Wednesday, 28 October 2026

WOYWW Week 908 - After the Storms

Hello Everyone,

I hope you have all come through the storms without incident. Here on the west coast of Scotland Storm Boelo has left a trail of destruction in it's path. I'll pop a few shots taken by local amateur photographers at the end of this post. 

In the meantime what's on my desk today?

Well, not a lot. I've not made any pages this week. Instead, I've been sorting through all the stuff I have stashed in my craftroom because it has got completely out of control. Something had to be done. On my desk is my collection of stencils to be sorted. You'd think that, as I have a file for them, I'd be able to keep them altogether. No! Not me! I found a few here, a few there as I worked through the many nooks and crannies in this room. The same was true of so many other bits and pieces. So once again, I find myself sorting, organising, clearing and being totally ruthless. There's just no point in keeping stuff I will never use again. I mean, why have I got a box full of grout powder?!?! 
On a much more pleasant subject. I'm planning to go, with my daughter, to the Shetland Isles for a week next year. Accommodation already booked. I haven't been away on holiday for seven years. My son-in-law has volunteered to care for Silver while we are away. So, as you can see, I'm forward planning by reading all about the islands. 
Talking of Silver, here she is today. Very much better than she was last week and looking good, She has hated the storms - bad enough that we had one, Boelo - the thunder and lightening terrified her - but to have another, Chloe, immediately after put her wee pink nose well out of joint. She doesn't go out much nowadays but she does like to nip out in the morning and check all is well in the neighbourhood. It's one of her two self-appointed responsibilities. The other is to look after me. 

And now for the storm photos.




There's many more photos recording the damage done to the streets and shops in Saltcoats, the town that adjoins Ardrossan but I thought these showed the just how powerful it was. That train was lashed as it passed through and, indeed, all trains were stopped soon after. It's going to take a lot of work to repair the damage to the sea defences too. 

But here's a wee bit of Scot's humour to end with.
Says it all. I had to go rescue my bins on Monday morning. They had taken off down the street too.
And here's how to deal with our gangs of marauding gulls down on the seafront. 

That's me for this week, a bit late but I know but got here at last. As usual, if you don't already do so, I urge you to join in with WOYWW. You can do this by clicking on this link, Stamping Ground, where you will be made most welcome.

Take care and have a fabulous week.

Elizabeth

Wednesday, 21 October 2026

WOYWW Week 907

Hello Everyone

Last week Silver wasn't too well so had to visit the vet and that meant I had to miss What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. The vet advised a complete change of diet. Her health has improved, though the change of food has had to be introduced very slowly. She knows what she likes.

So what is on my desk this week. Hmm, it's looking really very boring. It's the dining table again though I'll be moving back to the craft desk now that I've completed Shimelle's Clear the Desk Live Autumn Edition classes and no longer need to be able to use the laptop. That pile of pages you see there are  waiting to have journaling added. Once that's done I will be able to file them away into the appropriate albums. 

Here's the last few pages in the final class.
Pumpkin Carving
Follow Your Dreams
Enjoying Meeting the Skeleton
Oh Creepy

Did I really 'clear the desk' as was the intention of the course. No, I did not! But it was fun trying. I will continue working on the leftover papers over the next few weeks in the vain hope that I'll use every last one up.   

Last year I decided that what I wanted was not a Christmas tree but an all the year round one. I chose this little white one which lights up. So far it's had decs for winter, spring and summer. Normally, I would skip Halloween but my daughter had other ideas. She's recently discovered diamond painting and made this set of spooky ornaments for my wee tree. I love them. 

After all the heat of summer the weather here has taken a real downturn. It's so cold. This was the view I had of the beach yesterday morning as I waited at the bus stop on the way to my volunteering job. Grim, isn't it. It started raining soon after and it kept up all day. Winter isn't on it's way. It's here already.

Finally, there's no post without Silver. I snapped her cute paws as she was making her presence felt while I scrapped. She's such an attention seeker.  

That's me for this week. As usual, if you don't already do so, I urge you to join in with WOYWW. You can do this by clicking on this link, Stamping Ground, where you will be made most welcome.


Take care and have a fabulous week.

Elizabeth

Wednesday, 7 October 2026

WOYWW Week 905 - Today is for Sarah

 

Photo from the 10th WOYWW Crop held in Shrewsbury in 2019 showing Sarah.

When I was contacted by Annie (Wipso) and Jan (LLJ) on Saturday with the news that Sarah had died I was shocked. Sarah, who was still so young and who had recently retired and was living her life to the full. My heart goes out to her Mum, her sons, her sister, her friends - in particular Eva - all will miss her so much.

When Julia announced that she was stepping down from presenting the weekly WOYWW post it was Sarah who volunteered to take over. For that we WOYWWers were grateful. We would have missed our weekly get-together. 

For that, and so much more, Sarah will never be forgotten.

Elizabeth