Raisie Bay

Turning a Corner

I will confess, it has a been a difficult couple of weeks. A difficult month actually, when it just seems that everything that could go wrong has gone wrong in the most drastic way possible.

This morning we were faced with something we really don’t deal with very well in our house, a change of routine! Graham had to get up early and take Ash to the vets for his operation. We tried so hard to change the appointment, but 8am is the only time they take the pets in for ops, so there was no option. The vets is 40 mins away by car which meant that Graham would not be able to take the kids to school.

The girl’s should really be able to walk themselves to school but for two problems, a very busy road and Autism.

The Autism looked like it was winning for a while, it’s a good job I set the alarm early to make way for a 15 minute melt down. But, we still managed to get ready and it was Big sister that saved the day. Not only did she get up early to help them across the busy road, but she also instilled a calm in the house which helped Star recover and actually leave the house on time. 

The Little Man had to wait for his Dad to return home to take him to school, it’s just too far away and big sister doesn’t even know how to get there (I don’t even know how to get there!) But being at primary school, a quick phone call to tell them he was going to be late and all was okay.

Turning a Corner!

Maybe this morning is proof that we can function (almost) normally as a family? I guess to some people it sounds rather strange me saying that, but the kids all managed to get into school and no-one was killed on a busy road, so I’d say it was a success. 

Ash has already started to wake up from his operation and I’ve been told he’s doing fine. So now we just have to get through the rest of the day.

And while I’m feeling positive I can also report that yesterday went quite well too. Another day of disrupted routine, the girls had an inset day, the eldest son had an appointment that I had to attend with him and it was my birthday. Autism (son and daughter’s) almost took over on two occasions but we got in there quick and stopped it. I had lunch out and a take out for dinner, which was way too much food.

I had presents, lots of presents and cake and beautiful designer cheesecakes, and chocolates.

Three individual cheesecakes, cookies and cream, strawberry and white chocolate and Baileys.
Three individual cheesecakes

I had a friend come to visit in the evening and we watched  ‘I’m a Celebrity Get me Out of Here’ while making pom poms and catching up.

For the first time in weeks I feel like the bad stuff will go away. We have hard fought for appointments coming up to ease health issues. The stressful things are done and dusted. Now we just have to survive until Christmas. 

We can do that can’t we? 

Mix It Up Linky
Debs Random Writings

My Sunday Photo 25th November 2018

Ash

Is it too soon for more photos of Ash?

a tiger striped kitten curled around with his paws over his head
The comma position

Ash is now 7 months old and the time has just flown by. He has changed from this cute little kitten that needed to be carried down the stairs to a big blundering kitten that can bound up the stairs in seconds. He’s often been up and down three times in the morning while waiting for me to descend. 

a cat lying stretched out with his paws together
The prayer position

He goes from running around like crazy to curled up and asleep in a matter of seconds. He gets into some of the most ridiculous positions, but he does prefer to stretch out rather than curl up.

He’s started going out now, he bounds around the garden like, well, an over excited kitten. He loves jumping on the trampoline and playing on the slide. He follows his big sister around everywhere, it’s a shame, she can’t even escape him outside now.

two cats on a green slide. One is sitting at the top of the slide, the other is sitting on the bottom rung of the ladder.
Garden Play with his big sister

Brother and Sister

It’s hard to tell whether they actually get on or not. Sometimes, not often, they will curl up and sleep together. Mostly, Sabrina is avoiding Ash as much as she can. But, a lot of the time they are chasing each other around the house and pouncing on each other. It’s hilarious to watch Sabrina following Ash’s every move by peaking out from behind the curtain. Then, when he gets close enough, she pounces on him and the chase begins. Then the process will continue with Ash hiding and pouncing on Sabrina. Honestly, they are like a couple of young children playing hide and seek!

Sunday Snap

Discover Our Solar System

Author: Colin Stuart
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Button Books (7 Oct. 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-1787080164
Product Dimensions: 24.8 x 1.1 x 24.8 cm

The Blurb

Sit back, buckle up and get ready to enjoy a cosmic tour of our amazing solar system! Inside this illustrated guide you’ll discover the incredible things that make up the solar system and how it came into existence. While you marvel at the beauty of the planets and our Sun and Moon, you can  learn astonishing facts about them. You’ll also find out exactly what dwarf planets are, and the differences between asteroids, comets, meteors, meteoroids and meteorites. Plus you can delve into the fascinating history of space and travel and glimpse what the future may hold. With all this and much more, you’re sure to come away from your journey with an even greater sense of awe at the wonders above us.

inside the book, Discover our solar system.

Our Verdict

The Little Man, aged 8 years, is currently obsessed with outer space. He loves reading anything to do with the solar system so this book was greatly received. 

The hardback book is very resilient with thick paper pages. The illustrations are colourful and details and the text provided in short paragraphs which are easy to digest but full of interesting information.You can learn about the Space race with a detailed timeline of the discovery of rockets, to the first space walk and up to current technology launching a sports car into space. There are also details about how rockets are built and how they work once launched.The main purpose of the book though, is to teach everything a child needs to know about the solar system, each of the planets is described along with dwarf planets. You can also find out what Asteroids, comets and meteorites are. The Little Man really enjoyed reading through this book and I’m sure he will pick it up again and again. 

Disclosure: This book was sent to me for the purpose of this review, all my thoughts and opinions are honest and entirely my own.

Linking up to Talk of the Town with Jera’s Jamboree and Bookboodle

Word of the Week 22nd November 2018



Hello and welcome to the new home of Word of the Week, a nice and simple weekly linky, with everyone welcome to pop by and share. You reflect back on the past week and sum it up in one word. Then share your word with us in a blog post, with as little or as much explanation as you like.

There are not too many rules with this linky, just remember to read at least another couple of posts in the link up after adding your link. Do try to stick to the theme of summing your week up. I will read and comment on all posts and tweet them out for you. Please add the badge below to your post so that others may find us and join in. If you comment or tweet then please use the hashtag #WotW

If you are unfamiliar with the Word of the Week linky then please feel free to ask any questions. New linkers are always welcome, we love to hear what you have been up to in the past week.

My Word of the Week

My word of the week this week is Hope.


Photo by Ron Smith on Unsplash

I have had a really awful couple of weeks, I could have chosen something more sombre like, depressed, moody, gloomy, bleak, sad, grim, miserable….you get the picture I’m sure.

I have been poorly, I spent most of last weekend in bed and that’s really not like me, I generally just keep soldiering on. But I’ve been floored and not wanting to do anything but sleep. It’s not just me though, my eldest daughter has been ill too. She too had an awful weekend but still dragged herself into work on Monday. It didn’t help though and on Tuesday she ended up in A&E. 

I don’t know if it’s just our hospital but we always seem to get fobbed off, it’s definitely a time and number game. How little time it takes them to see and discharge a patient seems to be more important than actually listening to the patients problems. Both me and my daughter are red card patients, which means if we present at A&E we need to be seen quicker. But, it doesn’t meant that we get listened too. 

This time I just couldn’t take it though, I refused to take her back to the GP as the doctor was telling me. I told them she needed proper help and soon and we were not going anywhere until she got it. Then, low and behold, they found out that she was an urgent referral for a specialist and gave her an appointment date for January. I still wasn’t happy though, I was not going to let her wait until January. So, they told me that if I called the secretary of the specialist I may be able to bring the appointment date forward.

Still feeling slightly fobbed off, we left the hospital. But, on phoning the secretary I discovered that she was considered such an emergency that she would get to see the Dr within the next 7 days. A lifeline, something to give us hope at last.

So hope is my word of the week. When everything looks totally bleak the only thing you can do is hope for improvement. Sometimes to have to fight your way through, but it’s hope that keeps you going. 

Raisie Bay – Word of the Week



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Christmas Shopping with a Difference at Etsy

Have you ever had a difficult gift to buy, someone that you want to treat with something special but just can’t find that special thing? Then you may want to consider the Etsy market place. If it’s handcrafted, vintage, custom or unique it’s on Etsy.

I’ve put together my gift list of some of the special things you can find on Etsy. There is so much to choose from though, if you don’t like anything I’ve put you can always go and look for something else.

Slime

The slime stores are my go to places. It’s where my girls go to spend their pocket money. Forget about those pots of gooey snot like slime you can buy in the shops, on Etsy you can get some incredibly beautiful and long lasting slime. It’s all made to order and there is so much to choose from. Here’s a few from our favourite seller SlimeMarshmallowsUK

My girls will be getting these in their Christmas stockings.

a pot of light brown coloured slime with gold sprinkles from Etsy
Egg Nog Scented Christmas Butter Slime

Egg Nog Scented Christmas Butter Slime is an eggnog scented layered slime, with thick slime at the bottom, butter slime in the middle and a layer of clay on top! Mixing them all together is very satisfying! From £6.

blue and white slime with sparkly snow flakes and stars from etsy
Shimmering Snowflake Slime – Scented

Shimmering Snowflake is a tri toned cloud slime consisting of dark blue, light blue and white! Its topped with snowflake fimo slices and iridescent star glitters!  From £6

Jewellery

When it comes to jewellery, Etsy is your place. There is so much to choose from but don’t worry, it’s all easy to find. Just check the categories for what you want and narrow your searches. You’ll soon pick up something that’s perfect.

I’m going to show you a couple of items that I’d love to receive myself.

a beautiful heart shape necklace with lapis lazuli from etsy
Lapis Lazuli Heart Necklace

A Beautiful Lapis Lazuli Pendant

Individually Handcrafted using a water clear resin with lapis lazuli, aluminium and golden metallic glitter. £40

When I saw this pendant I fell in love instantly. I really love lapiz lazuli, but this is really unique. 

a green stone bracelet with a turtle charm. from etsy
Sea Turtle Bracelet

The Sea Turtle bracelet is hand made in England. It features Grade-A Green Aventurine and Howlite gemstone beads, measuring 8mm diameter and threaded on to high-quality stretch cord. The Sea Turtle is Peruvian ceramic and hand painted, measuring approximately 13mm

I love bracelets, I love semi-precious stones and I love turtles. This is one example of how you can find something perfect for someone on Etsy. 

Musical Gifts

Have you ever given anyone a mix tape? Are they a thing of the past now, do people still share their favourite music. Maybe it’s done on a USB now? Well, I’m old fashioned so this retro mix tape really caught my eye. It’s an actual cassette with a USB stick.

A cassette mix tape with a USB stick from etsy
Mix Tape USB stick

UNIQUE and ORIGINAL gift: This is an authentic USB Mixtape using a REAL TAPE CASSETTE. £15.99

Our retro AUTHENTIC Mix tape is the real deal – manufactured in the UK so premium quality is assured – Exactly the premium quality and original retro design that you would wish to give a loved one as a special gift. 

a guitar key ring from etsy
Guitar Key Ring

Abalone Guitar keychain 

Guitar keyring, finished with iridescent shimmers of Abalone Seashell. £12.60.

The perfect little gift for a guitar player

Christmas Decor

While you are shopping for your presents, why not take a look at the Christmas decorations on offer at Etsy. 

Personalised Wooden Name Family Christmas Tree  £8.09

Set of Superhero minifigure Christmas Baubles £4.99+

Personalised Christmas Stockings £10.42

Felt Christmas Tree Decorations £4.50+

A collage of Christmas decorations from etsy

Have you considered buying your Christmas gifts from Etsy?

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links which will cost you no more to click but may earn me a few pennies. Thank you for clicking and Merry Christmas.

A little Note About Positive Reviews on Raisie Bay

A little Note About Positive Reviews on Raisie Bay

Some people only write reviews when things go wrong with products, which is good because it lets people know that there could be potential problems. I’ve also seen negative feedback with say things like, I had to return this item because the colour did not suit me…is this useful?

I write reviews on most items I buy because I like to give genuine feedback. If I have a genuine problem with a product I will write my review in the appropriate place.

I write reviews on my blog too, but they are mostly positive. Why? Because I only write reviews for the things I’ve loved. If I don’t love them I let the person who sent me them know with details why and then let them decided if they would rather me write a negative review or not write one at all. It’s always the latter.

This is my blog, my place and I’ll let you know about the things I love. If you want to find out what other people have hated about the product then you will need to look elsewhere.

My reviews may all be positive, but they are still genuine.

Where to next?