Ok. Seeing if I can get this written before my blinkin' internet connection disappears again!! Just had news that a friend had her baby this morning!! That's the third in recent weeks, and two others are now expecting. I do wish people would stop asking me if I have any plans for any more though. Erm....well I wasn't insane last time I checked, so why would I be now?? I adore my kids, but I do have a complete lack of maternal instinct. I'm not like a mum, mum; more like a big sister I guess. More to my daughter I think, especially now she's a teenager. There is a lot of parallels between us, although she is far much more of an attention seeker than I ever was at her age. I always felt that I had missed out on a lot having Sian at such a young age, well not really young by any means, but to me I was young. Everyone else around me managed to go travelling etc.. and I was jealous, I guess. But now I think I am lucky, and it was the right time, because when mine have grown up and left, I will still be young enough to live my life and do all the things I couldn't do before. I know. I'm wittering again.

What did I do yesterday.....Oh, I went for some retail therapy, spent an unnecessary amount of money, on various bits and pieces that I really don't need...not an awful lot else really. Sat out in the garden for a bit last night because it was such a beautiful evening. Watched my hubby and Corey messing around on the lawn. They are so cute together. I love watching them play-fighting and little Corey shrieking with laughter and bright rosy red cheeks from running about. Sian decided to go caving and then left muddy footprints right through the house. The muppet. Still, I have the most perfect family and I am eternally grateful for that.

Wow! What a spectacular storm last night, or early this morning, even. Was waiting for Corey to come up to get into our bed, but thankfully it didn't wake him. I love it after a good thunderstorm, everything looks so green and fresh again. I was so glad of the rain yesterday afternoon. I went for a wander round the garden in it. Got drenched but it was lovely and invigorating. Luckily all my neighbours think I'm barmy anyway, so it's not an oddity to see me doing daft things in the garden with a silly grin on my face.....the black cable incident for instance......;)

Just about to do some mathematics and work out a test firing program for my kiln. Probably means going in tonight to start it, so it will ramp gradually during the night, and HOPEFULLY be coming down in the morning so if anything DOES go wrong again, there'll be a factory full of people who can alert me. Fingers crossed!!!! Seems a waste to fire it empty but I'm still waiting on a new kiln shelf since my original one still has the remains of my last firing welded to it. It got so hot, the plaster mould melted too!!

Other than that, a nice lazy day I think. Or some retail therapy perhaps....?

A VERY good day so far!! Just had a call to tell me my kiln is now PERFECT!!! I am so happy!!! I have waited for so long, and was expecting a MASSIVE repair bill, but everything is totally fine, even the thermocouple which looked as if it had been badly damaged in the overfire is working fine too!! It has cost me nothing!! I am forever grateful to our technician!! No explanation as to what went wrong but I don't care! Just need to wait for delivery of a new kiln shelf, and I am back in business!! YIPPEE!!!! I now have to put my heart and soul into this venture. I started my company over two years but generally treated it as a hobby that makes me money. Now is the time to get serious. This is what I went to uni for, this is what I know best, and I believe that I can be successful. Kiln-forming glass is one of the most exciting and rewarding hobbies ever. Nothing beats opening your kiln after a firing and finding what started off as a mould full of crushed coloured frit, transformed into bright colourful jewels! Then the whole polishing process, getting them to gleam and sparkle........sorry, going off on one........ :)

Just can't wait to get back to it.....

Woke up at 5.00am this morning. Kissed hubby and crept out of bed. It's now 8.20am, and I'm still the only one up. It looks set to be a scorching day again today, the sun is streaming through my dressing room window, I'm gazing out over the fields listening to the birds tweeting, knowing that shortly, the kids will be up and the peace will be shattered.

It's been a hectic week this week, and it's going to be a hectic weekend too!! Nick's been backk home really late from work each day, which sucks a bit. We don't get enough time together. But I suppose that it's his job that keeps me in the life I've become accustomed to, so I'm forever grateful!! Looking forward to my godson's birthday tomorrow though. Oh, and the England v. Germany match!!!! :)

Had fantastic news yesterday that my beloved kiln may be sorted very soon. (Had an overfire a few months back, which caused a lot of damage.) I haven't fired it since about February(?) and it's been torture. My stock is at an all time low, which is good in a way, because I didn't realise how well they would sell, but can't wait to start to build it up again so I can approach other suppliers. Just keeping everything crossed that it's ok.

Finally figured out how to use this thing now I think.........:-s

Oooooohhh!!! How exciting!! My first blog!! Does anyone ever actually use these things??? Can I say mean things about people? Only kidding. I'm never mean!! :)