tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49832137041772542742024-02-02T17:59:30.453+00:00ANYTHING MINIATUREAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-78291109148801686602014-05-30T08:49:00.000+01:002014-05-30T21:51:10.584+01:00Anything Miniature is on Bloglovin'<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5630455/?claim=9rn52ryqv9r">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a></span><br />
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Hey guys!<br />
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So I've been updating my blog a little recently. Since I can't work on miniatures as much I'd like to the least I can do is stop the dust from building up in here! So today I signed up to bloglovin' .<br />
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For those of you who are not familiar with Bloglovin' it has been around for a while now; ever since Google Reader diminished in fact. It allows you to subscribe to your favourite blogs and read their content all in one place without the need to trawl through all those websites.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-59443059973393453212014-05-11T21:39:00.000+01:002014-05-11T21:39:31.157+01:00Smells like a hay barn in here... New Project sneak peak!So some of my supplies for my new project arrived today and I thought I'd give you a sneak peek to see if anyone can guess what I'm up to. I'm still waiting on more supplies so that I can show you a bit more... postage from the UK takes an age!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-21593340423199290332014-04-27T07:08:00.001+01:002014-04-27T07:45:38.250+01:00Day 3 Birthday Weekend - HOBBITON!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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I <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">have been so excited about telling you guys about this! I had such a great birthday weekend with tons of fun activities, but this one I came away from feeling full of inspiration. We visited the real Hobbiton set in Matamata!! I thought it was great value at $75 per person with a guided tour. We were lucky enough to catch the last tour of the day at 4.15pm with Xanthe, who was great, and it because it was the last tour it meant that the set was not busy and we could spend as long as we liked at each stop. </span></div>
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So when we got off the bus we found ourselves waking along the very same track we see Gandolf plough down on his horse and cart in the film. As soon as we said what lay ahead our eyes were filled with wonder and my miniature radar went into over drive! The houses really are tiny, no camera tricks there. They were originally made from polystyrene and paper mâché which enabled them to be light enough to be moved around on the set during the first Lord of The Rings films. Then when the Hobbit was to be filmed, each hobbit house - and there are 44 of them, were built right into the hills, each tiny detail minimicked from their polystyrene prototypes. </div>
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Xanthe explained that Peter Jackson was bigger on creating absolute realism in all of his scenes and the hobbit village was quite possibly the biggest nightmare for his film crew. </div>
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At the very beginning of the Hobbit film, for a split second as the camera passes over the scene, you will notice Hobbits are picking plums from a tree. Great! But on this farm, in this field, there were apple trees. Because Tolkein specifically mentioned the hobbits were picking PLUMS Peter Jackson ordered for all of the apples to be removed from the apple trees and to be replaced with plums. Remember I said the trees were only in shot for a split second - and then you never, ever see them again. </div>
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Another point of realism was the vegetable patch just as your enter the village. This patch is tended all year round and grows real seasonal vegetables. Pretty amazing huh?</div>
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As you walk around the set you begin to notice more of the little details that really make this place special. Up on the hills by some of the houses there are little washing lines with hobbit sized clothing. Peter Jackson invited locals from the surrounding villages to run up and down these hills to the washing lines to create tracks - thus making the set looked "lived in". </div>
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Each house is unique and features gorgeous little details. Each one has it's very own mail box and some of the houses hints at the interests and hobbies of its occupants. One had a bakery stand, another had a painting set, another had log chopping and one occupant was clearly into their gardening!</div>
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Another point of realism was the tree above Bilbo Baggins's house. This tree was found locally in Matamata and was brought to the set. The tree was then given a steel frame silicone to keep it upright and lifelike. Obviously the tree lost all of its leaves, which posed a problem again for Peter Jackson. So, 200,000 leaves were shipped in from China. Each leaf was hand painted by University Art Students in the South Island. They were then attached, one by one, to the tree. Ten days before filming Peter Jackson decided that the leaves were the wrong shade. A local women was then brought in to painstakingly paint each leaf, one by one, a very, very, VERY slightly lighter shade of green. Not that anyone other than Peter Jackson really noticed...</div>
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As you may have noticed by now, Peter Jackson was incredibly strict on recreating every tiny detail mentioned in the book! One problem that he faced was the direction in which the sun set. In the book, Tolkein describes Gandolf and Bilbo sitting outside of Bilbo's house watching the sun set. Unfortunately for Peter Jackson, Bilbo's house faces the East. Thankfully, he had a trick up his sleeve. He made sure that all of the characters and film crew were on set and at the house ready by 4am - baring in mind it took Make-Up & Costume 3 hours to prepare the characters for filming! When you watch the film, you are actually seeing Gandolf and Bilbo enjoying the sun rise, played backwards. Nifty trick aye?!</div>
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Bilbo's house is the only part of the set that you are not allowed to walk on. Strictly speaking, you aren't supposed to walk onto any of the hobbit house gardens to preserve the details, but the tour guides don't mind as long as you are extra careful. Bilbo's house however, is strictly off limits. There's nothing stopping you having a cheeky photo outside of it though :)</div>
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Next up we wandered down to the Party Tree. I probably should've mentioned this at the start of the post, but it is because if this particular tree that Hobbiton is even located where it is. When Peter Jackson's location scouts were flying over New Zealand they discovered this very big tree in a very big field in the middle of a sheep farm. They reported back to Peter who came to the farm himself to check it out. Rumour has it that he paid the farm owners a hefty cheque to vacate their home for 3 months while filming and work commenced on their land. Well, no one saw them for 3 months so I guess that confirms that rumour. I should also mention, had the film locators flown over this farm 10 days later it is highly likely that Hobbiton would not be located in Matamata. The farm owners had planned to cut down the tree as it is fairly large and it was considered a nuisance. I think we call that fate.</div>
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This very fence is the one which Bilbo hops over when he is running to catch up with Gandolf and the dwarves. This is the scene in which we see the rest of Hobbiton and the other 44 Hobbit homes. A neighbour enquired as to where Bilbo is going in such a hurry to which he answers, "I'm going on an adventure!" Before he hops this fence. </div>
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Check out that rainbow as well.. How cute?!</div>
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Another bit of info for you - again, Peter Jackson was big on detail and since Hobbiton was a newly built village he decided it needed aging. So the set designers set about covering all of the fences in mould. But this isn't just any mould! Xanthe asked us to guess what was used on the fence to create the mould. I was about to suggest Polymer Clay or some kind of paper clay, well why not? The kid next to me suggest avocado?! The mould is made from yoghurt, vinegar and paint! Bet you didn't guess that!</div>
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The party field is sometimes set up in the summer months and is available for weddings. How magical would that be?! But all we got to see was the string thing. </div>
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Next we wandered down to the Green Dragon Inn, which was probably my most favourite part of this tour! You can see it in the background of this photo if you squint. Sadly I didn't catch any photos of the outside as my camera was nearly out of battery. </div>
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The Green Dragon Inn is such a homely little pub. They make small snacks in the kitchen including pies, muffins and biscuits. Tea and coffee is also on offer. The pub has 5 or 6 beers which is exclusively brewed just for the Green Dragon Inn and cannot be bought elsewhere. We enjoyed a cold pint of apple cider while we took in the atmosphere and details. </div>
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Xanthe even let us play bar tenders!</div>
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All in all I highly recommend a visit to Hobbiton should you ever get the chance to come to this amazing country! It's such an experience and the obvious attention to detail is break taking. Here's some more photos!</div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As I mentioned before I got tons of photos. Should anyone like to see a photo of anything specific drop me a comment below and I'll see if I have one for you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Now go back and take another look at those photos - you might've missed a detail!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Have a great day!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Shellby</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Edit: I thought I'd stop by just to add this link to a video I found on Youtube. It's really great for an I site into how the set is made up and I hope it adds to how you can imagine Hobbiton is set out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://youtu.be/ilkqqyjCkeA">http://youtu.be/ilkqqyjCkeA</a></div>
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<br>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-63958217536582769542014-04-26T22:20:00.001+01:002014-04-26T22:20:34.675+01:00Bungy Jumping & Jet Boating - 21st Birthday Part 3<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">20th April</span><br><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So waking up fairly early again in Taupo, Tom and I set off for the days activities. It had already been pre-planned since I got to NZ that I would do a bungy jump at some point. I did a skydive last year for the Lincolnshire Air Ambulance and it was an incredible experience. I thought bungy jumping would be just the same! But before we could do that we went Jet Boating. Our driver was called Jeremy and he was quite a character! He teased all of his passengers with jokes based on which part of the world they were from. He asked Tom and I if we had suncream under out waterproofs and bullied the only Australian rider from start to finish!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">William and Kate enjoyed a jet boat ride the week previous on their visit to NZ. Exact same thing, except we went with a different company. We got to see the Huka Falls close up, and we believed this was the way to see it. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tK-7E7a-4zY/U1wjIA_k2OI/AAAAAAAAArw/bJ4E7XkZ_mg/s640/blogger-image-156423814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tK-7E7a-4zY/U1wjIA_k2OI/AAAAAAAAArw/bJ4E7XkZ_mg/s640/blogger-image-156423814.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kQqPN_u6e2s/U1wjFFLDwBI/AAAAAAAAArg/5XrLcDZX7_4/s640/blogger-image-141584491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kQqPN_u6e2s/U1wjFFLDwBI/AAAAAAAAArg/5XrLcDZX7_4/s640/blogger-image-141584491.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">(Please note these photos are not my own, I didn't dare take my camera on board the jet boat incase I lost it over the edge during the on-the-spot 360 spins we did! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The boat was such a thrill. We raced passed (and towards!) cliff walls, trees and river debris with inches to spare before Jeremy would spin away - water splashing above us in all directions. We didn't get wet from the ride, besides the odd bit of spray. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Next up was the bungy jump. Tom had already done one when he first arrived in NZ and refused to do it again. Not being afraid of heights and believing it would be like free falling during a sky dive (my favourite part!) I was hyped up and ready... at least, until I was strapped up and found myself waddling over to the edge of the platform. The guy who straps your legs together and attaches you to the bungy cord is from just across the river from me. He was from Hull. And he pushed me. He actually pushed me off the platform. *naughty word.*</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aoR5CSl1USg/U1wjD4jh8dI/AAAAAAAAArY/T9P5vC5uZM0/s640/blogger-image--741511544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aoR5CSl1USg/U1wjD4jh8dI/AAAAAAAAArY/T9P5vC5uZM0/s640/blogger-image--741511544.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">My stomach stayed on the platform while the rest of me hurtled towards the water beneath. It's only a small bungy jump, at just 74 meters above the river, and lasts for literally 4 Missisipie seconds - but it felt like an age until my head and torso were submerged into the water on my first fall. Then there was the bouncing back up - and feeling that bungy snap back was probably the worst part of it! I bounced, dangling in the air with a thin rope preventing me from plummeting back into the water until a couple of guys on a dingy came to my rescue with a long pole, which I had to grab hold of before they could release me from the bungy contraptions. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-X7HUfRf77b8/U1wjGoTfL5I/AAAAAAAAAro/QPy5Nn1L4ck/s640/blogger-image-335889037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-X7HUfRf77b8/U1wjGoTfL5I/AAAAAAAAAro/QPy5Nn1L4ck/s640/blogger-image-335889037.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Off the boat and back on dry land, my adrenaline levels were so high I ran up the hill back to Tom who was recording the whole thing! Now folks, I have got to be the unfittist 21 year old ever - I can barely walk a meter uphill let alone run up one - and it was a proper hill, a hill-hill - almost a mountain actually. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The video makes me cringe every time, so I'll not upload it here for the world to point and laugh at (but I will if theres a high demand, have to give my fans what they want! ;) )</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Back in the car I logged onto my Facebook page to find my friends and family were celebrating my birthday back home. Mom and Dad had hosted a 21st Birthday party on my behalf at the pub. They sent me a video singing "Happy Birthday", and I cried. Like a baby. For hours. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Finally, we took the two hour long car journey to Tauranga, where we were to go on a tour of.... </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">More on this tomorrow! ;)</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Shellby</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-60046751002580993792014-04-24T06:55:00.002+01:002014-04-24T07:05:06.732+01:00Day 2 of Birthday Weekend<div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">19th April</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My birthday! So I wake up a year older today, 21 here I am! Tom and I had already planned to do a combo day out which we found on a leaflet at the I-Site. It's been really wet weather recently and the lady at the I-Site advised us that the river was closed - so sadly we could not do the water water rafting! But we could do the other three activities!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">First up, we went luge racing which is easily the most fun Tom and I have had since we've been in NZ. I haven't heard of it in the UK, perhaps its called something else. They are basically like mini go-karts, very low to the ground. They are controlled by handle bars, a bit like a bike, which you pull backwards and forwards to stop and go, and side to side to steer. Tom won the race twice, but kindly let me win on the third go since it was my birthday and all. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Transporting us up the big hill from which we raced down, we got to take a lift in these gondolas which made for some beautiful views!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Next up we drove a short way down the road where we went wet zorbing! This was something I've always wanted to do and I highly recommend it to anyone who gets the chance to go! You can do it in the UK and I imagine everywhere else in the world also so it's not just a NZ thing! We loved it that much, we paid for a second go! </span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iuPWcJIrx3w/U1ioze2y5-I/AAAAAAAAAqw/ztM44SWOaxY/s640/blogger-image--1264615909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iuPWcJIrx3w/U1ioze2y5-I/AAAAAAAAAqw/ztM44SWOaxY/s640/blogger-image--1264615909.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Lastly we visited the Polynesian Spa. I've always wanted to go to a spa and I didn't really know what I was expecting, but it wasn't what it was. On first impressions as I walked into the changing rooms I had a huge fright - I thought I'd entered into the world of Naturists! There was naked women everywhere! I quickly scurried into a nearby toilet stall to change - which was the only space for privacy! When I emerged from the changing rooms Tom was quick to tell me about his similar experience! The spa was made up of large shallow pools, the deepest being deep enough for me just to stand up in and I'm 5'4. The pools were all alkaline and were generated from the volcanic waters beneath us. They varied in temperature and made us sweat alot. Thank fully - no one was naked! But we did see some questionable swimwear.... (men - speedos are NOT a good look!)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ITRGXx_gUec/U1io28nW9jI/AAAAAAAAArA/xvzkQo_k5X0/s640/blogger-image--639578130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ITRGXx_gUec/U1io28nW9jI/AAAAAAAAArA/xvzkQo_k5X0/s640/blogger-image--639578130.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After our afternoon spent warming up in the spa we decided to get an early start to Taupo. It was <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://1" x-apple-data-detectors-result="1" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">9pm</a> by the time we got parked up in a campsite which we discovered while trying to find another. It was absolutely packed - and no surprise there as it was free! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">More to share with you tomorrow - and I think this bit might be your favourite! :)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-9638328506667589902014-04-22T05:04:00.002+01:002014-04-24T02:28:07.748+01:0021st Birthday Weekend AwayHey folks!<br>
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So Tom and I got back from my birthday weekend away a couple of days ago. Things have been so hectic I've only just had the time to sit down a write this post! We spent the weekend in Rotorua and Taupo mainly. We had a fantastic time and I have tons of photos to share with you. I think this is going to be a pretty long post, so what I'll do is I'll split it into a few posts and maybe spread them over a couple of days or so if they are quite long... Don't want you falling asleep on me!!<br>
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17th April 2014<br>
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Tom and I set off from the lodge that we work at in Tairua. The weather was awful - extremely heavy rain! There was rock debris on the roads in some places as we left the Coromandel where rocks had fallen from the cliff sides on either side of the road, quite a few drivers didn't have their lights on and it was a bit concerning. So when we eventually arrived in Rotorua late afternoon, far later than we had planned, we decided to find a campsite for the night.<div>While searching we came across a really quiet, secluded little boating lake with ducks and other bird life. The toilets were proper toilets (not holes in the ground!) and there was a working BBQ shelter. There was no one else there except us, until really late at night when a campervan appeared at the other end, which we didn't mind at all. We enjoyed NZ's equivalent to Pot Noodle and went to bed nice and early. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-h3baQEve4tI/U1hoioo7rEI/AAAAAAAAAp4/Hzgs113x97g/s640/blogger-image-1679823594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-h3baQEve4tI/U1hoioo7rEI/AAAAAAAAAp4/Hzgs113x97g/s640/blogger-image-1679823594.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">18th April 2014</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Waking up bright and early the following morning to only a light drizzle, Tom and I got washed, dressed and soon found ourselves back in the main town of Rotorua at the I-Site looking for activities to do for the weekend. Since it was my birthday I wanted heaps of excitement and a mixture of activities. We've both wanted to see a traditional Maouri culture ceremony since arriving in NZ and found Te Puia. This place was excellent! Here we watched the Maouri ceremony. Their outfits were gorgeous - particularly the women's and their singing voices were excellent! They even made us get up on stage so they could teach us some of their dance moves. </div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1Wke0YFIIMs/U1hopXPo0VI/AAAAAAAAAqY/vnqydolYlbM/s640/blogger-image-1422688210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1Wke0YFIIMs/U1hopXPo0VI/AAAAAAAAAqY/vnqydolYlbM/s640/blogger-image-1422688210.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">After this we met up with our tour guide, Carl, who showed us around the Kiwi House, Getsers and Mud Pools. I couldn't get any photos of the Kiwi bird unfortunately as it is protected and the flashes on cameras (since they live in the dark) has been known to kill them, so I didn't want to be responsible for that! But I did get photos of the natural geysers and mud pools, which we were lucky enough to see in action.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-giTSzKYopk0/U1homB-MyQI/AAAAAAAAAqI/1H6cMO02Fe8/s640/blogger-image-1193154254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-giTSzKYopk0/U1homB-MyQI/AAAAAAAAAqI/1H6cMO02Fe8/s640/blogger-image-1193154254.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Next, Carl gave us a small but interesting talk on how to weave with reads. You take a long read and a sharp shell, shaving the flax off the top of the reed you then strip into fine section almost like breaking down a clump of threads into singular threads. Next you take your leg and roll the sections over it until it forms a strong, binded sort of string. It's silky to touch and is pretty impossible to break with just human strength. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fAsAWRQW32E/U1hogSOMwLI/AAAAAAAAApw/JyTW37QDZxM/s640/blogger-image-900732038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fAsAWRQW32E/U1hogSOMwLI/AAAAAAAAApw/JyTW37QDZxM/s640/blogger-image-900732038.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C95Ff9DDf3A/U1hokZjvQ-I/AAAAAAAAAqA/kpdzGhbhbGg/s640/blogger-image--1827732999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C95Ff9DDf3A/U1hokZjvQ-I/AAAAAAAAAqA/kpdzGhbhbGg/s640/blogger-image--1827732999.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BA4-UTQGPbU/U1hontckFVI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/-cTRC3Kmtv0/s640/blogger-image--1896756714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BA4-UTQGPbU/U1hontckFVI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/-cTRC3Kmtv0/s640/blogger-image--1896756714.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">These skirts were made using this method and can several months or years to complete. In more traditional Mapuri clothing, the reeds would be preserved and dried for many years before they can be used to make clothing, which would then take even longer!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5gW6p-ZMR1I/U1cESwzpSVI/AAAAAAAAApg/J4H4CYBJo9E/s640/blogger-image--1110068115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5gW6p-ZMR1I/U1cESwzpSVI/AAAAAAAAApg/J4H4CYBJo9E/s640/blogger-image--1110068115.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Carl was making a cloak in traditional Maouri weaving methods, unfortunately I didn't think to take a photo but it was about half way to three quarters complete. He said so far it had taken him 31 years to get this far and that's with using commercially provided threads so that he didn't have to wait for them to dry!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">More on my birthday weekend tomorrow folks and I hope you all had a fantastic Easter!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Shellby</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-63000196662500780542014-04-15T01:42:00.001+01:002014-04-15T01:43:44.833+01:00Not many dolls houses in New Zealand...But there is a shed!!<br />
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First of all I want to apologise for the extremely long absence with no explanation. To keep it short and sweet - I had a bad day at work, one of far too many. And so out of frustration I applied for my first ever passport, typed up my resignation and 8 weeks later I was on a plane to New Zealand. This was back in October. Since then I've met a gorgeous guy, seen a few sites and landed myself yet another job as a Hotel Manager - except I enjoy this one and haven't had a bad day yet! </div>
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So Tom and I are living on site in one of the accomodation lodges and we've really made it feel like home. Tom upgraded the tv from an ancient box to a slightly newer ancient box with a screen about an inch bigger each way. And I tried to download as many books on my iPad as possible to keep me occupied - but any miniature enthusiast knows it's not home without a dolls house!</div>
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So without further ado I'd like to introduce to you Kurt's Kabin!</div>
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Kurt was a neighbour of ours when myself Tom and the rest of the staff here at the Lodge lived on Daphne Road. He was grubby, unshaven, in need of a shower and <i>really</i> creepy!</div>
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He'd appear at our door some afternoons and ask the girls - not the boys, we soon learnt he had a no boys allowed policy - if they would like to come to his house to "get on the piss"...</div>
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Of course, we never accepted. Friendly, neighbourly gesture or not he was just too creepy! I named this little shed after Kurt. But I think the shed is much cuter than he was!</div>
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I orgininally pictured the shed to be grubby, dark, full of cobwebs, big spiders, dust and dirt and goodness knows what else! But it didn't quite turn out that way. </div>
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Instead, I now imagine it to be the type of shed that's been sat at the bottom of the garden, unused and forgotten for a while. Perhaps the owners have just been too busy for gardening this year. Perhaps he's been watching football, and she's been spending her days working on her dollshouse!</div>
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There are Autumn leaves carefully placed one by one where I imagined the wind would blow. They have been caught up in debris and cobwebs. </div>
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The roof is corrugated, turning rusty with weedy bits.</div>
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This project only took me a couple weeks and that's with waiting for the postage from the UK! Sadly New Zealand doesn't seem to be the place for a miniature enthusiast - I can only find one online shop and it seems very limited. If any of my readers are from New Zealand and know of any miniature shops please let me know! It'd be great to see what's available! </div>
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So there's the reason for my absence and I promise to keep up with you all more from now on. I hope you don't mind some gap year holiday snaps between the miniature projects!</div>
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Have a great day!</div>
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Shellby x</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-72793752025849458842013-07-24T10:10:00.001+01:002013-07-24T10:10:58.339+01:00First purchase for Hildred House!!I've been plotting, building and buying for Hildred House really, but nothing worth showing off until now.<br />
A lovely lady called Hazel commissioned me this beautiful picture for the secret nook in Hildred House. You don't know anything about this "nook" yet, because it's a secret ;)<br />
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Hazel paints in full scale mainly, but has recently ventured into painting miniatures after one of her customers asked her for a 12th scale miniature painting. She paints in wax, and the effect is marvelous - particularly in miniature.<br />
I asked Hazel for a worn, damaged looking painting that would fit in with a room full old treasures. Hazel created this painting using gold card to achieve the sepia effect and it worked really well!<br />
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Click <a href="http://www.artinwax.co.uk/blog/" target="_blank">here</a> to check out <a href="http://www.artinwax.co.uk/blog/" target="_blank">Hazel's Blog</a> where you can see more examples of her miniature paintings, and there are links and a gallery of her full scale art.<br />
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My photo really doesn't do the picture any justice, I'm a crappy photographer!<br />
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<a href="http://s1185.photobucket.com/albums/z356/funkymonkey1993/?action=view&current=90747e0cb2c578bed6a4a920798f37a4_zps8cb802a5.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" border="0" height="320" src="http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z356/funkymonkey1993/90747e0cb2c578bed6a4a920798f37a4_zps8cb802a5.jpg" width="238" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-7761877481733864902013-04-04T14:13:00.000+01:002013-04-04T14:13:20.380+01:00Hildred House - Copper Wire Advice Please?You may remember a few weeks (months?) ago I did a post, asking for your ideas and opinions on two options - a governors mansion and the School for Girls from the film Madeline for my Hildred House.<br />
Well forget those ideas, my inspiration didn't flow enough for me, so instead I decided to turn it into my dream home. I'm not sure how well it'll turn out, but hey, I'm trying to be optimistic here!<br />
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Anyways. I've got as far as this.<br />
The windows are painted white and the walls are painted a colour called Warm Beige.<br />
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Today I started painting one of the rooms when something occurred to me. This house has a copper wire lighting system and this totally baffles me!<br />
I have watched no end of video tutorials, read no end of tips and tricks but I am still so confused. <br />
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The house has all of these wires that lead to the centre of all the rooms. As you can see, there are a couple of little gold "holes", maybe screws pinning the tape to the ceiling. I'm not sure. If I get really close there is the tiniest little hole that has been drilled between the two wires and then comes up through the floor of the next room. But it is really tiny, not big enough for a lighting wire. <br />
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Is this teeny tiny hole for the lighting wire and once through, then what do I do with it? There's no grooves or hole in the back to thread it through? <br />
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The videos I have watched show that you have to trim the wiring right down and solder it to the copper tape, but how will that work for a ceiling light, wont it be at risk of falling down or coming unattached from the ceiling?<br />
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Also, I want to add a ton more lights in the form of table lamps, floor lamp, fireplaces etc. How do I go about doing this? Can I just go for the socket method that I'm used to or would it be best to *attempt to* continue with the copper wire? <br />
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Also... what is this about? What do I do with this? It's on the back of the house.<br />
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Any help that you guys can offer me on this will be very much appreciated. I feel that I can't continue with this project until I get my head around this lighting system, it's totally baffled me. <br />
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Feel free to copy my images and draw diagrams all over them if it helps to explain. I can post you my email address if needed.<br />
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Thank you!<br />
Shellby<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-78133440252303239862013-03-27T17:12:00.001+00:002013-03-27T17:12:28.992+00:00I'm Doing A Sky Dive in Aid of Ambucopter!!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the 5th June 2013 I will be slipping into a hideous diving suit, getting in a plane, rising to 15,000 feet and then I'll be jumping out of it with some stranger on my back with our lives hanging on the threads of a parachute!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Honestly, I'm extremely nervous. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But it's an incredibly small amount of effort in comparison to the time, commitment and dedication of the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance crew who work day in, day out to save the lives of our loved ones. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I was 6, my Dad was involved in a fatal lorry accident. It was a head on collision with another driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel. My Dad did everything he could to avoid the collision, but sadly it wasn't enough. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My Dad was trapped in his lorry for several hours before emergency services could free him. His right leg was crushed and he was losing a lot of blood. The road ambulance crew knew they would not be able to get him to hospital in time to save him. The only option was the Ambucopter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They flew my Dad to hospital, saving his life once already when he died in the sky. The entire team of Police, Firefighters, Paramedics, Doctors and Nurses saved his life that morning. They saved ours as a family. It seemed like months until I saw my Dad again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I slept in my Mom's bed to keep her company at night when she returned from the hospital visits. I blame this incident for the reason I don't like chips. Chips, chicken nuggets and beans was the standard meal for me and brother whilst we were babysat by different friends and family members for weeks on end. I remember not knowing what was going on. No one seemed to know. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Finally, after much begging and pleading, Mom took me to see Dad in hospital. It was not long before Christmas. I remember driving to Lincoln Hospital looking at the Christmas lights in the streets. We went into a shop, I believe it to be Dunelm Mill, where Mom bought me a Sleeping Beauty towel. It's funny how you remember the little things. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But one big moment will be the first time I saw my Dad. <i>I hid behind Mom because I was shy!</i> It had been so long. His face had small cuts and bruises, his leg was in pot and raised to the ceiling on some kind of pully contraption. He had a clip on his finger, but he was smiling. I love my Dad. So, so much. Enough that I shared my profiteroles with him! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He was home for Christmas. I got a set of coloring pens and he let me decorate his pot with drawings. The next year he came back from another umpteenth hospital visit with some scary metal cage with pins. It looked barbaric. There was blood around the punctures where the pins were holding a metal plate in his leg in place. Because his leg had been so badly crushed in the accident, the surgeons had to replace his knee and shin with a metal plate. He had gazillions of staples and stitches he almost resembled a dummy from a dress makers! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Had it not been for the incredible work and determination of the surgeons, he would more than likely had lost his leg.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Almost 14 years on and he's walking about living life to the full. He still lorry drives for a living, as well as owning and running a pub with my Mom. His hobbies include motorbike riding and quad biking. He recently did a trip from Lands End to John O'Groats with some biker friends - going by the group name of Skankii Pigs...! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He may not be able to run, but he can still kick a ball around the garden. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He's also a very proud grandaddy to two beautiful girls - Destiny and Diamond.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He's my Dad and I could never imagine life without him. He's taught me everything I know. He's brought me up as a strong, capable young woman, determined to make the most of everything I work for and what's given to me. He's been there through the tough times - when I worried I might be a boy inside because I didn't have my periods yet (I was fine, they started two weeks later.), when I fell in love for the first time, when I was practicing for my driving theory, when I passed my driving test (he cried down the phone!), he was there when I bought my first and second car, he took me for a practice drive in the snow and ice down our lane (ice road truckers you ain't seen nothin' yet!). He stood by me for my prom. And I know he will be there to take me down the aisle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is not a sob story. It's a true story, from the heart, signed with tears. We all have one. We have all lost, or almost lost, people who are incredibly close to our hearts. We all do what we can, but is it enough? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm asking you please to donate as little as £5 to this cause. It is not a charity. It a necessity. Vital to our society. </span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Almost all of the income to fund the Ambucopter comes from charity work and donations. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Ambucopter and the team receive no Government Funding! </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">£1.7 million is needed to fly the helicopter each year. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Ambucopter travels at speeds of up to 154 mph to enable it</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.28125px;"> to reach a patient anywhere within the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Region in just 19 minutes. This is because it does not have to negotiate</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.28125px;"> traffic, road works or pedestrians. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17.28125px;">The ambucopter can then </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">get its patient to the nearest hospital in an average of 6 minute</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.28125px;">s. </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://www.ambucopter.org.uk/assets/headers/file757_Hagworthingham_06.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://www.ambucopter.org.uk/assets/headers/file757_Hagworthingham_06.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For more information on the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance please visit the website </span><a href="http://www.ambucopter.org.uk/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thank you for taking the time to read this. Even if you cannot help, please post a link to your blog and encourage as many people as possible who may be able to help. There is a link on the right hand side of my blog to my <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/Shellby-Dutton" target="_blank">JustGiving</a> page. If you would like to help me further and spread the support around our blogging community, I can send you a code to enable you to paste this badge on your own blog page. This way people can access my fundraiser through your own blogs. As Tesco says, </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every little helps.</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">*The images of my dad's lorry, my dad and myself are my own, please do not copy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">*Images of Air Ambulance crew have been borrowed from the <a href="http://www.ambucopter.org.uk/" target="_blank">Air Ambulance website.</a> and are not of my own, please do not copy without prior permission. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-49203266715240793202013-01-21T12:36:00.000+00:002013-01-21T12:36:54.405+00:00Old Generals Farm - Some ProgressHi Everyone,<br />
<br />
I'm sorry I haven't posted for a few days. Life has been a bit crazy and it's left me feeling fuzzy headed - like I'm drunk, I can't quite focus on anything right now and my head seems to be buzzing like my thoughts are having some kind of rave party in there. <br />
<br />
First of all, the interesting bit - Old Generals Farm Progress - my little brother helped me cut out the panels. We spent two freezing cold evenings in the garage cutting out the panels until we ran out of MDF. There are still a few panels left to cut out, but I wont get to do these until next week now, at the very earliest. <br />
<br />
This is what's been achieved so far. These aren't glued into place yet, so they're propped up with various items to show you the size and shape of the house.<br />
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Then "Best Friend" Thomas had a play with the panels and did some glueing...</div>
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Yes... I did say "Best Friend" Thomas...<br />
<br />
This is why my head is fuzzy. Something isn't right here. <br />
But I guess only time will tell - hopefully it will heal and sort my head out.<br />
I'm glad he's back, but his reasons for his silent treatment were beyond childish, and I just can't understand why he's making up with me now, after a month of ignoring me - and why he never thought to ask my side of the story, instead he believed all the lies his so called "friends" gave him and what hurts the most - the lies are totally out of character for me, so I thought he'd know me better. I guess not. <br />
<br />
Anyways, I'm going for a walk. Old Generals will no doubt have no new progress until next week sometime, but hopefully I'll find something interesting to tell you about in the meantime. <br />
<br />
Bye!<br />
ox<br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-80939910616693756082013-01-15T16:24:00.000+00:002013-02-20T17:40:34.253+00:00It's Over!!<em>"But...please... give me another chance... I promise, I'll be good this time."</em><br />
<em>"No, I'm sorry. It's done. It's over."</em><br />
<em>"I can change, please, just one more chance."</em><br />
<em>"You're always under my feet. Everywhere I go you're there! I need some space and time away from you. I'm sorry."</em><br />
<em>"Please don't throw me in the trash... It's cold and smelly in that dumpster. I like it here, next to your radiator, here, with you."</em><br />
<em>"Look, cardboard - get over it okay. I'm finished with you!"</em><br />
<br />
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-<br />
<br />
That's how the conversation went with the giant cardboard box that has been taking up all the room in my living room since the day I decided to take on this project. I've decided that I'm done with the template, for now. <br />
<br />
I've done the panels... yes, there are a couple missing. I've lost the measurement paper for one piece and the other... well I've decided I'll do that when I get round to cutting out the panel (I may regret this decision later on) I've grown seriously bored with the cardboard box and I'd like to move on now to the nice pieces of MDF I have stood in the corner... Eeek!<br />
<br />
I managed to fix the panels that didn't quite add up the other night, I fitted them to the panels that all seem to match up first time, so I figured it should all add up right now. <br />
<br />
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My plan now is to draw out these panels and the base template onto the MDF. I only have three sheets of MDF, something tells me I'm going to need at least triple that for all of these panels, but I wanted to buy them in bits, otherwise I'd look a bit crazy walking through the hotel with half a shed...<br />
<br />
Once I've done that, I will borrow my Dad's table saw tool thingy and his handsaw and I will cut them all out - keeping my toes crossed the whole time that it will add up when it's all cut out. (I'd say fingers, but I might end up cutting a couple off if I try this.)<br />
<br />
Then it'll be back to the cardboard box again to create the templates for the inside. <br />
It's getting exciting now!<br />
Eeek.<br />
<br />
See you guys soon!<br />
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-41914721986120617692013-01-13T19:49:00.002+00:002013-02-20T17:42:04.095+00:00I Spoke Too Soon!!Hi Everyone!<br />
<br />
So yes, the title says it all. <br />
Got back to the template tonight - with a giant box, ready to cut out the remaining panels.. and well. I'll let the pictures do the talking.<br />
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Yeh, so something has gone wrong here somewhere. Haha!</div>
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Oh well, I knew my good luck couldn't go on forever! Back to the cardboard box it is...</div>
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See you guy soon!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-89891421854046401412013-01-12T22:42:00.003+00:002013-02-20T17:44:00.233+00:00Old Generals Farm Progress!!Hi everyone!!<br />
<br />
Finally, something really worth showing you guys!! <br />
<br />
I've managed to cut out a couple more panels and attach these to the base template. It's looking really good and I'm so pleased with how few issues I've encountered so far! The panels seem to fit really well - only two obvious ones so far that will need tweaking, but it's given my a lot of good faith in our measurements. It's a shame Thomas isn't around now to see how good this is turning out. He'll be telling me "I told you so" right about now, because I had a horrible feeling the measurements wouldn't add up at this stage.<br />
<br />
Sadly, I haven't been able to complete it like I hoped I'd be able to - interesting goings on in the hotel this evening - including a guest in my back yard, fighting in Reception and "Security!!!". So yeh, I'm full of adrenaline and probably not going to be able to get to sleep after I've posted this, so who knows, maybe I will get it finished... but here's a photo or two of how far I managed to get up to before Zena discovered our intruder. <br />
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See you guys soon!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-72069075644035371742013-01-08T23:58:00.000+00:002013-02-20T17:44:53.331+00:00Old Generals Farm - Little Bit Of ProgressHi everyone,<br />
<br />
To take my mind off of the whole Governor's Mansion/Madeline's School decision making for Hildred House, I found myself searching for a miniature-related task. While staring at my projects gathered around me in the living room, my eyes wandered over to the ugly stack of cardboard boxes and cut out shapes of graph paper spilling over the floor. <br />
<br />
Tutting, I knew I had to do something about that as my Grandparents are coming over to visit in a couple of weeks, and this was unsightly. <br />
<br />
So, taking my pencil, ruler and scissors I set to work cutting out that huge ground floor template. <br />
<br />
Here's an image for you. This gives you an even clearer idea of how big it's going to be. <br />
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<br />
I've also started on drawing out the wall panels and I placed a couple of those against the template to see if I was on track. A few of them fit perfectly, and a couple disagree - but nothing major that's going to cause any issues for me...<em> she says</em>.<br />
<br />
Sadly, because of mine and Thomas's fall-out the last room of the house that needs measuring won't get measured any time soon... and it just happens to be one of the most complicated.<br />
<br />
Hopefully, when I get some time off work I can borrow my brother one weekend and we can measure it together before Mom and Dad start decorating ready to rent it out.<br />
<br />
But either way, everything is looking good so far and it's pretty exciting :)<br />
<br />
Back Soon!<br />
<br />
Hugs,<br />
ShellbyFayAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-2742996274983535342013-01-07T18:02:00.000+00:002013-01-07T18:02:07.183+00:00In Need Of Your Ideas & InspirationHi everyone,<br />
<br />
You know how it is, life throws a wobbly at you, so you take a break from your hobby, you get back to it and all your ideas and inspiration has dried up! I've been thinking about my current dolls house projects and how I miss spending time on them, researching, gluing and imagining how they will turn out.<br />
<br />
The one project that bothers me most is Hildred House.<br />
Remember?<br />
The Big One I got a few Christmas' ago.<br />
It was meant to be a joint project between my Mother and I. Well. <i>That never happened!</i><br />
And now I have this big gorgeous house, that I am in love with, but I have no inspiration for it.<br />
<br />
Please take a peek at the images below.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBL1YNTuB4PtWcASpZAlu7oUqXbmRIf7v4x3m1bI73RRB5HpZm34HQRyGKZs6cQsavfIsQFXU7_mrLMJgsOUreNTLKEsxUAC-A3VmxLnyo_HSpXhb2Lem197SERN8aroZyGvJK21wC0cdX/s320/DSC02531.JPG" /> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjka95cJlLf2bEGNU6jVA7MRRWsA8NZEzOdx_lxxgq6u5B9i9g6fb3s2RV_qTKQjJ_ZmLrRNgVTHkQKF-VxMrFhUiy7t1D0LspjnG791Fkhk_NcoF8qx0pKfAmYTxQuOrRqE4_CINL8f8mK/s320/DSC02532.JPG" /><br />
<br />
When you see this house, what comes to mind?<br />
I've had several ideas over the past two/three years but none that have screamed out at me. Mainly because the house has that ghastly middle stair case that I <b>hate</b>, <u>hate</u>, <i>hate</i>! I've inspected the house though, there is nothing I can do about that. It's <b>solid</b>.<br />
<br />
I can live with it. I can deal with that small issue.<br />
<br />
But what to do with it?<br />
<br />
Potential ideas have been...<br />
<br />
The typical Edwardian/Victorian/Georgian house<br />
<br />
<i>or</i><br />
<br />
The Missouri Governor's Mansion<br />
<img height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh9LQjH8Gpzoo5Jn4d76v2HtufRPisTl0G6Qaz0_WAndLja_LrQOd97A7X3VbG965e_HIvrEwKHhN75YzziCu166e__QqJzkRxOVZvESVBKbhUvBTHLq7Vdwyb53Nc-I7XAXz9HKpL-Q/s320/missouri01.jpg" width="320" /><br />
<br />
<i>or</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
A French Town House, my inspiration taken from <a href="http://une-petite-folie.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Petite%20Maison" target="_blank">Un Petite Folie</a> of course because her work is incredible!<br />
<br />
<i>or</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
a Grand Hotel of some kind<br />
<br />
<i>or</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Madeline's School<br />
<br />
<img height="320" src="http://www.horroria.com/i/nstills/06/84/10684/10684-124380.jpg" width="249" /><br />
<br />
I am learning more towards the school, but in all honesty, I have no idea what rooms would be what and how I would decorate them. The outside of the school inspires me for the project, but the inside I feel nothing. :(<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Please, I beg of you!, if anyone has any great ideas and some inspiration for this project please share with me!</i></span></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;">But Not All Is Bad!!</span><br />
<br />
While playing on this game called <i>"Mirrors of Albion" </i>on my iPad today, I found inspiration in the Confectionery shop. I thought to myself "wow, I would really like to create this as a project." and then realised I had the perfect property for it. The Bakery!! I'd take a photo of it's current state, but the truth is, I have actually lost it! I have no idea where I have put the bakery in my flat. I distinctly remember bringing it here, so it must be somewhere. Where, though... no idea!!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ha!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
I was originally doing the bakery up as a Georgian bakery, but I've since lost interest in that theme. I really love French. I really love light, airy spaces. I really love the colour blue. I'm already really keen to get started!!<br />
<br />
Here is an image of the confectionary shop from game play. Isn't it gorgeous?!<br />
<img height="240" src="http://www.game-insight.com/static/images/Press/mirrors_of_albion_screenshot_3.jpg" width="320" /><br />
<br />
I'm going for a bath now to sink away the stress of being unable to find my bakery, and having no clue what to do with HH!<br />
<br />
Looking forward to reading your suggestions!<br />
<br />
Hugs,<br />
ShellbyFay<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-37791158824482992462013-01-01T13:03:00.001+00:002013-01-01T13:03:58.579+00:00Happy New Year!!<i><b>Happy New Year Everyone!!</b></i><br />
I hope you're not feeling too bad after a night of one too many alcoholic beverages! :)<br />
<br />
I'm sorry I haven't been around much recently. Life has been very hard over the past few weeks. I have cried a lot, smiled some, laughed a little - but more importantly, I have learnt a lot.<br />
<br />
The thing with being young, is no matter how mature and grown up you believe yourself to be, life always seems to find a way to prove you wrong. Things aren't always black and white and a lot of the time there are grey areas. These grey areas are shadows. Underlying issues related to friends, family, work etc. hide in these shadows, and at any unexpected moment, they run up and kick you in the shin! Please someone older and wiser tell me that as you get older this happens less? It happened far too many times in 2012.<br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">2013 is going to be different. </span></i></b><br />
<br />
This year I am going to complete some things from my 100 List.<br />
I am also going to smile more.<br />
Laugh lots.<br />
And meet loads of exciting new people and make new friends.<br />
<br />
<i>If anything was a major disappointment and let me down like no one would be believe this year, it was my best friend. My Best Friend. But that's another story, and one I will tell you about another day when I can manage to reminisce without feeling sparks of rage and reaching for the tissues. </i>I will not be making that mistake again this year. I'm done with it.<br />
<br />
<b>This year is all about the good times.</b> I need to do more with my year. Last year, it was all about work, work, work. Well, I got the promotion. I've moved out of home. I should be happy now, right? Not really. I didn't experience enough and this year I have a checklist that I must complete!<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Do a skydive for charity. (I've asked around and there are already a couple of work colleagues who are interested in doing one.)</li>
<li>Furnish my flat! (It's still so bare!)</li>
<li>Go to Jersey and meet my other family</li>
<li>Go Zorbing</li>
<li>Go to see Mr Pickles</li>
<li>Finish measuring Old Generals and have my final draft build ready to apply to wood.</li>
</ul>
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I think this is all achievable. It will require some saving up and some carefully planned days off, but I think this will improve the year quite noticeably. </div>
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I'm not setting any New Year Resolutions this year. It's easier to change things and do thing differently as you go along in the year. </div>
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What has everyone else got planned for 2013? </div>
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What lessons did you learn in 2012? </div>
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What are your goals for the New Year?</div>
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Shellby</div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;">o</span><span style="color: #0c343d;">x</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-43149277375085158312012-11-27T19:48:00.002+00:002012-11-27T19:48:38.372+00:00Help! I've Lost It!!Evening everyone!<br />
<br />
I hope you're all okay! :)<br />
<br />
I am <em>so </em>sorry that I have been away for some time now. I have been so super busy it's unreal! I've had the decorator in the flat for the past week and a bit, so I haven't settled down to do any template work for Old Generals because my flat was in so much chaos - every time I tidied a room, the decorator would empty another into it, so I gave up. My evenings were spent trying to burrow a tunnel through my flat to make it liveable!<br />
<br />
Now... the real reason for this post... I wondered if you guys could help me track something down. When I'm doing the templates I use a Scale Calculator, which I found straight away with a simple Google search when I first started this project. Somehow though, I can't remember exactly what I typed in, but it couldn't have been anything spetacular. <br />
I've since done lots of cleaning of files etc on my laptop, and it appears the link got cleaned away too.<br />
<br />
This evening, I have set aside some time to get back into the templates and get the outside shell completed. Thing is, I cannot find the calculator anywhere online!!<br />
<br />
<em><strong>I am in absolute dispair!!</strong></em><br />
<br />
I have tried all the different ones which keep popping up in my Google searches, but I don't trust them, and I don't like them.<br />
<br />
The one I was using was really simple. It was a case of type in the measurement (which was in my case typed in, in inches and mm's). And then in the box below it came out with the 12th scale measurement in inches and mm's. I really liked it because it was so simple to use, easy to see the measurement at a glance and the page wasn't full of distracting text and adverts like all of these other calculators I'm finding. <br />
<br />
It was also on a red background.<br />
<br />
<em>Please, please someone help me find it?!</em><br />
I've typed in all kinds of combinations of scale conversion calculators and it's not showing up. If the creator of this calculator has since removed it I will be distraught. <br />
<br />
Maybe I should've posted the link on my page here, but I didn't think of this at the time. I'd like to use the same calculator because if there is just the smallest bit of difference between calculations of this site and another it could mess everything up. Plus, I really don't like the way these other calculators are set up and most of them have really distracting pages. <br />
<br />
Please, if you recognise the description of the calculator please post up a link :)<br />
<br />
Now, I must dash. Got some more Google searching to do!<br />
<br />
Thank you everyone!<br />
Hugs ox Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-57927184852046148342012-11-11T10:47:00.000+00:002012-11-11T10:47:40.017+00:00Are You Wearing Your Poppy?<br />
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Good Morning Everyone!</div>
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I hope you are all well today.</div>
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This is a very special post today, not miniature related, and something very close to all our hearts. </div>
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Today is <i><b>Remembrance Sunday</b></i>. Today is the day we Remember all those who fought and gave their lives for our freedom. </div>
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I'd like to share with you a poem I heard every Remembrance Week in assembly while I was at school. It was always read out by the Team Captains- Hurricane, Spitfire and Lancaster - these were our teams (I was Lancaster). </div>
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It is written by Harry Riley and it is called <i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Remember Me (The voice of the dead.)</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Remember me</i></span></div>
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<span class="poemText" style="color: black; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><span class="style146" style="margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><i>Duty called and I went to war<br />Though I'd never fired a gun before<br />I paid the price for your new day<br />As all my dreams were blown away<br /><br />Remember me<br />We all stood true as whistles blew<br />And faced the shell and stench of Hell<br />Now battle's done, there is no sound<br />Our bones decay beneath the ground<br />We cannot see, or smell, or hear<br />There is no death, or hope or fear<br /><br />Remember me<br />Once we, like you, would laugh and talk<br />And run and walk and do the things that you all do<br />But now we lie in rows so neat<br />Beneath the soil, beneath your feet<br /><br />Remember me<br />In mud and gore and the blood of war<br />We fought and fell and move no more<br />Remember me, I am not dead<br />I'm just a voice within your head</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">I will be taking part in the silence and watching the ceremonies on TV today. I hope that you will join the millions of people around the world who will also be Remembering. Such as sad, sad day - but we must not dwell on the death, pain and sorrow - but instead celebrate the men who fought for us and for the lives we have today. There are no words to describe such men, Brave and Heroic don't even scratch the surface. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">So, are you wearing your poppy today?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-1323212024030749062012-11-10T00:41:00.000+00:002012-11-10T00:41:58.532+00:00Another Day of Tape Measures and Graph Paper!Hi everyone,<br />
Hope you're all okay!<br />
<br />
I'm sorry I haven't been around these past couple of days, I do have some progress to show you - mainly in the form of pictures though. I've been suffering with sickness again - all day yesterday and today. Been extremely busy at work and if it hadn't been for the manager who works next door in our bar and resturaunt, I don't think I'd have coped! I've been grabbing 10 mins of sleep here and there when I can, but my stomach and my head will not allow me to get any proper sleep! :( Booo!<br />
<br />
Anyways, on Wednesday Thomas and I went back to Old Generals and did some more measuring up. This time I was the one who was really late, busy updating our other receptionist who has just gotten back from holiday and paying the tyre man for fixing my flat tyre! <br />
<br />
When I got there, Thomas had already measured up quite a few of the "panels."<br />
The way that I'm going to build this house, since it's got so many sides to it and it's such a big house, I will have to do each outside wall as a panel, and then add the internal walls and floors afterwards. This will obviously be tested out in my big cardboard stencil of this build. <br />
<br />
Anyways... side tracking! Thomas had provided me with some... er... rough sketches of the sides of the house he had so far drawn. I'll admit, a brief glimpse at these and I understood them, while I was facing the wall we were looking at on paper - sitting on my living room floor inspecting them Wednesday night... hmm, Thomas, I may need you to decifer which drawing is for which wall here? Please?<br />
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I managed to snap some amusing pics of Thomas on a ladder though! :D<br />
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Each photo was snapped with a rather rude comment from Thomas himself, basically telling me to stop taking pictures. I couldn't. It was too funny. I stopped when he chased me around the house with a wooden ruler though... that was not funny! :'( <br />
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But anyways, we got the measuring completed outside - all except for the conservatory. We got all of the measuring done inside too, all except for my bedroom. It was 5pm, pitch black outside and we were freezing (as the house is empty and there's no heating on) and my bedroom is the most complicated room upstairs to measure, so we decided to leave it until next week! <br />
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Which gives me a little under a week to get the measurements we took on Wednesday scaled down and draw up so that any mishaps and discrepancies we have over the measurements can be ironed out. The clock is ticking, and I don't have much longer to get everything that I need from this house to begin my build!<br />
<br />
I'm going to attempt some sleep now, I need it desperately. So I will bid you all goodnight, and I hope to be back very soon with some proper progress! :D<br />
<br />
Hugs <span style="color: #38761d;">o</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">x</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-76804701160600115162012-11-05T22:37:00.000+00:002012-11-05T22:37:29.605+00:00My 100 Things List - Why Did I Put My Biggest Fear On It?Evening all!<br />
<br />
I have accepted culinary defeat this evening, and the fact that the world has been against me all day! <br />
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Constant phone calls...complicated emails...to do lists the length of my arm... I smashed my new mobile phone... smashed my rice jar... burnt wedges... sour milk and no wine - I have slumped onto my sofa, with a mug of hot chocolate (which tastes vile because I picked up the wrong flavour) and I decided since there is nothing on tv I will chat on my blog tonight.<br />
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Kim inspired me with this blog post tonight, by revealing her fear to me. And then I thought I would tell you all why I put my biggest fear in the world onto my <a href="http://anythingminiature.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/100-things-to-do-before-i-die.html" target="_blank">100 Things To Do Before I Die post</a>. <br />
Well, the long and the short of it is - <em>how amazing would it be to say that you have faced your biggest fear?</em><br />
<em></em><br />
For me, Great White Sharks are my biggest fear. I can't even look at a picture without breaking into a panic attack. Just writing about them now is making my breathing become quicker, I can feel my heart rate beginning to race and I'm already feeling scared. <em>Calm down ShellbyFay, it's not like a Great White is going to blast up through the kitchen sink and eat you whole is it?! Silly.</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<strong>My biggest fear. To look a Great White in the eye and live to tell the tale will be the biggest achievement in the world for me. I would never want for anything again. </strong><br />
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<em>Yes, but why?? It could eat you dammit! </em>Yes, there's that. From what I've heard (and it didn't help my fear) Great White's swallow you whole before they begin chewing and digesting. I've had endless nightmares where I feel trapped - unable to break free from the jaws of a shark - only to realise I've cuccooned myself in my duvet... <br />
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Of course I would only do it in the safety of a shark cage... or will I?<br />
<br />
See, on my list is <strong>67. Go scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef </strong>. Thomas told me last night that there are sharks here. And yes, there was a shark attack there not long ago. But I still want to see this reef. <br />
<br />
You see, the thing is about the world, that it seems to be mainly things that can kill us that we fear. For Kim, and I hope you don't mind me using you as an example Kim, heights appear to be her fear. She told me she would have to become a ball at the bottom of the basket if she went for a hot air balloon ride. <br />
<br />
But while she's sat in a basket in the foetal position, she's missing the view of the world below her. Everyone walking around, looking like ants. The world, as you would see it, in <em>miniature</em>.<br />
The beauty of the world there for the taking, capture it as a memory. Capture it on your camera, show the world.<br />
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Okay, so yeh, looking at a Great White face to face, I won't be seeing it in miniature, it'll probably see me as a miniature snack... but if I could take a photo, prove to the world I did it. I believe it will make me a stronger, happier person in this world with the sense that nothing could get me down! Anyone can do it. Everyone can do it. <br />
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<em>Face your fears.</em><br />
<em></em><br />
Anyways, that's enough from me this evening. <br />
Take care everyone!<br />
See you soon<br />
<br />
Hugs <span style="color: #674ea7;">o</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #741b47;">x</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-16298138984271345382012-11-03T23:28:00.000+00:002012-11-03T23:28:16.507+00:00My First Award!Good evening all!<br />
<br />
I told you I would be back today!<br />
I'm sorry I couldn't do this earlier, I was at work and my <em><a href="http://anythingminiature.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/100-things-to-do-before-i-die.html" target="_blank">100 Things To Do Before I Die</a></em> post was actually written up over the past couple of days - because it took a lot of thinking! But there I was this morning, logging on at work and checking out my favourite blogs and I had a beautiful surprise!<br />
<br />
I clicked on over to my good friend Christine's blog - check it out - <a href="http://postwarthatchedcottage.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Hollyhock Cottage - a miniature home in the 1940s</a> . Christine's work is amazing and I am so honoured to have found she has awarded me with my very first award!!<br />
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And here it is:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BVZPN5Km_cs/UJWYtDKeMDI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/1XPm1cT4ke8/s1600/award.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BVZPN5Km_cs/UJWYtDKeMDI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/1XPm1cT4ke8/s1600/award.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I Love To Blog"</td></tr>
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And do you know the second best bit about this - it was as if blogger sensed my excitment and actually allowed me to upload this picture!! Hurrahhh!! :D</div>
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Christine, honestly, thank you so much I am so grateful for this award and I'm so happy you thought I was worthy. I'd love to award it back, as I feel you so deserve it, which is why you recieved it in the first place, but I guess that's cheating...</div>
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Now I assume I have to award this to 6 other people now, and I've been carefully looking and thinking as to who to choose. Straight off the top of my head I could name a dozen - but when checking them out, I realised they had already been awarded this award. I know there are some blogs out there with amazing writers, with some amazing content to share that haven't been awarded this award yet, so I would like to share it with them. And I hope it makes their day just like it made mine. </div>
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So, in no particular order.</div>
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I would like to nominate this award to:</div>
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Kim, at <a href="http://flowerkim.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Flowers & Art</a>, I really enjoy reading Kim's blog and her comments here always make me smile and keep me motivated.</div>
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My friend Kath, her <a href="http://lakeviewdollshouse.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Lakeview dolls house</a> is fantastic, looking at the pictures is like looking into a home design magazine. Everything is just so right and not a detail missed. </div>
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Ara, over at <a href="http://afminimansion.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Addams Family Mini-Mansion,</a> I've recently been keeping up with Ara's blog alot and I thoroughly enjoy reading her posts. Her Clue blog is pretty interesting too!</div>
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Irene at <a href="http://hambletonhall.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Hambleton Hall</a>, I felt Irene deserved this award because all of her blogs are my biggest inspirations. It doesn't take a genius to work out Irene was born to be a miniaturist!<br />
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Peggy at <a href="http://peggy-cosycottage.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Another Cosy Cottage</a> is a blog I have recently discovered. Peggy makes adorable little needle felted cats! And while I'm talking about Peggy, you should know she is holding a giveaway for one of her needle felt cats - a cute little sleeping one. Here's the link, and I will post up a link image on the side of my blog too. <a href="http://peggy-cosycottage.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Peggy's Giveaway!</a><br />
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Casey &Tessie a <a href="http://caseymini.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Casey's Minis</a>. I don't think I've ever met a miniaturist who blogs who doesn't know about Casey and Tessie, I felt they deserved this award. Since the award means "I Love To Blog" and Casey blogs everyday, it's pretty obvious she loves blogging - so it suited quite well :)<br />
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I hope to be back soon with some actual mini progress on something!<br />
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Hugs!<br />
ShellbyFay <span style="color: #8e7cc3;">o</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">x</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-19034432035762661652012-11-03T14:56:00.000+00:002013-07-12T10:53:54.524+01:00100 Things To Do Before I DieHello everyone!!<br />
I hope you're all okay.
<br />
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I thought you might have gotten bored with photos of graphs and card board and me banging on about Old Generals Farm, so I thought I would share something, possibly inspiring, with you. <br />
<br />
Recently, I've been thinking about the direction in which my life is going, my achievements, my dreams, my goals, my failures. Then I realised, I really haven't done enough to satisfy myself, in the sense that if I died tomorrow I haven't done what I have set out to do! So, while I was in the bath, sipping on wine and Facebook messaging my best friend, Macky (aka Thomas), I wrote up a list of <strong>100 Things To Do Before I Die</strong>. Kinda morbid, I know, but how can we each really grasp our lives if we don't set out what we really want to achieve and experience in life?<br />
<br />
Sometimes, while writing this list, I found myself at a loose end. So I started searching online for what other people have written on their bucket lists. I felt happier in myself that in some lists, what people consider a goal for themselves, I have already achieved. <br />
For examples:<br />
<ul>
<li>learning how to horse ride, </li>
<li>riding a horse bareback, </li>
<li>have my own pony (Mr Pickles)</li>
<li>taking part in a show jumping competition (albeit I did terrible, but I had the experience), </li>
<li>meeting a celebrity and having my photo taken with them (I could name drop here, but I'm not going to.),</li>
<li>going camping, </li>
<li>picnicing in a grave yard - when I was younger myself, my best friend and her mom went on bike rides and we'd go to a quite little grave yard. While eating our sandwiches we'd walk around and look at the head stones.,</li>
<li>Moving out,</li>
<li>Experience all 4 seasons. Living in the UK, I experience them - although not to a great extent. I'd like to experience a really warm, romantic Fall. A rainy, refreshing Spring. A hot, blistering Summer. Snow up to my waist in Winter. I hope these more exagerrated experiences will come when I visit other parts of the world. </li>
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And there are more, of course, but these things I have achieved. When I was younger, things like horse riding was my dream and having my own pony. My biggest regret in life is letting that pony go, I should've stuck with horse riding when I started secondary school. <em>Sigh</em>.<br />
<br />
But moving on swiftly - I thought I'd share my <em>Bucket List of 100 Things To Do Before I Die</em> and see what you guys think. Thomas is also going to write one, and we have decided that over the next few years we will help each other achieve our dreams. <br />
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We've already started planning a trip to Paris, and I'm looking at tickets to see Bon Jovi! :)
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This is what I came up with:<br />
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<u><em>100 Things To Do Before I Die</em></u></div>
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1. <strike>Do a skydive for charity</strike></div>
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2. See Aerosmith perform <br />
3. See Bon Jovi perform</div>
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4. See Pink! perform</div>
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5. Complete Old Generals Farm 12th Scale</div>
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6. Raise £10,000 for Air Ambulance (realistic goal of £1000 a year for 10 years doing some kind of amazing event - maybe something that can tie in with my 100 list.)</div>
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7. Have at least 2 children - at least 1 girl. I will name her Nevaeh. (<em>Heaven</em> spelt backwards)</div>
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8. Own my own hotel - my dream - a big eco friendly, luxury hotel in the Lake District with different rooms dressed in period styles with modern facilities. Offering long country walks, picnic spots, fishing and horse carriage rides to a nearby village. A real couple's romantic getaway.</div>
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9. See Flo Rida! perform</div>
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10. Go to a silent rave!</div>
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11. Run a very successful Etsy shop</div>
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12. Travel the world!</div>
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13. Fly!(in an aeroplane.)</div>
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14. Visit Paris</div>
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15. Visit New York</div>
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16. Visit Los Angeles</div>
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17. Visit California</div>
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18. Visit Eygpt</div>
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19. Visit Australia (Christine put the kettle on!)</div>
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20. Have a 6 pack! (Weird, but yes, I'd like a 6 six pack for at least 1 month! Haha.)</div>
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21. Get married</div>
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22. Own/Hire a volkswagon mini van (pale blue one) and tour the UK (Scotland, Wales and right down to the bottom and back again) with Thomas! (He hates mini vans and is secretly dreading this! haha)</div>
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23. Visit Italy!</div>
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24. Drive a funky scooter thing in Italy!</div>
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25. Live in a totally French inspired cottage in the country</div>
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26. Own a Shetland pony</div>
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27. Own another German Shepherd</div>
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28. Visit the Lake District</div>
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29. Vist Harrods and buy something</div>
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30. Learn to do Jumpstyle <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghlyy_WejgQ" target="_blank">Click This Link Too See Jumpstyle dancing!!</a> </div>
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31. See Pitbull perform! </div>
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32. <strike>Go to Jersey!</strike></div>
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33. Inspire someone.<br />
34. Own a pair of Louboutins. (Extravagant I know, but I love heels - and I would like to tell my granddaughters that I once owned a pair of these high style, expensive, designer heels! Even if they did only survive one night out on the tiles!)</div>
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35. Go for a meal in a sky scraper resturaunt.</div>
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36. Visit Las Vegas</div>
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37. Publish a book! (childhood dream)</div>
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38. Visit Jamaica!</div>
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39. Visit Hawaii</div>
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40. Honeymoon in the Maldives (<em>You got that future hubby</em>!!)</div>
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41. Ride the UK coast on horse back</div>
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42. Go Whale watching<br />
43. Stay in a luxury 5 star hotel! </div>
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44. Visit the Tombs in Eygpt!</div>
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45. Go on the Eurostar</div>
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46. Spend Christmas in another part of the world. Either New York or Paris!</div>
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47. Swim with Dolphins</div>
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48. Get a tattoo</div>
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49. Build and sleep inside an igloo for 1 night. I'd have to go somewhere cold for this....</div>
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50. Do a "Come Dine With Me" style dinner party with friends! :)</div>
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51. Learn to meditate - connect with my soul and mind</div>
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52. Throw a fancy dress Steampunk themed birthday party! :D</div>
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53. Camp on the beach for a whole night :) - a warm beach - maybe do this in another country, because I would freeze in the UK...</div>
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54. Visit Rome</div>
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55. Learn a new language.</div>
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56. Learn how to knit! (I learnt a little bit when I was younger, but Id like to learn some more.)</div>
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57. Learn how to make my own scented candles!</div>
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58. Learn how to weave miniature baskets!</div>
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59. Become a successful blogger. <br />
60. Go Zorbing (rolling down a big hill in a ball)</div>
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61. Plant a tree. Not just any tree in any spot, but a tree with a specific meaning. What that meaning will be? Who knows.</div>
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62. Shower in a waterfall!</div>
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63. Sleep under the stars in a scenic place.</div>
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64. Go on the biggest Roller Coaster in the UK!</div>
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65. Drive a convertible across Route 66! (Complete with mirrored shades, rock music and long hair!)</div>
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66. Go for a Hot Air Balloon ride!</div>
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67. Go scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef</div>
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68. Quad Bike in dunes and on the beach!</div>
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69. Go for a driving day experience - drive a Ferrari, Lambourgini or another really awesome car!</div>
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70. Go rally driving!!</div>
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71. Go skiing.</div>
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72. Stay in a log cabin in a winter wonderland! Drink hot chocolate by the fire and roast marshmellows!</div>
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73. Take a tour of the Grand Canyon</div>
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74. Visit the 9/11 scene in New York (a bit morbid I know, but my grandparents went and they said it was a real life changing emotion and atmosphere.)</div>
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75. Walk along the Great Wall of China</div>
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76. See the Northen Lights</div>
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77. Have my palm read</div>
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78. Have a Medium assess a house I am living in.</div>
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79. Climb a Mountain and camp at the top for a night. Not sure which Mountain yet.</div>
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80. Stick a map with a pin and go wherever it says!</div>
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81. Climb a Volcano</div>
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82. Go skinny dipping!</div>
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83. See Michael McIntyre live</div>
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84. See Lee Evans live</div>
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85. Hold a Masquerade party. (Everyone must bring a +1 and wear matching masks.)</div>
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86. Ride horse back across the beach</div>
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87. Ride a Dune buggy across the desert!</div>
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88. Witness a meteor shower </div>
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<strike><span style="color: #134f5c;">89. Meet a Holocaust Survivor</span></strike></div>
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90. Ice skate in New York at Christmas</div>
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91. Eat in an underwater Restaurant.</div>
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92. Watch a drive in movie!</div>
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93. Sing drunken Karaoke in a foreign country with my best friend! Song of choice must be: "Don't Stop Believing - Journey"</div>
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94. Design and build my own home. Decorate and furnish it until it is just perfect.<br />
95. Have £1,000,000 in my bank. Apparently, after doing some reading, this isn't such a hard achievement. We'll see. </div>
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96. Visit an undeveloped country<br />
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97. <strike><span style="color: #134f5c;">Watch the sun rise.</span></strike>
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98. Experience Mother Nature at her best - go camping and trekking through Rainforests, Waterfall locations, The Wild. </div>
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99. Fall head over heels in love.</div>
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100. Conquer my biggest fear. Great White Sharks.</div>
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As you can see, in teal and crossed out there are two things that I have already completed. This was a great feeling. I watched the sun rise with a friend on top of a big hill not far from where I live. We sat in his Cavalier Convertable and looked up at the stars. If he wasn't a close friend, I'd have said it was something quite romantic. We talked and talked all night and watched the sun rise in the morning. I went home at about 8am, showered and slept! Haha. <br />
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That was one big memorable moment in my life and it was just perfection. I plan on visiting lots of other parts of the world, and I will have a "To Do List" of things for each place - and of course experiencing a sunset and a sunrise with be on these lists!<br />
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I met a Holocaust survivor while I was at college. We took a trip to a holocaust centre here in Lincolnshire and we met Arik. He is a really inspiring man, I bought his book and managed to read a little bit of it on the journey home. I'd like to finish this book some time.
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So there you have it, my bucket list. I can't say for sure that all of these things will remain here. I like to think I will review this list in a year where I will add or remove things. But this is quite an interesting list and I think it reveals a lot about me. I'm pretty adventurous and willing to try new things. <br />
Once I start making solid plans on completeing some of these things, I am going to set up a blog especially for mine and Thomas's adventures! <br />
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Watch this space everyone!<br />
<br />
Hugs,<br />
ShellbyFay<br />
<br />
PS - I'll be back later this evening with a very important post! ;)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-44143334324068816912012-10-31T17:23:00.000+00:002012-10-31T17:23:16.403+00:00Something Is Missing Here...Hi everyone,<br />
<br />
So yeh, this dolls house could get a little bit drafty if I don't figure out what's going on here...<br />
<em>(click the link!)</em><br />
<br />
<a href="http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z356/funkymonkey1993/DSC03342.jpg">http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z356/funkymonkey1993/DSC03342.jpg</a><br />
<br />
I've spent today cutting this cardboard straight so that it is easier to handle, and I've just finished pinning the graph to the cardboard, ready for my to draw around. Good new is, it just about fits the width of the cardboard! Whoo.<br />
<br />
I've also done a rough measurement of the house so far (may change once I find this missing piece of wall, or realise I've added a wall where a wall shouldn't be somewhere here... But hey, it gives you an idea...<br />
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<a href="http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z356/funkymonkey1993/DSC03340.jpg">http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z356/funkymonkey1993/DSC03340.jpg</a><br />
<br />
It is a little under 5 foot 10" wide.<br />
And 2 foot 6.5" deep. <br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">Big.</span></strong><br />
<br />
See you all soon!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4983213704177254274.post-45695774672483531342012-10-30T20:11:00.000+00:002012-10-30T20:36:38.092+00:00Template and Tips On A Burnt Pan Anyone?Hey everyone!<br />
Hope you're all good!<br />
I'm back and feeling much better after being poorly sick.<br />
<br />
Today I did the template for Old Generals Farm. Already, removing the remaining bits of paper from the graphs, it looks a little more managable... but I'm not going to lie - it's still pretty massive! <br />
Here's a photo (click the link!) I've used a saved TV box... which wasn't quite wide enough... oops. I can add bits to the cardboard until it's right. But hey, the outer edge of the bits of paper is the outline. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z356/funkymonkey1993/DSC03339.jpg">http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z356/funkymonkey1993/DSC03339.jpg</a><br />
<br />
<br />
My next step is to make this into a one piece of card, thick and sturdy and use that as a baseboard and template. <br />
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Thomas and I won't be able to get to the cottage to do the remaining of the measuring this week, so instead I'm going to spend my day researching building methods - angles for those scary dormer windows - and some doors and windows :) Exciting. <br />
I also want to dig out my clays and see what I can come up with :)<br />
<br />
I can't wait to get cutting wood up and really seeing this build take shape. I have the space picked out in my living room ready for it with plug sockets right near by for the lighting :D Eeek!<br />
<br />
Oh.. and before I go, anyone know how to get rid of this awful burn on the bottom of my pan? I got chatting to a friend last night and completely forgot about the rice I had cooking... this was the result :( . I've tried boiling salt water, it's made a slight difference but not an awful lot (it's also why my pan looks really grubby around the edges.)<br />
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<a href="http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z356/funkymonkey1993/DSC03336.jpg">http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z356/funkymonkey1993/DSC03336.jpg</a><br />
<br />
See you guys tomorrow! :)<br />
Hugs oxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10232398904799054946noreply@blogger.com3