What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 492

Hello Everyone

I'm betting a few other WOYWWers have said this too, Wednesday already! Where have the last seven days gone? What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday seems to come round sooner every week. Could be I'm feeling the pressure now that it's only a few weeks to Christmas - so much to do, so little time.

My desk this morning, There's still a teetering pile to the right. That's an unfinished scrap layout just about balancing on the top. I'm uncertain how to finish it so it's there to remind me that I really should. The set of stamps, alphas and patterned paper might possibly be of use. That's my bullet journal, a work in progress, to the left. I've put a leaf punch to work as a temporary paperweight. What made me choose this Lonely Planet notebook is that it has quotations sprinkled throughout - all travel related in some way. Today's is - 'Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.' - Henry David Thoreau

Still on the desk, at the back, is the card I was working on last week, and just to the left are the supplies used. 

It's finished now, of course. Very pink!

Sock knitting has had to be abandoned in favour of knitting this medieval castle. It's for a little boy who will, I hope, love playing with the little characters. Three towers done so far, two more to do and, of course, all those tiny people.

My little trays of promise! Clearing out a garden shed I discovered a box of old seeds and decided to sow them in the hope that some are still viable. Either they will grow or they won't but I figured I had very little to lose by trying. I could end up with a lovely lot of bedding next year.

Finally, the book bit. I've been bingeing on thrillers. After the Alan Turing book I needed something less academic although I can't call any of these light relief.

I can only describe David Jackson's 'A Tapping At My Door' as a grim read. A serial  killer in Liverpool is murdering his victims in the most gruesome manner, and it becomes apparent to the detective assigned to the case that the threat isn't to the people of Liverpool - it's to the police.

'Painting the Darkness' by Robert Goddard is a historical mystery set in the late 19th century. The audio book is read by Michael Kitchen, he of Foyle's War. He has the perfect voice for a Victorian tale. The story is full of the twists and turns and the ending is truly shocking.

Elizabeth Haynes' 'Into the Darkest Corner' is a chilling psychological thriller about an abusive relationship and it's aftermath of OCD suffered by the main character, Cathy. Elizabeth Haynes worked for many years as a police analyst and I think it shows in the way the book is written. 

I found this last book very hard to put down, as the EM would attest to should you ask him. It's the one that will stay with me for the longest time, that's for sure.

If you haven't participated in What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday before but fancy joining in the fun do pop over to the Stamping Ground where you can find all the information you need here. It's really too easy, post a photo of your desk, tidy or messy it doesn't matter, and add your link to all the others. It's fun, you'll see.

In the meantime, have a very happy WOYWW and a great week ahead.

My Home Town

Hello Everyone ...

... from stormy parts today. It's wet, windy and grim ... such a contrast from yesterday's sun and bright blue skies.

I have a quick share today. It's the last of the layouts I managed to make at Mind The Scrap's recently cyber crop. In truth, I wasn't very productive - too many distractions that particular weekend. I'm not complaining though. at least there's a few more photos scrapped and now tucked away in the relevant albums.

This photo is of the High Street in Ayr where I have lived for the past eleven or so years. Like most towns up and down the UK, the High Street is suffering with lots of shops closing doors and very few new ones opening up. However, there's still a few nice shops, not to mention the ubiquitous charity shops. When I have time I like nothing better than a trawl round those. It also has, among the equally ubiquitous eyesores of the 60s and 70s, a few architecturally interesting and/or beautiful buildings including the Wallace Tower - named after Sir William Wallace, he of  'Braveheart' fame.  It is said that he was once imprisoned in the building that was previously on the site of the tower for setting fire to a barn with 500 English soldiers inside!!! There is a statue of him on the facade of the tower.

Most of the papers used are from Mind The Scraps October kit but I did use a pretty patterned piece of packaging for layering - the colours were just right - you can see it peaking out from under the photo. I fussy cut some of the flowers from one of the papers and punched some butterflies from a scrap of card that I'd brushed with turquoise watercolour paint. All the other embellishments are from stash.

I hope you are having a great Saturday, no matter what the weather is like wherever you are.

Take care,

Friday Smiles

Hello Everyone,

It's the first Friday in November and it's becoming decidedly wintry! Happily, and despite the drop in temperature, Friday is still the best day of the week. Always made better when we can join Annie, A Stitch In Time, with a look back at a few of the things that have made me smile this week.

No surprise that for me it's my grandchildren and great-grandchildren that gave me reason to smile.

My youngest granddaughter surprised us with this wonderful shot of her wearing no make-up! Truth is, to me she looks stunning with or without but then I'm a very biased gran.

Then there is this photo of my great-grandson, Callum, taken at a shopping mall. There's a very heartwarming back story to this shot. He was out with his mum and clearly not enjoying the shopping experience. In short he was having the tantrum of all tantrums. Two young boys, aged about 11 or 12, spotted the distress Callum was causing his mum and came to the rescue. They produced two balls, gave them to him and, as you can see, tantrum forgotten and he was all smiles again. So nice to know that there are such caring youngsters out there. 

We live in a county town and the views from our house are of other houses, that is, with the exception of a tiny glimpse of the Carrick Hills in the distance from only one window - happily the one in front of my craft desk. However, we are extremely lucky because a short drive in one direction takes us into the country, and there's nothing quite like the Scottish countryside, and in the other direction we reach the coast. This week we've been to both. Here's a few of the photos I took on each occasion. 

Ayr Beach

Looking down the Firth of Clyde towards Ireland

Looking south towards the Heads of Ayr 

Looking across the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran in the distance

Looking up the Firth of Clyde to the North

These photo were all taken on the same day but both looking into and away from the sun makes a big difference to the lighting. 

Loch Ken and Water of Deugh, Carsphairn, Dumfries & Galloway

Bridge at the top of Loch Ken

Looking south down Loch Ken

Hills south of the village of Carsphairn

The road from Ayr to Castle Douglas - south of Carsphairn

And finally

DH resisted upgrading his dinosaur of a mobile phone to a smart phone until recently. Now he is a complete convert and is enjoying trying out the camera whenever there's a lovely view to photograph.

As you can see, it's been another week with a lot to smile about. To see many more reasons to smile do pop over to Annie's, at A Stitch In Time.