Learning to use a Camera

I just have to show this photo of Lexi, she was singing

Stay away from my presents!

Wish I could have taped the sound she made.

But in a different light

Is it Dinner Time?

Not bad for a new user to the proper camera's instead of my compact one.  Think I might just get into this photography after all!

Christmas snaps

Trying to work out this IPad has been a nightmare, but on doing so I came across some photo's of previous Christmas Day's.

Considering this was Xmas 2008 and I didn't know whether I had a death sentence or not I do look rather well.  Lexi wanted to get stuck into opening her presents, Tyke already was.

Tyke taking a well earned break from opening her toys.

She was amazing at pulling open her presents and even getting into the stockings, she would pull and chew the plastic until she could get inside and eat whatever there was.  We thought Lexi would never learn how to do this but she did.  Tyke's last year for Christmas she flew down the stairs and ran into the living room grabbing hold of anything she could and started ripping the paper off!  We said no Tyke they aren't yours wait .. she was excited.

Can't believe we lost our Tyke, but as they say life goes on and in December 2009 we brought home a ball of fluff.

I doubt whether he would be able to get his back end into this corner anymore.  So small and cute.  The first few weeks were a nightmare as Lexi hated him on sight.  But with care and attention she soon learnt to love the big guy!  (After all he would grow to be much bigger than her - who wants enemies twice your size!)

 2010 Lexi showed him how to open his presents and left him to eat his own! 

This year was different again, Lexi had us up at 3.30 excited, why because Gary kept saying Santa's Coming, Santa's Coming Lexi.  She was worse than any child could possibly be.

I let her out at 4.30, then she paddled around up and down the stairs, Bear was getting excited but didn't know why so eventually sleep was something neither of us could have so we got up.  We finally figured out how Tyke (in previous years) and Lexi both knew it was presents day, because the smell of the turkey slowly cooking was the indicator to it being the DAY.

Bear couldn't be bothered to open his presents, I think Lexi was giving him the evil eye, so she could open them all.  I did get him to tear at a few of them but he lost interest.

We hid some in stockings by the side of the fire to keep them both guessing!

I hope your Christmas mornings have been as joyful as ours.

What a present

For my 45th I threw a party to say Thank You to everyone for the support I had over the last year.  Also it was great I was alive.

I thought my 46th would pass by quietly but hubby wasn't going to let it go unnoticed and bought me a car.

My little boxer

I had said to Gary that Just once I would love to relive that carefree life, feel the wind in my hair etc, you have all probably had the same conversation.  I was over the moon and feel in love with this little motor but boy was it smelly when the engine ran.  We went to get something changed on it a few weeks later and I saw something a little bit more, after toeing and froing we exchanged it for something a little bit more

I was just on my way to the September Fayre with Michelle and my new broom broom arrived, no not that bag of sand in the background but the little red number.

Picnic by the Road

September and Chemo was over, life was back on track and off we went for a trip out with friends.  We ended up driving for ages before we all got fed up and hungry.  We just pulled over and pulled out the hampers!

Pass the food then! Mark, Lorraine & Chris

After parking up and eating, we drove a few minutes further and found a beautiful place to stop complete with stream.

Gary & Chris

Shall we go for a swim!

From Pup to Beauty

We lost Jagar to cancer at the tender age of 2, it was her 2nd birthday when she died, I wanted the whole world to stop turning because she was such a loving dog.  We had moved by now and she use to love putting her nose under the fence and lick the noses of the sheep.  When the horses were out in the field she would spend ages with them by the fences. 
Tyke went into another depression, she was alone and we couldn't explain what had happened.  We spent 4 weeks again looking for a pup, everyone was at shows etc.  Finally we were put down for an interview and went to Leeds.  We didn't get to choose Lexi the breeder picked her for us. 

Lexi in the snow February 05

This is baby Lexi with Tyke looking after her.  We still had so much work to do to the house and gardens so built a little play area around the back door so Lexi would be safe and unable to get out.  Can't believe this little bit of fluff turned out to be such a large beautiful girl.

Nothing like playing in the snow.  Both Tyke and Lexi would spend hours chasing after each other or chasing after toys.

Dana, Jagar and Tyke

My beautiful Dana, I had always had German Shepherds and after loosing our Kelly my mam said that a friend had some pups she was giving away.  Dana was certainly a handful and I wish I had digital photo's of her.  Everyday she went to work with me.  It broke my heart when she died of cancer.  The day we buried her the sun was shining and as we drove her body to my parents to put in the garden rain fell for a few seconds, it was like God was crying with me.  Dana welcomed Tyke into the family and she to was lost.  She laid across the back of the sofa and wouldn't eat.  We spent weeks trying to find a puppy and finally Jagar came along.  The first few minutes Tyke was alone with her she tried to eat her but after that they became the best of friends.

Tyke & Jagar

Neither of the Shepherds turned out to be long haired as hoped, they both became heavy coated.

Days in the Dessert

Gosh, 1996 these were taken, we went to Dubai, the Burj was just having its foundations for the island built.  It was a great time all expenses paid, 5 days in the sun.  We drank champagne as the sun set this day then finished off at a Bedouin camp with dancers and singers.

Gary certainly looks the part of an Arab.   We were terrible as we drank quiet a lot that night.  At one point I had a hunting falcon sitting on my wrist without any protection (rather stupid).  It was one of the kings own flock.  I also managed to get Gary onto a camel for a camel ride and he actually enjoyed it.  On another day Gary and I left the group we were with and went snorkeling, the driver was stopped for speeding and we had to do a detour to pay for the speeding ticket at the closest police station.  I have no idea which part of the UAE we went to but there was one hotel where we went snorkeling and thankfully they let us use their facilities.

The Doc who cares

Dr Abtin a couple of days after torturing me under the CT Scan with his freezing needle technique.  Santa Monica Beach is 16 blocks south from here and Gary and I walked it while waiting to meet up for lunch.

Happy Snaps

Sometimes it's fun just to flip through those odd ball photo's and share them.

Glitter Ball MKMRF May 2011

When we arrived for the Glitter Ball, Peter Gibson saw us enter the Bar and took us through a back way to the beautifully decorated dining area.  He was so worried that some one would bash me as the Bar was so crowded.  We missed out on meeting lots of people but had a good night anyway.

Masked Ball 2007

Then I found this one

Yes that's Chris Knighton and Anne in the back ground trying to work out the order of the evening.    I think I'm the only one of us that has aged over the years!  I certainly have changed a lot