Murray

Pavement Paintings

2007-05-02T12:05:00.000Z

We were just listening to the radio in the office and they were discussing a case about children who had been issued fines for drawing on pavement with chalk, hopscotch etc. Totally ridiculous.

Anyway, they mentioned a guy - Julian Beever who does pavement artwork, have a look at his website, click on each image for a larger version. I've never seen anything like it - it's amazing.

Record time

2007-04-25T08:02:00.000Z

Not sure if it was record time, but it felt like i cycled to work today in record time, even overtook a couple of people (wow!!) - and feeling great for it!

Gary was away at a conference end of last week and part of the weekend, so Lucy and i went swimming and saw some friends and generally had a nice time. I got slightly hocked on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on Friday, thinking it would be just an hour episode but turned out to be two hours - great show, if you haven't seen it then watch it, i often find myself having a little weep - it's just good.

Also whilst Gary was away i made a start on the kitchen floor - long after the burst pipe incident. I got part way through it when Gary arrived home just in time to do the tricky bits. So we're half way there with the floor and will finish the rest tonight - hurrah, at last some floor in the kitchen. Now that wasn't quite record time.

I'm back

2007-04-18T08:04:00.000Z

It's been over a month since i last posted - sorry about that, there's no excuses really other than work and life have been busy!

It feels like I've done loads in that time - we've been skiing, had a really great time no injuries just lots of laughter. Lucy turned 3 over Easter - she shares her birthday with my mum. So we went to Kent to celebrate both birthdays, and on the Saturday went to Chesington World of Adventures which was brilliant. We went with my mum and dad and my sister and brother-in-law and their 3 children, Lucy had a really great - even this morning she was recalling the berry bouncer and the pink jumbo elephants.

As a joint present from us and others for Lucy's birthday we're buying a climbing frame and swing, which means we need to get the garden sorted out. So we've been spending most of our spare time doing the garden. It's all cleared now (virtually) and almost ready for turfing, but we've got to replace the fence first - especially as Lou-Lou thinks that next doors garden is just an extension of hers!!

PS - you'll probably notice i've gone back to the old template - think i prefer this one

Not long now

2007-03-02T08:52:00.000Z

I can't believe it's been three weeks since i last blogged - I've obviously been busy doing things, but not sure quite what!

My sister came to stay with her three children - Nikki, Beth and Ashley slept in the front room downstairs and Cameron slept under Lucy's bed, until he developed and allergy to something and we had a visit to A and E. We had a great time though while they were here, we went swimming went to the park and went to the cadbury world playground.

We sadly said goodbye on Wednesday to Sarah who has been staying with us since the New Year. Sarah's husband James went back to Oz at the beginning of the year and Sarah flys back to Oz at the weekend, but she left us on Wednesday. It's been really nice having her stay and it's been great getting to know them both, we've appreciate their generosity and friendship - we shall miss them.

This time next week, we'll be getting ready to head off to the slopes. We leave on Friday and arrive in Switzerland on Saturday afternoon - after a long and hopefully not too uncomfortable coach journey. Gary and i are both really looking forward to going - Lucy is going on her own 'special holiday' and staying with Grandma and Grandad for the first half and then my sister for the second half. She'll be busy and she'll love it.

I probably won't get chance to post anything until we come back - so i'll share some photos with you.

The Snow

2007-02-14T09:06:00.000Z

Butterfly Park

2007-02-07T17:22:00.000Z

We went to the butterfly park in Stratford on Saturday - Lucy (and her daddy!) loved it.

Lucy spent most of the time walking round with her hands out waiting for a butterfly to land on her hand - which of course didn't happen, but we managed to pick one up and put if on her hand.

Then half way round we went into the small 'insects area' - that is what it was labeled as! Luckily I got Gary to check it out first, as it looked a little dark and looked like there might be a 'snake' area in there - and there was! Glad I didn't go in there. Lucy was a little put out that I didn't go and see the "big snake"! So I told her that was always daddy's job.

For the first time...again!

2007-01-27T20:17:00.000Z

Wow, sometimes it feels like I'm often doing things for the first time. This either means that that I'm just a bit sad at catching up with things or... I'm not quite sure what!

Anyway for thr first time, I'm login on and updating the blog at an internet cafe - can't believe this is really a first for me!!

This week has been an eventful week, actually thinking about it, this year has already had a few events to write about, but I'm still positive and excited about 2007!! The week began at Netball on Monday when my friend (Lucy's best friend's mum), had a little collisionn and very badly sprained her leg, it was (and still is) very swollen and black and blue and she's now on crutches and has a air boot for a couple of weeks!

Then I got a stinking cold and the dishwasher decided to stop working (again!), but the most exciting was still to come. On Friday I had a fantastic day out shopping - spending some vouchers I had been given, I haven't yet managed to spend them all. I started off in Starbucks, did a few shops, met Gary for lunch, did a few more shops then headed home with quite a few bags. I had a great day.

Then (wait for it, this is the exciting bit!), in the evening Gary was filling the bath up for Lucy and I was on the phone, when a water pipe in the kitchen burst and water gushed out everywhere. At first we couldn't quite work out where it was coming from as it literally sounded like an overfull drain pipe. The Gary moved the washing machine to find the water spurting out, and he then had to move the dishwasher to turn the water off. All very exciting, in an odd kind of way! The new floor that Gary laid just before New Year is slightly ruined to say the least but the insurance people are coming out on Monday and will fix that.

So on we role to the next month...

English Country Garden

2007-01-19T13:45:00.000Z

The other day I was doing Lucy's hair, and she started singing, that's not unusual - she often does that! Anyway at 2 and a half years old - I hear her sing "pull down your pants and suffocate the ants in an english country garden" although she couldn't quite say suffocate.

I was amazed, so I asked her, who taught her that song. She had a little think, looked at me and said .... "daddy..." surely not, then she started listing a load of names, obviously wanting to 'protect' the real culprit, who I found out later was daddy! She's such a daddies girl. Unfortunately as I laughed and then quizzed her about it she thought it was funny and kept saying "did I make you laugh mummy". Oh she's a one. So I told her it was a naughty song and later when I caught myself singing it she said "don't sing that mummy, it's a naughty song"!

The lunch hour!

2007-01-17T13:47:00.000Z

Nearly got completed thrashed, actually have been totally thrashed at Table Football but not today.

The youth have bought a Table Football amongst other things (table tennis, air hockey etc), and at the moment it's in one of the rooms at the offices. So after a quick game of pool it's onto Table Football - I love the frustration and excitement of the game. When your men don't do what you want them to do (does that ever happen), and you look completely stupid swinging your men back and forth hitting air because you keep missing the ball.... or is that just me? And then somehow you score a goal. YEAH!!

Nothing like a bit of competitiveness in the lunch hour!

New Year new....

2007-01-12T13:28:00.000Z

Hope you had a great Christmas and New Year - even though it seems like ages ago! New Year, new... I was going to say you as we're on a diet to lose a few pounds! But the New Year so far has been new things for the house. Washing machine broke last week, right after Lucy was sick all over me and her bed (not so nice), poor Lucy, but she's better now. Also the radiator decided to burst in the middle - spurting water onto the wall - not a big spurt but still a spurt. So New Year, new... radiator and washing machine (at some point), new flooring in the kitchen, new sofa bed and new wardrobes. Wow what a start to the year.

It's only just begun

2006-12-13T10:44:00.000Z

Yes I have made yet another appearance in the newspaper....stardom here I come. Well not quite, but it all begins somewhere!! Last week we had a photo shoot for the Carols in the City event we're involved with on Saturday. Lots of preparation and work has been done and amazingly we're all organised and sorted - we just need to get on with it. So if you're around in Birmingham on Saturday 16 December go to Victoria Square for fun and an outdoor Carol event at 4.30pm. Oh and take a look at Birmingham Forward newspaper!

Not surprisingly life has been busy with Christmas not far away. From the beginning of December we only had 3 free evenings! But the good thing is most of our evenings were/are nice social things and catching up with friends.

Little Lou-lou is doing well, she doesn't quite understand the whole Christmas thing..... she is only two and half! But seems excited, when you ask her what Father Christmas might bring her for Christmas, she has a little think and says "maybe he might bring me a present" very sweet. What's probably even cuter (if that's a word!) is that she opens her calendar every day and is amazed there's a chocolate there, every day! But then tries to stick her fingers down behind the doors to find more chocolates!

I'm really looking forward to Christmas, as I'm looking forward to going to Kent for a week and seeing family, with no agenda or things to do but enjoy myself, relax and catch-up with peeps.

Oh my goodness...

2006-11-17T10:37:00.000Z

I can't believe it has been so long, in updating the blog - sorry. But hey, life has been busy.

We moved into out house a couple of week ago, and it's fantastic to be in. So nice to finally feel like I can sort and order things. There are a few boxes we've yet to unpack, but as storage is a little issue, unpacking becomes a little harder! But we're getting there. Lucy really loves her bedroom, we were given a cabin bed, which is fantastic - it takes up most of her room but she loves it, loves playing with her toys underneath, and generally can't wait to get to bed... now that can't be a bad thing! May it continue. Oh, and of course she loves to have Erin round to play now she's just round the corner.

There's a few jobs to finish, but that's probably always the way with houses, it's just so nice to be in, to have a kitchen and bathroom and bedroom and .....space. We're really grateful to those that have had us staying, they've been such a blessing.

So now we're in life is steaming towards Christmas and I can't believe it's nearly here already!

Work seems to be busier than ever, both for Gary and I. There's lots going on and our office is excitingly preparing for Carols in the City. The beanie hats have just arrived, the chocolates have been delivered, the glowsticks are here and the flyers are being sent out. Just a few more things to get and we're ready!!!

Well that's it for now. When I've got a bit more time I'll put some photos up of the house.

Should i be proud?

2006-10-23T19:06:00.000Z

Am not sure whether this is something to be proud of or not????

For the first time ever I finished a whole balti; Balti Chicken Dhansak was the lucky dish! Had to take a picture as evidence, even though I did get a few 'weirdo' comments as I was taking the picture from Mr Jones!

Proud or not? What do you think?

Can you believe it

2006-10-23T18:55:00.000Z

Well the busy weeks go on, but next week we finally have the carpets arriving.... YEAH..... Then we move in - on that same day, next Tuesday, am really looking forward to it. I'll keep you posted, and take some pictures with the carpets in so you can see the transformation.

Crazy or not, probably crazy but hey, my parents are coming up on the Tuesday evening - hence moving in on the same day as Carpet day. I'm not quite sure who's more crazy.. my parents.. or us! Anyway, Dad is going to help put a shed a up, amongst many other things I'm sure. I'm going with my mum to have a 'style consultation', Trinny and Suzannah fashion, but hopefully not quite as brutal :o)

So I'm finally looking forward to next week.

From one to another

2006-10-04T12:44:00.000Z

Weekend to weekend, it's what it feels like at the moment - bit of a mixed blessing, but we're nearly there! I'm loving what we've been doing at weekends but also feeling slighty tired (!!!).

Last weekend we were away at a church leaders weekend at Hothorpe Hall, which was lovely. However it was still quite busy for me as I was working here and there, but nevetheless it was great to have the chance to catch-up with some friends that we don't always have the time to catch-up with. God also did some fantastic stuff at the weekend, for both Gary and I. I have found things quite tough lately because there is so much going on, which has often meant that when I spend time with God or am in worship I have a bit of a barrier up as I feel there's too much to think about or sort through. Well, as you can probably guess, God decided to sort through some of the stuff at the weekend and break the 'dam' that I had built, so that was good.

Lucy enjoyed it, playing with friends and generally having fun, she loved her little bed. On the Sunday we had chance to pray for all the kids that were there, this was a brilliant time and at the end of it Lucy was telling me about the Angels that were at the back of the stage area that she was singing with - fantastic.

This week has so far proved to be fairly busy, with a long unexpected trip to Ikea, don't we just love that place!! We got our kitchen from Ikea - it looks great - but have had a few broken things and things missing. Anyway after that I went to Netball - must be crazy as really was shattered but needed some Sarah time. Last night we had cell, tonight we've catching up with some friends then tomorrow we off to Kent for an 80 celebration at the weekend.

Oh it's a busy time in murray's house going from one to another......

In the loop

2006-09-27T12:36:00.000Z

Well a lot has happened since i last posted, and i can't possibly write it all down - you might get a bit bored!!

The house is nearly there, can you believe it, we will soon be in... i'll hold back on giving a date though! When we're done, i'll do a little 'from this.... to this...' film strip. And of course we'll have a house warming party, which you just can't miss.

We've got a few busy weekends, in September, the weekend before last Gary worked on the house, and i went to London to the 125 Anniversay of the Church we use to go to. It was a great time, very nice to catch-up with people and i was amazaed at all the info they had including originals from when the church started in 1881. So that was a good time, tiring as i was trying (not very well!!) to stop Lucy sticking her fingers in the cake, climbing up the stacked charis, removing her clothes and dancing round the grass with nothing but her socks her because she was hot... and and catching the buggie (or not catching it) as it fell backwards whilst lucy was supposed to be 'sleeping' uuuummm!

Last weekend was the youth weekend away - it was a really great weekend, God did some fantastic sutff and we all had a lot of fun. Lucy and Erin made a great terrible twosome running here there and everywhere - most of the photo's are blurred as it was tricky to get a photo of them standing still!! But they had a good time too.

Well, this weekend we've got the church leaders weekend away, no doubt Erin and Lucy will have fun at that and i hope we will too - i'll let you know.

if only....

2006-09-13T09:12:00.000Z

If only there was a camera in the office (not really) but just on this occasion, we do have them now and then.

Nige and I just had a 'Wayne's World' moment to queen - you can't beat that for Wednesday morning office work/entertainment. You've really missed out on that one peeps :o)

What happened to the week?

2006-09-13T08:39:00.001Z

No really, what happened to the week - it's suddenly disappeared!

At the end of last week, we went down to Kent for Gary's Nan funeral, which went well. It was really nice to see family but not so nice circumstances! Gary's Nan was 87, and there's no doubt she's in heaven having a good time, or as Lucy said "She's a having party, like Noddy!". When she was ill in hospital, the chaplain came to see her, and after much chatting said "Marjorie, can I pray for you", to which see replied "don't pray for me, lets pray for all these other people in here that are poorly and don't know Jesus or where they're going" - what faith!

So we had a nice time seeing different people and staying with my family - and of course Jordan the dog. Then when we came back we went to the 'secret Garden'.... Across the road from where we are staying there is a park that you have to have a key for, which Lucy loves, and so do I. It's surprising as you'd never know it's there, and it's so big, with a lovely lake, great for picnics... although they'll be few and far between now we're getting into September, and as Suzie said...Christmas is coming! Then I'll really be asking, what happened to the weeks.

2006-09-06T08:08:00.000Z

Thank You

Gary and I have been married 9 wonderful years today, and he bought me some lovely roses.

I can't believe it's 9 years, it's been great to share those years with Gary with all the up's and down's life brings . We've moved about during that time, but most of the years we've been in sunny Birmingham. So we look forward to the future years, and all that God has is in store for us.

The colour goes on

2006-09-01T11:32:00.000Z

Yes.... finally the colour goes on - in more ways than one!

Last weekend we spent a fair bit of time painting, it's great to see some colour go on the walls, and it's amazing the difference it makes. It's really beginning to look like a house, and also feels like we're nearly there. We've not got much left to paint now, just one bedroom upstairs and two main rooms downstairs. The 'sparkys' have been doing the finally fittings, we got the lights today to go up, so really not long now. So here are some lovely pics so you can see how we're doing, and yes to prove that I have been painting!!!

I know it looks yellow, but it's not - that's the flash on my camera, it's magnolia ceiling with white walls.

Now the other colour that has been going on is me, not just when painting the walls - I do look like I've been rolling in the paint before putting it on the wall - I just like to get 'in there'!!! Anyway, I went with a couple of friends and had my colours done - this was part of a birthday present for my big 30!

I have learnt that I'm a "sunny spring", and that nearly all the clothes in my wardrobe are the wrong colour! Oh dear, what a shame I'll have to go shopping :o) but seriously I was surprised the difference it made when the lady put a colour against me that wasn't right, I either looked 'blotchy' or I looked pale and washed out, in fact slightly blue! Not a good look. But before I get into buying the right colours, another present I had for my birthday was a 'style' consultation - so I'll let you know how that goes. Once I've done that I'm hoping to be transformed..... mmm.... let's just wait and see.

On the move once again

2006-08-23T08:44:00.000Z

Yes we're moving again today, not in our house just yet, but hopefully soon. So in the meantime we're moving to some friends in Moseley. We're feeling a little jaded and tired this morning, as we were moving things last night, and then the small things this morning - like toothbrush, hair dryer - the all essentials!

Lucy was a little unsure this morning, not really wanting to go the childminders, which is very unusual for her, and also asking

"where's ann?"..."I didn't get to see her"

But I'm sure she'll be fine once she gets playing/painting or something else that's fun.

So a big thank to Ann for having us stay for a little while, it's been wonderful, we've all loved it, especially the Godfrey, the Bill Johnson, the inevitable spilling of something (always bound to be one of us!), the sprinkler, the paddling pool, the raspberry picking, the many laughs and of course the Ann Wolf. But don't worry we'll come round looking for the gnomes! So just as a reminder here are a few pictures.

A skip and a brush

2006-08-22T09:37:00.000Z

Saturday turned out to be a bit of a full-on day. The skip arrived at about 9am and we set to work to clear the rubbish and rubble in the garden - and wow what a difference. We now have a patio that you can see. Previously you could step out of the back door and walk down the rubbish into the garden - now there's about a 4ft drop to the patio - we worked hard, actually Gary worked very hard and a friend James came to help.

They then spent the afternoon clearing the garden while I went to a 1st birthday party (me and Lucy). Lucy had a great morning with her good friend Nikki and of course not forgetting Charlie the dog. Lucy managed to accumulate a little till...for practising her shopping (very important)... and some caterpillar slippers!

Tomorrow we're moving to some other friends, hopefully only for a couple of weeks and then we can move into our house. The builder is doing a great job, the plastering is nearly all finished bar a couple of rooms, and the worktops for the kitchen arrive today so they'll be cracking on with that no doubt. That just leaves a lot of painting, so if youÂre a dab-hand with a brush and you're free.....

There's always a first...

2006-08-18T13:45:00.000Z

When did you last do something for the firstime?

Having Lucy means this happens quite a lot! in the past week the list has been numerous. Firstly we're out of nappies - horrah! Secondly we went to London to visit Gary's nan who is poorly in hospital, Lucy's hasn't been into hospital to visit anyone yet. We managed to keep her from pulling various wires and drips out, but as usual she manages to make quite a few people smile.

So for the first time she went on a London tube 'Very exciting', then on a London bus, which we tried to teach her to say in her best luunnduun accent. After all the days activities we went to visit some v good and lovely friends in West London - Pete & Suzie Leveson.

Another first for Lucy was telling us she wanted to do a pooh - at least she told us in time, we were in the middle of a park so I managed to find some trees - kind of discrete. At least it was discrete until Lucy had finished and came running out shouting....'"Daddy, I've done a pooh, I've done a pooh Daddy"!! There's always a first!

Finally the facial

2006-08-18T13:41:00.000Z

I finally had my first facial on Wednesday, thanks to a very nice gift for my birhday. It's taken me a long time to have one, but it was great - i would highly recommend it, felt very refreshed and relaxed. I now have a few freebies to try...mmm.

2006-08-02T15:57:00.000Z

hey peeps,

Well this could the first of many or the first of not so many - we'll see how it goes. Always start with best intentions but .....life kind of happens.... we'll see.

Today is last the working day for me for about two weeks. Am going to be off visiting lovely friends and family next week, spending time with loopy lou, then maybe doing a girlie pamper for a bit before i come back to the dizzy heights of Network House.

So until my next one, take care