a place to buy fabric, haberdashery and patterns  I popped into there today and apart from having lots of great stuff, it's such a friendly place.  They're happy to give you any advice you need and they also run workshops and regular meet ups there.

http://www.thread-bear.co.uk/

I bought myself a piece of fabric, lace and ribbon trim and a zipper in preparation for my first sewing project.

Well that's if for now, there was more stuff I wanted to show you but that can wait for another week, it's getting late and I'm feeling kind of tired. I should be more organised and get my posts done earlier but there you go.  I'm afraid most of the stuff I shared is all about my local area not much good for my readers who live many miles away, some of which are all the the way over the other side of the pond.  What I'd say to you is, it's worth taking some time (when you have it, I know time is precious) and checking out what's happening in your local area or investigation places you haven't been to before.  You never know what you might find and what's been right under your nose..  Thread Bear has apparently been open for 25 years and I've only just discovered it! I bet you discover something you never knew was happening or was there in your area.

Oh one last thing, my Blogiversary Giveaway is ending next Wednesday so if you haven't already get your entries in, it's open to both the UK and Internationally and there are 3 cute prizes to win.

Link to original post, take a peek it's easy to enter!

Down Blogging Memory Lane

Do you ever look back at your old posts, to see how far you've come or how things have changed?  As it is coming up to my 2nd Blogiversary I've been doing just that, showing some old posts some love.  Last time I looked at my first ever posts on The Tales of Me, which was really strange because reading those posts it just feels like another life time even though it was only a couple of years ago.  So much has happened in my life since then, both good and bad.  It's weird reading back at my old posts and what I thought then to what I actually know now. Today I'm taking a look at some of my most popular posts over the past 2 years. 

After discovering blogging, I also discovered my geeky side. Initially blogs often start off quite simple and as you learn new things it can be quite addictive adding new widgets or backgrounds to your blog (or maybe that's just me).  Since I first started  my blog, the design has changed and improved.  There is so much stuff out there you can do with your blog, it's amazing. When I learn something new I like to share, so I started up my 'How to' posts. One of my most popular posts has been 'How to add an email widget'

 How to add an email me widget to your blog

Great minds...

I know we are well past Christmas now but there is something I forgot to share with you that I wanted to.  Hubby and I always get each other Christmas cards, unbeknown to us though, this Christmas we actually managed to buy each other very, very similar cards.  They had different designs on them but the wording was nearly identical!  When we both opened our cards and started to read them we just cracked up and couldn't stop laughing at the fact we'd chosen such similar cards for each other! (apologies for poor quality of photos).

Goodbye 2012

Hey everybody, I hope you've all had a good start to the new year so far!  I've Had a crazy busy week already and not had a chance to do any of my planned posts yet so only 4 days into the new year and I'm behind schedule! Hmm, lets ignore that fact for now, I shall come back to it later.  so  to the first of my new year posts....

New year, this is the time we all look back at the year that's passed with nostalgia. Reminiscing over the good and bad moments and thinking about taking stock of our lives.  We start thinking about the resolutions we all enthusiastically make and rapidly find we break.  Do you agree?  Are you sad to say goodbye 2012 or happy to see the back of it?

A Christmas tale

Well it's more of an update then a tale really, but tale sounded better.
*Warning: a bit picture heavy, apologies*

So did you survive Christmas? All that time and preparation and it's over in a flash isn't it.  We had a wonderful time, Christmas day it was just myself, Hubby, Spike and The Olds, but we had a lovely day.  As per normal we cooked and ate far too much food.  We got up and the first thing we did was light the fire, burning last years Christmas tree, a tradition of ours.

Blog Lovin!

Firstly a big hello and welcome to my newest followers! Pleased to meet you.
                                               

Oh what a day! Ventured to Morrisons to do Our Christmas shop and it was CRAZY!!!!!! Kind of all done now, although nearly had a heart attack when I saw how much the bill came to! We may have got a little carried away (as per normal) and now have stacks of food.  Anyone would think we're cooking for 10 people (only 4 Christmas day, 5 including pooch)  I tell you what though, I just love to have so much choice of food in our cupboards and fridge!  It's great!

Fancy a peek?

I follow lots of bloggers and some of them I have got to know well and some I'm still getting to know. One of the things I love about blogging is getting to know new people and making new friends.  I have found people within the blogging community are a friendly and welcoming bunch.  In today's post I'm letting you into a little bit of my home, so you can get to know me a little better...

Have I really been off work for 9 weeks?

So, I'm back home from my first day back at work in 9 weeks and I tell you what, it feels like I never left. As I drove into work I was feeling quite nervy but underneath those nerves there were a few excitement butterflies fluttering around at the thought that I was going back to work and things were getting back to normal (well as normal as I ever was).  It took me the time to walk through the patients waiting room on my way to the Treatment Room where I work, for those 9 weeks to be forgotten.  As I was walking in I saw one of my diabetic gentlemen who quickly came to have a word about his medication, at this point I hadn't even taken my jacket off but I felt most of my worries and anxieties start to fade along with those nine weeks.  In a matter of minutes it felt like I'd never been off work at all.