Today Was A Odd Day

Source: guardian.co.uk via Freya on Pinterest

All over the country teachers and support staff have been on strike over the government's plans to make changes and cuts to the ways pensions are calculated- Which simply means a lot of people will be left short changed when they retire.

Naturally, there are many arguments on either side of this debate, but as the daughter of a teacher, daughter-in-law of a teacher, sister-in-law of a teacher, wife of a teacher and someone contemplating going into teaching myself, I don't agree that teachers should be forced to work longer, or receive less in retirement.

Especially as I once read that for every year one teaches after the age of 55 your life expectancy decreases.

So, today I had to go into school today as I haven't joined a union because I'm just a temp in the school.  And it was the quietest place you've ever been!  There was maybe 5 people in the whole school.  Basically I spent four hours getting paper work I never have the time to do done, when people are around and needing things from me.

I can't say I know all the issues surrounding todays stikes, but I hope that those striking have their views heard, and had a nice day off.


Freya May

CU Houseparty

That time of year again, when the Christan Union head off to the country for a weekend of fun, frolics, food and fellowship.

Houseparty is an age old tradition of Christian Unions to escape to the country for a weekend, to spend time getting to know one another and learning about God's word.  And play games, of course.

We have had the privilege of being able to go each year of university, so it was a honor to be asked to return this year to help out and cater for the 60 odd students who went (I mean around 60 students, not that there were 60 strange students there).

It was a blessing that everything run smoothly in the kitchen, and I'm grateful for the helpful hands.  Neither of us have catered full meals for that number of people before, so the challenge was great!

I hope everyone had a great time, and got a lot out of the teachings and the studies.

Thank you for having us!

Freya May

Found on Pinterest #1

I'm going to start a weekly 'Found on Pinterest' post, starting NOW!

So, this week on Pinterest...

Things I'm lusting after, fashion wise.

Source: polyvore.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: yesstyle.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: gallery.me.com via Freya on Pinterest

Source: shop.nordstrom.com via Freya on Pinterest

Well, those are my offerings, tune in next week for Things I MUST Bake.

Freya May

NanoWriMo

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Here is my one and only NaNoWriMo update, to let you know how I'm doing-  Not particularly well...

After the first week I had written around 4500 words, which sounds good, until u realise I should have written roughly 11,000 by then :-S

The second week, I managed to write a further 1000 odd words, but that was it! :-(

I found that I struggled to keep any kind of momentum going, and I really hadn't prepared very well so I struggled to know where my story was going, and I struggled with a writers block case of no inspiration

After the second week, I've not written anything, so I'm so far behind I am giving up this year.  There is no way I could catch up in the next week.

So, I am not one of the 30,000 people who 'win' NaNoWriMo, but I'm ok with that.  I'm part of the 220,000 people who have had a go at completing a life time ambition, not succeeded, but is totally up for trying again next year.

So, I have just 11 months to start planning a new story, hummm.....

Freya May

Just Two Weeks

Until Naomi and Shadrack get themselves MARRIED!

I'm so excited for these crazy kids!  They are one of the loveliest couples I know, God-focused, loving, generous, and awesome. 

I was at Naomi's hen do this weekend.  We had a girly sleepover, movies, cakes, a trip to a spa, wine and giggles.  I met some of her friends from her gap year to Uganda, and her housemates from university.  All of whom were wonderful.

Another weekend gone all too quickly,

Freya May

*Photo taken by my Mummy :-)

Busy Bee

Hey,

I'm sorry I didn't post these yeasterday, they're still not great photos, but they are the best I could do- I'm still learning about my camera.

These are some of the things I'm making for the craft fair in a week.

I've made five of these teacup candles and was thinking of selling these for £4-5 each, what do you think?





And these super cute teacup charm necklaces, and the swallow necklace charm (£3-4 each)

I've loved making this stuff for the fair, need to get on with making bunting and chalk boards next!!!

Freya May

Small people...

...I'm married to one...for those of you that know Freya, this is Dave typing...for those of you that haven't met her but are reading this blog...she's the small one, and I'm the tall one in this marriage!

I have a question for any of you out there who may know the answer to my conundrum...

...why...are small people...so feisty!?...

Anybody!?

Please!?

...my wife just broke my toe!

(Ask her for details!)

I would appreciate any small person-related enlightenment with regard to this topic!

Thanks in advance

Peace out ombres!

Husband (Dave!)

Living for the Weekends

Totally feeling this way at the moment, we're super busy each and every weekend from now till Christmas day. 

This weekend involved going to the fair on Tuesday night, going to a switchfoot gig on Friday night, birthday party on Saturday night and SLEEEEEP on Sunday.

Here are some photos of the fair. 

I'm still learning how to use my camera, it's just a pocket Olympus VG-120, but I know its capable of doing decent photos once I learn about the settings- Any hints???

But, even more exciting than everything we did this weekend- I'm going to a Hen Party next weekend!!!  It's going to be AMAZING :-)

And only three more working days to get there!

Have you had a good weekend?  What have you been up to? 

And check back tomorrow, I have been busy making crafts for the stall in two weeks (about time really!) and would love to show them to you!

Frey May

New Stuff

Source: vi.sualize.us via Freya on Pinterest

Hey Y'all,

You might have noticed some changes on this blog so I wanted to talk you through them!

First up- I want to draw your attention to the buttons down the side.  They are links to wonderful blogs written by some great women on both sides of the Atlantic  They, too, write about their lives, loves, ideas and food.  I want to recomend you take a few minutes and take a look around.

Secondly, I've added a recipe link at the top there ^  it's a catalog of the recipes I've written about, making it easy to find :-)

And, the 25 before 25 link.  Life is short, so I have jumped on the bucket list bandwagan and wrote up some of the things I want to do to make the next 2 1/2 years interesting and memorable. 

I love having people read my blog, and want to thank you for finding me interesting enough to take up some of your time :-)  You make me happy :-D

Have a great day!

Freya May

I made us a Den

As a treat for Dave, who is having a tough time at work :-)

It feels like the whole world goes away when your tucked up in all there, I love it!

I don't know how long we'll get to keep it up for though, hoping at least to the wkd, but we do have parents visiting us so...

I used sheets, the sofa, the dining chairs, our clothes airer and a mop to keep the ceiling up!

Best Day EVER!

Freya May



Found this on Pinterest, had to add it to the blog

Source: polyvore.com via Freya on Pinterest

Coffee Cupcakes, Yes Please!

Ingredients

• 150g butter
• 200g caster sugar
• 2 medium eggs
• 200g flour
• 4 tea spoons of instant coffee desolved in 2 table spoons of boiling water (adjust acording to taste)

Cream the butter and sugar, add the eggs, then add the flour, and add the coffee at the end.

Divide between 12 cupcake cases, cook at 180oC in a preheated oven for 20 minutes, or untill they spring back when lightly pressed.

Take out and let cool while you make icing!

Icing Recipe- Cream Cheese Coffee Icing

• 100g cream cheese
• large spoon of butter
• 400g icing sugar
• 2 tea spoons of instant coffee desolved in boiling water

Cream all the ingredents together, add more icing sugar if needed for thickness.

Tasty! Enjoy!

Freya May

NaNoWriMo Update

Source: lovequotesrus.tumblr.com via Danielle on Pinterest

Well, It isn't really going that well.  I've reached 4302 words (should be around 10,00 by now) but I'm persevering.

I started out with a very limited idea of what i wanted to write about and I think that was my biggest error.  I took all over Thursday off to sit and plan so I knew where I was going.  That go me very behind (not like I wasn't already behind anyway) but at least I had a plan to work with then.

Am going to try and write some more later this evening, but right now, I have just finished my first chapter (out of 16ish) so am rewarding my self with a hot shower and a cup of tea!

I knew this was going to be hard, I did not realize I would fall back into procrastinating habits :-)

Freya May

NaNoWriMo Stats
Total words written: 4302
Words written today: 579

Fireworks Night

Source: google.co.uk via Freya on Pinterest

Hope you all have a great Guy Fawlks Night!  Fireworks all round!

Freya May

So, this week...

*WARNING* Wordy Blog Post

Source: Uploaded by user via Jade on Pinterest

I'm second on second week of work, I have three weeks to go until the craft fair (have I blogged that yet?) and have started my novel for NaNoWriMo, and I have fallen SOOO behind with house work type things.

Work has been great! I officially took over the role today, and I did great! I've learnt all the lessons I need for day to day activities, and the other staff are super helpful when something random and out of the ordinary happens. 

And, now I'm getting up early Monday through Friday, I have a new appreciation for the effort that Dave and other people with grown-up jobs have to go through- Work is hard! :-)

We, that is me and my Father-in-Law, Pete, are busy making things for a craft fair at the end of the month.  He's an armature photographer and makes wonderful cards with his photos.  Over the last 4 weeks he's made over 400 of them!!!

And I am making bunting and chalk boards.  And, hopefully, if I succeed in getting the technique, glass bottle vases and voltives.

I'll post some photos as soon as I can :-)

I haven't written a thing for NaNoWriMo to day, having been at work, then volunteering this afternoon.  So I've got 1,600 words to write tonight still- Oh, what have I got myself in for????

To be honest, I haven even really decided on where my story is going- I've just got a premise that need developing :-s

And housework... errr, well, just check out the pile of dishes I had left to wash on Tuesday on this post.

And I won't show you the laundry pile- it's all getting too much :-(  Lucky for me I have a wonderful husband to help me with everything, between his naps and lesson planning that is :-)

And Now, the TV is off, I have pudding and a cup of coffee.  Lets get down to business and kick this 1,600 word targets ass!!

Freya May

Grown Up Fail

So, been busy with work and NaNoWriMo ect, so have kinda fallen behind with the house work- oppps

Yes, every one of those dishes is dirty...

Freya May