An update on all things

This blog has been slightly dead since august, how sad, I seriously keep meaning to write in it but I've been swamped. That being said this is my 100th post!  University work is in full swing and added to that Student Finance England the utter horrors are being evil to me yet again. Now they have decided that I am only eligible for the bare minimum of funding (not true) and are messing me about "reassessing me" yet again. Its as though everything that can go wrong has gone wrong with them. So I've been on even less funds that last year, if thats possible. I even caved and had my mother buy me a food shop, something I didn't do in first year even though I stock piled in preparation for not having money. I would sincerely like to kick the shins of who ever is in charge of student finance. They belong in the very dankest pits of hell. Anyway, rant over. There has been other more interesting news than my money woes. The house is nearing completion! Work has obviously been slower now my sister and I are back at uni and with my parents both working the build speed has slowed down but some awesome progress has been made. Despite some minor mishaps with feet going through floors and metal beams needing to be put into secure up the utility before it fell down throwing the budget slightly its going okay. The huge Sycamore tree has been cut down in the garden, we've kept some of the wood for the new wood burner.

The kitchen is almost complete it just need the light to go in, to be painted and for the floors to go down. It looks absolutely lovely though, the cooker is a super cute old fashioned looking thing that I'm a little in love with. Even though we couldn't get the little half moon handles we wanted the ones we got aren't a bad replacement and look really sweet. I think my dad and I did a pretty decent job on picking the work tops too.

All the rooms have been lined with paper and the carpets are getting measured sometime this week so progress is ticking on. The bathroom still isn't in even though its supposed to have been done weeks ago. Builders don't half like to drag things out. Parents have also been maniacally sorting out our current house getting ready to rent it out as soon as possible after the move so haven't had time to constantly chase around after slacking workmen.

Thats all really. I've got some plans for future posts so fear not I refuse to become one of those bloggers who posts once in a blue moon complaining they don't post enough, I'm out of the habit but I'm getting back into it I have big ideas for this little site even if it is only really for me.

Yours

Belinda Stepford

xxx

Angel had surgery

Little squiff Angel hasn't been to happy lately, with my sister and I back at University she hasn't been getting quite as much fuss as she is used too. Especially now my Mim has started training Blossom to Stack (the way show dogs stand) recently. Until about a week ago when my parents took her to the vet to get spayed. She was fine in surgery and charmed all the vets with her cute little eyes.

She wasn't too please though with her cone, dachshunds are definitely the wrong shape to wear cones. Every time she tried to eat or drink she ended up scooping food up and throwing it everywhere, so my Mim had to hand feed her and let her drink out of mugs. Which definitely made her feel like the centre of attention, her favourite trick was to stand on my mim while she was sat down and stick her coned face right into my Mim so all she could see was Angel and cone.

She also had to sleep in the cage to stop the others going after her stitches which she didn't like one bit. She has definitely discovered her howl. For such a tiny dog she can howl the house down when she wants too. Our neighbours must really hate us, but it doesn't matter on one side we have a really weird guy who is very rude and on the other side we have a young noise couple.

Yours

Belinda Stepford

xxx

Blossom Drama

One of the many dramatic goings on since I last posted was somebody attempted to steal Blossom. Which would have possibly been the worst thing in the world if we hadn't got her back. Don't worry she is home safe and sound now though... Here's what happened.

My Dad was in the house and heard a crashing sound from downstairs and all the dogs where going mental barking, so he ran down to check what had happened and the back garden gate was open and Blossom was missing. So he ran out and began frantically searching to see if he could see anyone or her. The garden gate lock was totally broken so someone had broken in and grabbed her and ran off. So he then called the police and then had to call my Mim which was obviously a incredible hard phone call to make. The likelihood is a pedigree like Blossom would have been sold into the Puppy Mill trade was a very real and terrifying possibility. 

The Police where absolutely useless, they didn't even really want to report it because it is such a common crime. My parents where beside themselves and went out searching for her. They though they could hear her in a house that was a few doors down on the opposite side of the alleyway that our houses back onto so knocked on their door and asked. Apparently they found her in the street and had kept her incase she was missing. Which we thinks unlikely because their house overlooked ours and they hadn't reported her found to anyone. There was no evidence they had actually stolen her though so there was nothing we could do. It did cement to us though that we are absolutely making the right decision in moving. The though we could be living near people who think that its okay to steal a dog is horrific. Taking a dog is like taking someone's child, the rest of the dogs where totally freaking out that Blossom was missing and they could probably hear her seeing as she was so close. 

Once she was back she needed a bath because she was filthy and was given lots of fuss and hugs from my parents. Then they called me to tell me what had happened. That was not a nice conversation to have, Blossom is most definitely my dog and the prospect that someone would just take her was so frightening.  They then called my sister and told her, who then went to one of her first meet and greets of the new term and cried. The dogs are no longer allowed in the back garden unsupervised and the all the locks have been replaced, when we move they'll be in a very secure garden with a dog run so they will have even more protection. Its a sad reality that people willing to steal pets for money exist. I'm just glad we've got her back and if I ever find out who took her I'll have their head on a pike. 

Yours

Belinda Stepford

xxx

Puppy news from Rosie Darling!

We've had an email from Rosie our biggest and last born pup who went to live with the school teacher Helen. Rosie also got the mohawk gene like Angel but her's is even better! 

Firstly, can I start by apologising about my lack of e-mails!  I know I'm rubbish!!!  I've tried to send of couple of e-mails recently but the files were too big and wouldn't send so I gave up! I'm going to send only a couple of photos per e-mail and see how that does...  How is the lovely Lily and the others in the brood? 

Rosie is wonderful!  She has settled with her new family life perfectly and it's as if we've always had her!  She has become very well house trained with only a few accidents here and there.  She has been to two sets of training classes now and will generally do what we want her too - but she is certainly a Dachshund and it's all still very much on her terms!!!  She is however, becoming a very good guard dog and unfortunately tends to bark at everything that moves (but this is getting a little better)!  My poor neighbours!!!

We've had some fabulous holidays together.  She loves the beach and open fields. Running and gambolling around is her favourite thing.  She is the most loving and adorable little dog ever and she follows me everywhere!!!

We are going away to Cornwall tomorrow and she has recently come into season - so we'll all have to watch that she doesn't get any amorous advances from any other dogs!!! Nightmare. Has her sister come into season yet?

Well, I'm going to have a go at sending some photographs now...  Hope you are all well your end and that the house move went/is going smoothly. Take care and I will try and send some more update when we get back from Cornwall.

Love Helen X

A Reappearance

Hi readers,


Regulars to my blog might that I've recently enabled ads on my blog, I realise this is somewhat odd timing as I haven't posted in a while but trust me I am working on it. I also figured that if I enabled ads then maybe I will have more of an incentive to post regularly. I've also been having some problems with photographs uploading, so I've resorted to using imgur which doesn't look as nice but it's better than having no photographs. I've been super busy with moving from my old house in Winchester into my new house in Winchester. Although I am going to be so sad not to be living with Lizzie and Maria, I am beyond excited to be moving with Laura in with Andy, Sophie and Beth my history society friends. 





In other news my sister is back home as well from university and we've been using the time to photograph each others pets. She has been struggling to get her guinea pigs looking slick and I've been struggling to get any photographs of Addi in focus. So naturally we swopped. 
The guinea pigs are both dark and their cage makes it difficult to get a decent angle on so I had to find a place that was bright, big enough but high sided... my conclusion bath tub. I actually managed to get some pretty decent photographs. 





My sister tried using the bath but Addis size and speed caused those photographs to come out a blur.  So she tried with my holding Addi and continually shooting, which yelding some much better results. 

Once I get past these technical issues I promise to post more often. 

Yours 

Belinda Stepford

xxx

Just a Little Ramble

I swear I am not dead. I've not posted using the new layout at all, which is a bit of a inconvenience seeing as I've had it for well over a month. I hate it, I just don't like how everything is so bitty and all over the place. I will be resuming blogging properly when I get the hang of it I promise.


In other news I now also have a tumblr, that I update daily, http://allmyinspirations.tumblr.com/


I mostly post photographs of beautiful houses and interiors.  

Yours

Belinda Stepford

xxx

Blog Birthday!

Well my blog is officially a year old, at the time of writing I've had three thousand, four hundred and seventy six views to eighty three posts, I don't know whether thats a good number or not but I'm taking it as a win :) To celebrate my blog birthday I baked a pineapple upside-down cake but the recipe isn't quite perfect so I'm not ready to post it yet.

Yours

Belinda Stepford

xxx 

News from the puppies

My parents received an email yesterday from "Maggie" or the baby we knew as Clementine, shes been renamed by the boy who owns her after Maggie from The Simpsons. How cute! Heres what "she" sent us:

Hiya Paula + Philip,  


Just thought I would let you know how I am getting on in my new home,  I have settled in realy well and have practicaly trained the family to be well behaved and do just about anything I ask.  I have a nice warm bed and a couple of nice blankets, lots of toys and of course food.  I have been to the vets, I didn't like that at all but hey you have to show willing now and again.

Thought I would send you a couple of photo's of myself in my favourite spot, (on the couch) and with my boy Joshua.  He loves me very much and I can get him todo most things for me, although for some reason he's not to keen when I've been the loo.  He keeps telling me that in a few days we will be able to go out for a walk, (whatever that is), anyway I hope my mum isnt missing me too much, give her my love.

Yours Maggie xxxxx

Doesn't she look great! Seriously happy with the home she's gone to, it does make me a little happy sad that she has gone to a new home but that the point of puppies isn't it. In other news Angel and Blossom are going for their first walk today, in the lovely sunshine as summer is raising its head from slumber. 

Yours 

Belinda Stepford

xxx

All things must end

I do apologise for the serious lack of postage lately. I've been snowed under with essays, who knew university would be such work. I've got a happy/sad update about the pack for you. Rosie and Clem have gone to their new homes. They are going to be loved and kept as wonderful little pets but it is still sad to see them go. Lily has been a bit skittish since they have gone, looking for them which is so sad to see. At least we're keeping the other two. Not that Fatherbean is happy about that, he isn't impressed we've doubled the number of dogs and that puppies are as much work as babies.  We'll win him over though. 

Eight weeks go so quickly, its not long until april 5th and I'm home for the summer. No longer shall I be a fresher, my god that is scary thoughts.

Yours

Belinda Stepford

xxx

Whirlwind Visit to The Pack

I'm back. I went home, saw the puppies and my friends then did a U turn and headed back to my uni home.  It was the best way to spend a weekend to be honest. Despite getting stuck in Clapham for two hours, despite having a girl playing her music so loudly I could tell it was lady gaga from her ear phones, despite the six hour trek, it was worth it. The puppies are amazing. They are so huge, but ridiculously tiny at the same time. They don't even look real.

Clem and Angel

We still haven't found a home for Clem, apparently Brindle dachshunds aren't in fashion, but because dachshund in general are in fashion you can find tons of cheap irresponsibly bred ones at the moment. We don't want her going to a home who aren't going to buy a dog from a reputable source, she is PRA clear and has all her history, I think she might end up going to our family friend Julie if no one steps up soon. 

Blossom

Blossom had blossomed into the most beautiful dog ever, her markings and temperament are just amazing. We could have sold her so many times but my Mim just fell in love with her, she is hoping to show her as well which would be a great little hobby i think. She is so playful and just loves bouncing all over you its so sweet. We've also had a breeder interested in studding one of her dogs with her when shes old enough.

Rosie/Darling

Rosie is such the leader of our little gang, she is so much bigger than Angel its insane, she is a real bold little thing. She like to chew shoe laces and attempts to climb everything its quite sweet. Her new owner can't wait to get her its going to be so sad to see her go but the lady she is going to is a lovely school teacher so we are happy she'll be loved.

Clementine 

Clem isn't as bold as Blossom or Rosie but she isn't as shy as Angel. She is a lovely good natured dog who just loves cuddles, on the Friday I got home she refused to get into bed with the others and ended up on my lap while I watched tv and the rest slept, it was adorable. She is such a little tinker though. 

Angel

Little Angel is doing great, she is still the runt by 300g which when you are tiny thats a lot to be smaller by but she is healthy. She is a little slower than the others, the vet thinks she might have been a bit oxygen deprived when her umbilical cord was wrapped around her tail which is unfortunate but it doesn't look like she has any lasting affects from it as she seems healthy other than being little. She is gentle and sweet, an overall  great dog. We are going to keep her as a pet as we wouldn't be being responsible if we gave her to someone else as she might develop health problems in the future. She is such a happy little dog though, I'm so glad we are keeping her. My Mim even agreed if the landlord had let me have a dog I could have taken her.

It was so difficult to say goodbye to their little faces, I almost got Angel in my bag before Mim noticed. Its not that long until I am back home for summer anyway, but it is going to be weird without Rosie and probably Clem seeing as she will hopefully find a soon anytime now. In other news I got my hair done, the blonde is gone and I'm back to brunette, its still very long which is weird for me but I'm enjoying the change from cropped. Now I'm back in Winchester the blogs will get back to there usual updates.

Yours

Belinda Stepford

xxx

I went shopping today, I shouldn't really being a poor starving student and all... but this dress. This dress just spoke to me. I saw it days ago and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I just love it. So I bought it. Student  budget out the window, more than my weekly shop budget, but I figured if I don't buy it I will regret it. Its just so lovely and odd.

Its a red herring special again, I seriously adore red herring designs. They are so classic. It had little dachshunds and hearts all over, so it suites my life. How often do you see clothes with dachshunds on anyway? It did come with a really ugly tacky brown belt which is being relegated to the dressing up box. I'm going to buy a little red belt to go with it instead.

I desperately need a hair cut at the moment, its just so expensive where I live though and I'm so picky about my hair I don't want to go to a really cheap salon type place, I was meant to get it dyed and cut over christmas but there where literally no free appointments. I'm also bored of the blonde. I've been blonde for longer than I've ever kept a colour before so I fancy a change. I'm just not sure what. Maybe go back to a dark colour, closer to my winter shades, my natural hair is so changeable. I always ended up near blonde in summer it streaked that easily in the sun, so I suit most shades. I'm a little bit of a chameleon that way.

Yours

Belinda Stepford

xxx

Puppy Green Eyes

I'm so jealous of my Sister right now, she had to go to Sheffield to go to a Medics Ball with her med-student boyfriend, and managed to find train tickets that detoured home. She got to see the puppies. They are huge, I mean seriously huge now. She had a couple of hours sitting on the floor playing and cuddling then had to dash. 

I can not wait to go home next weekend, I really miss the little mushes. They will be eight weeks old on the 1st of March meaning they are officially old enough to leave home as soon as we get them vaccinated. Scary thoughts. I'm so glad I'm going home before any of them go, I also need to get some of my summer wardrobe back as the weather is hotting up here already.

Yours

Belinda Stepford

xxx

News from behind the books

We have our house for next year, it is offial, We've paid the deposits and the forms have been signed. I am beyond happy that we have somewhere to live. The view from the top of our road is amazing, it looks right out onto St Cathrines hill an iron age hill fort that is just beutiful. It looks so dramatic against the huge expanse of sky surrounding it, being at the top of a hill in Winchester feels like standing on top of the world, you can see for miles, truly epic.

In other news my essays are coming along, not finished but I'm only a little stressed about getting them in on time so the blog should return to normal soon, I've neglected my cookery postings for far too long and I'm think of maybe starting to do a look book type post once a week about what I've been wearing seeing as I dress rather uniquely. *cough* like a four year old *cough*

Yours 

Belinda Stepford

xxx 

Charity Shop Trawls

I'm a big fan of charity shops, I would estimate that around eighty percent of my wardrobe is second hand. I don't see the point in just shopping for new cloths, second hand tends to be just as good and you are almost guaranteed that no one else will be wearing what you'll be wearing. Today I made a lovely little discovery, I've been meaning to buy an apron for quite a while now seeing as I keep forgetting to bring some of the many I have back home to Winchester. Anyway today I found a really sweet half apron, I'm pretty sure it is hand made, it has plenty of pockets and the fabric is just amazing.

Its reversible so its suits multiple outfits. All that for one pound twenty five, now you can not argue with that can you?