Feeling down today :(

today wasn't the best of days *sigh* i have resided myself to the fact that we will not be visiting family back in the UK anytime soon, its just too expensive what with the flights, the dog kennel fees etc etc, i spoke to mum using skype and it was a nice surprise that my brother was there too, so nice to hear their voices but its not the same as needing a hug!

I remember this empty feeling from last Christmas its just terrible, i know its gonna take alot to get through another festive season without seeing them even though Canada is where we feel we belong. To our new friends here in BC, i will be counting on you for diversional therapy !

On a happier note MR E.R bought me a bird feeder, its hung right outside the dining room window, i have always loved bird watching from being a little girl, so was my delight to see the most colourful woodpecker on my feeder today *grin* until i realised how much it could eat !!!!!! so i shall be going to the store tomorrow for a SACK of bird feed.

I also found my guest bed ...it was under the mountain of ironing i had but alas its done, i even had time to make Christmas cards for my in-laws.

for the past few nights its been 'Movie' night in the E.R household... i can highly recommend Eclipse for those who have not seen it but i disliked the Expendables....it was just has been actors trying to look like they are as good as they use to be highly disappointed. Tonight's choice by Mr E.R is 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' which I've been waiting to watch, so on that note off i go to get ready for the movies :)

have a wonderful evening all

Mrs E.R x

Almost days off

Thank the lord or as my co-workers say 'sweet baby jesus' its been a very busy set of shifts and im longing to curl up in my bed - the next 4 hours can hurry along !

It wont be much of a sleep today too excited for the christmas party tonight :) and yes im wearing a dress !

hope you all have a wonderful day

E.R x

December where did you come from ?

Where has this year gone? it doesnt seem that a year ago me n hubby were preparing for our first christmas in canada ! and now here we are preparing for our second. Its been quite the year on the whole filled full of joy and happiness and lots to be thankful for, it has also been a very testing time in many ways and im hoping to put those behind us and move on.

I always find this time of year difficult especially in my profession where i see families lose their loved one's to illness, its also the anniversary of the loss of my dad who i miss terribly but i know he's up their having a blast!

 

The good part or maybe the bad depending on how you look at it is, the amount of treats that find themselves into the workplace and around my house. Considering there is only the two of us at home we do tend to over indulge and have way too much naughty things to eat, i will have to try not to do that this year but i cant promise anything....

MMMMMMMMMM

Alas my first two hand made christmas cards

I was determined to set some time aside to attempt to make some Christmas cards today, so using my 'Cricut' machine and the 'Christmas Cheer' cartridge I set to work.........

The Results :

This One is for my wonderful mother who I love dearly

This one is for my brother and his girlfriend

It took me a few hours to make just too as I'm new to this whole thing of card making and scrap booking... a novice as you may say but I'm pleased with the results, had alot of fun and just hope the family back home like them.

After the fun had finished it was back to the chores of ironing my scrubs for work tomorrow, i work the day shift, maybe with brokeshopaholic i think :) and will be wishing my 4 shifts to be as pleasant as possible for come Friday its my works Christmas party, I'm taking Mr English Rose and secretly i think he's a little nervous about meeting everyone *giggle* but i know he will take it in his stride as he always does.

Please feel free to comment on my efforts today

Bye for now x

Dec the halls !

So its that time of year again...yeah you got it when the snow falls and people either dont care about the risks of winter driving or they drive like they do if they were walking in it !  I have to say my experience of some canadian drivers leaves me steaming at the ears and thats during the summer, let alone in the winter time, not care in the world for their own safety let alone anyone elses, it drives me insane - pardon the pun ! you only have yourself to blame so if your behind me when im driving you'll notice i go S.L.O.W.L.Y not to annoy you to ensure I'M safe as i hate driving in the winter, us UK folk are not accustomed to driving in such conditions and ohhhhh was a pleased to be on days off when the snow fell. That day was 'pyjama day' in the Ehglish Rose household :) total Bliss ........... BUT i did have some play time as you can see :

And so after a little fun with the girls and the pretty surroundings it was back in doors to tackle the worst job for me yeah you got it ....... PUTTING UP THE TREE !

think i did a good job though ... whatta ya think?

Even Molly and Velvet wanted to join in the festive fun !

And we have light !

November to remember !

 

Hi Guy's,

Well its been quite the month in the English Rose household most of which has not been in a good way I'm sorry to report. To start with we have been struggling with 1 laptop which has been over heating and last week it finally gave up the fight and off to computer heaven it went, our other laptop went to see if it could be fixed, i wasn't expecting much after all, flames were seen coming outta the back ! and you guessed it the mother board got 'fried'. how upset i was to go a week without the WWW at my fingertips.

My husbands truck broke down in Abbotsford last week, he had to get towed home and we don't have breakdown coverage, my truck decided she would do the same 2 days after my husbands mine was easy to fix a little hole in the pipe preventing her from running properly, alas they are both back on the road again for how long ? who knows !

The laptop situation has now been resolved as I'm typing this with my new one, getting use to the US keyboard is a bit weird the @ button is in a different place compared to my poorly UK laptop but i like the new one, as long as i can facebook, contact family in the UK then I'm happy.

Its also been very stressful at the office despite loving my job as an RN, the last few weeks have really made me think about my career, its been such a challenge coming to nurse in Canada and I'm so grateful for such wonderful co-workers who i admire so much, who support my learning, who show such compassion despite our difficulties but i remain proud to be part of such a team. I'm thinking it could be time for some changes in the near future and have to get organised!!

On a lighter note there have been some good times in the last month, i had a fab time with mum being here, i thought the five week visit would feel like a 'bit too much' if you hear what I'm saying but it wasn't that bad, we had a wonderful time, we enjoyed our 3 days in Whistler despite it raining all the time, we shopped - well that's what women do right ? and off course sampled the local beers on offer, husband did the cooking and i did the dog walking at ridiculous o'clock but a good time was had by all.

the final week with mum was nice and relaxed, we watched movies: Marley & Me, The Proposal and a few other tear jerkers and the rest of the week was spent having lunches in Clayburn Tea-Shop a little bit of home-from-home for us both and of course the food is just as good. It was emotional to see mum at the airport to go home, knowing we wont be there for her 70th Birthday on Jan 2nd is hard but god willing she will be back here trying to take over my kitchen again!

The last few days for me and hubby has been trying to cope in the ridiculous weather, OMG were not use to such cold in fact the coldest its been in the UK is -7. Its shocking, I'm paranoid in case the tortoises freeze to death now they're hibernating, the dogs aren't happy and its an excuse to stay snuggled in bed under the winter blankets :). Hubby and I are waiting to hear about our passport requests then we can have our permanent residency which has been 3 yrs in the waiting were excited but nervous too, it will change so much for us both to have the security of staying in this beautiful country. we cant wait to buy a house and truly settle down. In the meantime its back to work, keep everything crossed and hope Santa brings some Christmas cheer to the English Rose household x

Bye for now

Ms English Rose x

October is one of my fav months

I love this time of year ! gone are the very sweaty, not being able to sleep days replaced by pleasant days with beautiful autumn colours- better known here in Canada as 'Fall'. The crisp mornings and the warmth of the sun on your skin.....LOVE IT.

In the English Rose house hold it is the start of preparing the tortoises for hibernation, so Doris and Whistler are 1 week of 6 of starvation and the cooling of the temperatures in their 'house' so they graduall+y become slower and start to sleep, you see it takes 6 weeks for them to be 'poop free' sorry for the expression but they need to be cleared out or they can die. This will be my 2nd year of hibernating them and it makes me very nervous incase they dont wake up in a few months time.

My Mum has been on vacation almost 4 weeks now she goes back to the UK next friday :( there have been times when its been stressful, especially when she tries to take over the cooking !!!!!! but its going well and were looking forward to a weekend in Whistler. Its been nice to catch up on things too and just have her around, i have noticed that the dogs have put weight on though and mum swears 'im not giving them treats' ... yeah right !

Both hubby and I have been working very hard, when we do see each other its briefly or we cant be bothered to talk or were cranky so were looking forward to getting away. This last few weeks at 'the office' have been crazy busy and it shows with us all striving to do our best but often feeling you have achieved very little .Me n Step-Daughter have decided to make amends :) its taught us both alot about each other.

The last month has been a shopping fest which is fuelled by my mother... she is such a bad influence but it did result in me buying a new pair of black calf length sassy boots and yes i will put a pic of them on here, i dont normally buy black, i prefer brown but i love them and as you know if you dont love it dont buy it !

well thats my latest update i dont have time for anything else to tell you the office is calling ...........


bye for now :)