Its finally started

I feel like i am actually on a journey. Its a little weird because i have been feeling like i have been standing still for sooo long now. Its nice to know that i am starting to move forward. Part of me feels anxious - the other part feels peaceful. It probably sounds a little contradictory but that is how I am feeling at the moment. I feel like some big changes are commig my way. Im not sure if they will feel like good changes at the time but i have a peace about them. Im not making much sense am I?

Old Treasures

I spent last night looking through some old stuff of mine. Stuff that has been put away for a while now. I love going through it - finding my diary from school days, reading old letters and cards from friends, looking at photos and remembering such good things. While looking through all of this i found some art that i have done over the years. This piece is on of my favourites - "Out at Sea". I cant say that it is especially good but i really like the feel of the piece. I used watercolour paints and did this piece about four years ago.

For quiet a while i have been interested in doing some freelance photography on weekends to help bring in a little extra money. With the wedding and my Indefinite Leave to Remain coming up we could really do with the extra money. The thing is, is that i am not really sure how to start. I have the camera. I have a few different lenses. I know the basis of the camera and have done a few photo shoots with family members. I have tons of ideas in my head so i know that wont be a problem but i guess i am a little unsure of how to get my name out there. I have never photographed a wedding so wouldn't have any photos to of weddings to show possible clients which is probably a big stumbling block. But i guess it is the age old thing.... To get a job you need experience but to get experience you need a job! If you can offer any ideas or tips i would really appreciate them.

Toot Toot

Toot Toot to me! Wohoo! My layout above has been chosen for Layout Of the Day over at ScrapFreak. Thank you Ladies - It made my day.

Things are looking up

There is nothing nicer than the aroma of freshly baking bread in your house! Yesterday i got home from work to find just that in. It was wonderful and five and a half hours later, while climbing into bed, i could still smell the bread!

I seem to finally have some good news to share. After spending so many months waiting and waiting i received my visa extension. It only took eight months to get a twelve month extension...lol. But finally it is here. That means i am now one step closer to being able to apply for my British Passport.

And i can also share that my company has finally agreed to help me pay to study further. I have registered with the school, sent off the cheque for the first two papers and am just waiting for all the study material to arrive. As sad as this is going to sound, i am a nerd! I love studying and learning new things and taking on these challenges so i am very excited to get started.

All in all, things are just starting to feel better for me. Work is going well, I have study prospects, the visa has come through and my brother is moving over to the UK within the next few months (I haven't seen him in about two and half years if not a little longer than that).

I feel like finally i am starting to get myself back. I am finding out who i am again and i like it! My self confidence is growing, my passions are growing, my personality is flowering and i am so happy that all of this is taking place. Even down to simple things like I have really started to do more things for me, for example - i found out that i really like Fergies song - Big Girls don't Cry and that i still love singing along to to FLO. I love cooking but hate spending the time searching for the recipes. I love having my hair short, straight and highlighted and hate shaving. So many things that i finding out and relearning. I am hoping that as i go through this experience i will begin to feel confident to make those decisions that i have been unsure about.

Life is Good!

Thought i would leave you with Fergies song.

Dreams and Weekends

As each day passes by, I seem to be feeling more and more a desire to get into the photography business. I know that i have a lot to learn but you know what......I know that i will be good at it and i think that that will count for a lot. Because of this I have decided that i am going to take a few photography classes at Jessops and see where it goes from there.

A few weeks ago I bought myself this book from Creating Keepsakes. I love it and would totally recommend it for anyone who is interested in learning a few new tricks and skills.
Saturday afternoon, I did an impromptu photo shoot with my mom and dad and here are a few photos that i took.

I am just so pleased with how these have come out. I will definitely be spending more time on this.

While i think about it, if anyone has any tips for me on using Adobe Photo Shop i would greatly appreciate it. Normally i have been using Paint Shop Pro but this weekend my Dad installed Photo Shop for me instead and I am finding it a little more complicated than PSP.

This long weekend saw some very interesting and fun things. I have almost finished the front of my child's sweater for Knitting for Feed the Children, photo to follow as soon as front it completely finished.

I have also gone and coloured my hair a dark brown. I love how it has turned out. The hair salon at my gym is having a half price special this month on all services so i am thinking about going to get a trim and perhaps have some highlights put in for summer. Tomorrow I am going to get my eyebrows waxed so once that is done i will take some self portraits to show off my new brows and hair colour.

I haven't done any scrapping or sewing in a little while now but that is OK. I have a busy week ahead at work but next weekend i hope to get some scrapping time in.

Take everyone and have a great day.

Whirlwinds

That is how this past weekend has felt. Don't get me wrong - it has been all good. Just very "up in the air" and very "stressful". Let me explain...
*We have found out that YES we have managed to get a mortgage - we are so excited about this.
*We went to have a look at a house that is just round the corner from us on Saturday morning. It has been repossed and needs a lot of work but is lovely.
*We called the estate agents up straight away and put an offer in on the house.
*Once this was done the estate agent dropped a bit of a bomb on us - because it is a repossed house everything will need to be completed within 28 days! On the one hand that was great, on the other it put me into a spin as that meant we would need to come up with £1000 in 28 days.
* We spent the rest of the day going around the house trying to see what we could sell to help get this money that we needed.
* Monday morning i got a call from our financial advisor (currently helping us with the mortgage) who tells me that he is very sorry but we can not get the house we put the offer in for due to how it was built. They are having problems with the structure of the buildings and so mortgage lenders wont lend on these houses. Bad news as we loved the house but good news as i don't want to end up 3 years down the line with a house that needs complete rebuilding.
*Went to look at another house last night but this one is just not for us .....so the hunt continues!

Everything just felt like it was happening so fast! Quite mind blowing to be honest.

In other news i still have not heard anything about my extension on my visa. This is really starting to get urgent now. They have had it since October and we really need it back along with my passport and all the documents. Please will you pray that things get sped up and that it all goes through alright and SOON!

That's it for today, a lot more news to share but it will have to wait. Have a great day everyone.