It's time I was back here

Hello you lovely people,

I can not believe that I have not blogged since the end of January and feel ashamed and sad because I have really missed you all.  Some of you know that my health had not been at it's best and I was desperately trying to get well enough to go and visit my Dad and family in New Zealand.

Well I am happy to report that not only did I get to New Zealand but that I had the time of my life with my dear Dad, my Auntie Edna whom I speak to on the phone every week but have never met, she is 87yrs old and her and I have a lot of things in common.  My Uncle Barry and Auntie Carol travelled over from Australia to meet me for the first time also, so there I was surrounded by my family the only people missing were my two children and my amazing sister Tina who lives in York.

I had my birthday while I was in New Zealand and we were all together to celebrate that, the memories will be with me forever.  My Dad threw two birthday parties for me, one in Rotorua where he and Auntie Edna live and one in Auckland which is where my Dad was living when I first found him after 30yrs of not knowing where he was or anything about him.

The long journey to and from New Zealand were very hard going for me and took it out on my poor old body but the holiday was so worth the pain and discomfort.

The hot air balloon was my birthday present from my Dad, he knew it was the last thing on my wish list which I had drawn up as a teenager.  I had honestly told myself that sadly it was something I would never be able to achieve now that my health was going down hill.  The firm that run these hot air balloon rides are one of New Zealand's finest companies and so professional.  They were so helpful to me and made sure that this ride was one that I could do with their help.

My Dad and I both cried on this day, I because I was living my dream and my wonderful Dad had made it all possible for me and my Dad because he knew just how much this meant to me.  Oh boy what a day one that will live with us both forever. The Champagne breakfast that followed was also very special and finished off this fantastic day for me.

I now have two scrapbooks to make one all about my family that had been kept from me for those 30yrs before I was able to trace my Dad, I have bought old photo's and original documents back with me to use.  Plus I will be doing a scrapbook on my holiday in New Zealand full of all the wonderful friends I made while there and of all the amazing places I visited.  I may show some of this on my blog as it takes shape but it is something that will take time as scrapbooking is a new thing to me.

I now intend to get back to crafting and sharing with you all the things I am working on and making.  I am looking forward to getting back to our Wednesday WOYWW as boy have I missed seeing all your desks.

I hope you will stick with me and encourage me to get back into doing what I love most, getting covered in ink and paint with a great project at the end of it.

Take care for now and keep watching this space for project and joining me on my journey.

TTFN

Ria