tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85263702561003968162024-02-02T23:56:21.024+00:00the stroppy cowBadges, coffee and cake. The rantings of a Stroppy CowUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-28392842418794144022011-05-30T11:30:00.005+01:002011-05-30T11:49:05.669+01:00Wedding favoursThe demand for party & wedding favours is certainly on the increase. It's something I'd been thinking of for some time, well, kind of anyway. I was going down the 'Save the Date' route but it's very time consuming & to be honest I wasn't able to charge the prices that I should for the work involved.<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6FPg3N8hcNrwDubvZctfaKVEfEyZfg_8rOnguDVhazmZToVpiJ6isOMpXvf1DTWKNKwW3FLnAwRbk9mpFfG8gRXtS0iKOS7RHTjKKsUw7wHz3kXqcD1S3xKSPbRS9zSBf8Z9PJD1UIY/s1600/custom+001.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6FPg3N8hcNrwDubvZctfaKVEfEyZfg_8rOnguDVhazmZToVpiJ6isOMpXvf1DTWKNKwW3FLnAwRbk9mpFfG8gRXtS0iKOS7RHTjKKsUw7wHz3kXqcD1S3xKSPbRS9zSBf8Z9PJD1UIY/s320/custom+001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612456252698238050" /></a></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EIbIDnvPFZiyFXtvXSejCtRu7ZwIUCln1jKzK0TKmVGuWV8PPXkqh-9ccQlFoEUMvuSILhZ8Z1o-w-fIWyMtryzg-bGnma8WAEhYjRaffBA4UaTxnhwWxAklV6RJAAxvd9Zkc1D03fg/s1600/np.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EIbIDnvPFZiyFXtvXSejCtRu7ZwIUCln1jKzK0TKmVGuWV8PPXkqh-9ccQlFoEUMvuSILhZ8Z1o-w-fIWyMtryzg-bGnma8WAEhYjRaffBA4UaTxnhwWxAklV6RJAAxvd9Zkc1D03fg/s320/np.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612456912253883058" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Finished Save the Date fridge magnets for Nicola & Paul</i></div><br />So I set out on a quest to find someone else to do the hard work of designing and opted for the wedding favour market, less customising and, therefore, less cost to pass on!<div><br /></div><div>The Wedding Favour page is now available on our the <a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/wedding-favours-70-c.asp">website</a> and is proving to be a bit hit!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTCAav_fPaD__sUkMYx_8EufMq0HORMZsUFIzMIj1O3Q6gtcrPy-7iRQbQiMCoMH5xVzSDZ-pn3EQlTA_ytWQo1IDu79M8yN5q-Fk8mIxsJuhBWWH1LBKjLBNF-jm2QCVVmbHT_L8sc8/s1600/shabby_chic_vintage_rose.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTCAav_fPaD__sUkMYx_8EufMq0HORMZsUFIzMIj1O3Q6gtcrPy-7iRQbQiMCoMH5xVzSDZ-pn3EQlTA_ytWQo1IDu79M8yN5q-Fk8mIxsJuhBWWH1LBKjLBNF-jm2QCVVmbHT_L8sc8/s320/shabby_chic_vintage_rose.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612458320697651282" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><i><u><br /></u></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Shabby Chic Vintage Rose</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07oKeKpuRrArj0ZpqGRgDm-0T_kaUKIhQCvHPlZTzkDu7CS7SASUopvLPJz5ng0tBvJyM8lfK3HnZZo1Ta1TLHOTNSMydNrYi4aPHTPNzaeskxoSZBNE3uT-Is-YHjuD1q2RYASNBCdc/s320/funky_hearts_wedding_favours+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612458317202841458" /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Funky Hearts</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gv_jPEFhuLD3H5KS-dpwDUPLL-U-N4vsxdzjYxQUpS38YFM8dgsp6XE-kBBnQNSjtNPW9iY1vcJTyVCN_1H8iXgT1XtYw208zp4Gg20weGAj-S8ZvONrJ-XsmcdzSDFSl1oy77FIjo0/s1600/black_tie_affair_wedding_favours+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gv_jPEFhuLD3H5KS-dpwDUPLL-U-N4vsxdzjYxQUpS38YFM8dgsp6XE-kBBnQNSjtNPW9iY1vcJTyVCN_1H8iXgT1XtYw208zp4Gg20weGAj-S8ZvONrJ-XsmcdzSDFSl1oy77FIjo0/s320/black_tie_affair_wedding_favours+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612458316634875250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Pink & Black</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Visit us at <a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com">www.thestroppycow.com</a> for something a bit different and all hand made with attitude!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-21698823692953526342010-09-23T00:12:00.004+01:002010-09-23T09:46:26.884+01:00Sad<span style="font-size:85%;">Less than 24 hours ago a young man died. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">He was found at 5am 22nd September, hanged.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">He was just short of his 19th birthday.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I didn't know him. My daughter did. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I knew <em>of</em> him. I knew of the unhappiness in his life; the unhappiness that only an indignant 17 year old, with a loving family, can describe with loyal outrage at injustice and ill-treatment of a friend less fortunate.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I cannot stop crying. I cannot stop crying...what mother could? How lonely must that poor child have felt? How desperate those last few moment of his life? </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">His friends are lost, not knowing if they could've done more. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I hope he knew his friends loved him and I hope, Mark, you have found peace.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-61032532792958293952010-07-30T17:31:00.003+01:002010-07-30T17:47:08.700+01:00Saving for morals…here’s £2.50 to start (OR Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I think I’ll go and eat worms…)<span style="font-size:85%;">I’m a nice person.<br />Yes, I can be stroppy when I know what I want & I’m not getting it blah, blah, blah…but to be accused of being a liar and having no morals, quite frankly, was a bit of a shock.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Mind you, I should’ve trusted my 6th sense. It’s usually right. I get a feeling when something’s going to be a problem on first contact. I can’t say what sort of feeling it is; it’s just an instinct and I always dismiss it (ever hopeful that I’m going to be mistaken). Well, never again…probably….maybe…<br /><br />I’m still trying to work out why it’s <em>my fault</em> that I posted her item to the address still registered with PayPal when she'd moved from there some time ago. Who knew?<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">So, here we go, a sweeping statement & character assassination:<br /><br />‘Never mind Lynn you probably got my email {<em>in time}</em> anyway* and saw it as an excuse. enjoy the £2.50 maybe you could put it towards some morals although you'll be saving for a long time.’<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:78%;">*regarding her new address & failure to let PayPal know</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Oh well, I don’t have a guilty conscience & I can sleep at night but my outraged indignation is sitting like a lump of undigested Quorn Chilli high in my stomach.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">...where are those <a href="http://bussongs.com/songs/nobody_likes_me_worms.php">worms</a>?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-10816567254296627932010-06-23T11:31:00.003+01:002010-06-23T12:08:25.407+01:00Birthdays<span style="font-size:85%;">Today is my birthday!<br />A lady never reveals her age - she never sweats either, only allows herself a faint 'glow'; those that know me say I look good for my age (which may or may not be an insult, I'm still digesting that), but none the less it's another year on! I don't look a day older than I did yesterday, if fact, it's just like it was yesterday...only a day later! It's just a number. Age is all in the mind...Ok Ok, I'm in denial I admit it.<br />BUT, the road ahead looks less crappy than I would have thought. It's just the idea of being here...</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-45418315538455338572010-01-20T17:06:00.006+00:002010-01-20T17:28:32.710+00:00Valentine Newsletter<div align="left"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Love is in the air...</span></strong></div><p><span style="font-size:85%;">It only seems five minutes since Christmas yet Valentine's Day is galloping towards us at an indecent pace!</span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">Maybe it's the snowy weather (enjoyed from the comfort of my sofa I might add) but here in the Stroppy Cow shed thoughts have been turning to romance. Perhaps <span style="TEXT-DECORATION: line-through">Cabin</span> Spring Fever has set in 'cos we've been busy gathering together a quirky and romantic selection of goodies that might just put a smile on the face of that special Someone. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">Love it or loathe it? We might just have the answer...</span><br /></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/huge-glass-heart-necklace-2674-p.asp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428870502054107890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 287px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBAqdel9Mxr5rVRV4hqjn1QLmPYbEO9s_tBJHrFrrR1MpGtb0gAk7uiaiOvvkx1XOUJQiAt0HQcbCxqTT7ybnCJ5qYKU_Xb0ArbfLntHgmptZBXXS5rSJOgdd4z_zWUtFgjv73kVyJdM/s320/clear_heart_necklace2.png" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;">This gorgeous glass heart necklace is a snip at £4.99</span></p><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;">and there are matching </span><a title="glass heart earrings" href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/glass-heart-drop-earrings-2677-p.asp"><span style="font-size:85%;">earrings</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">!</span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;">Want something not quite so subtle?</span></p><a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/pink-heart-stretch-bracelet-2673-p.asp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428871947810385154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 272px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqj0ocmAcg6KWXuyxbyusiuPz0taouZabxzT4ukt0yic_Su94FpPIOsAvIQsZOLXi8kLumeAZNWohYV_kRFn_q2T33-F4vW0TkYglQwYYYJWbbVI6HKG0ZqLC88YPrJru46FN0DvL8-Xk/s320/heart_Bracelet+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;">Chunky acrylic heart bracelet £4.99</span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUQ8DvwaHU11IRytTPsXILtcoWF7TkGj4wqzLcZDvqNsgzm0hLNjNMMWE4EkPCrltuRzC0OEO-7_iNUcs5kHCPEEMJ92h_UFdF-wUzvUio3qgXVd5kQKEcVJEvdTsO95vWe6jbn1eYes/s1600-h/heart_earrings.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428872832477003138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 86px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUQ8DvwaHU11IRytTPsXILtcoWF7TkGj4wqzLcZDvqNsgzm0hLNjNMMWE4EkPCrltuRzC0OEO-7_iNUcs5kHCPEEMJ92h_UFdF-wUzvUio3qgXVd5kQKEcVJEvdTsO95vWe6jbn1eYes/s320/heart_earrings.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Gorgeous red (or pink) crystal studded heart earrings available from our </span><a title="Crystal Studded heart earrings" href="http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/The-Stroppy-Cow"><span style="font-size:85%;">Ebay </span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">store (just type in heart earrings in the search box!)</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;">And of course, I mustn't forget the badges</span><br /><br /></p><br /><p><a title="Valentine Badges" href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/lurve-15-c.asp"><img title="gothic_valentine_badges.jpg" style="FLOAT: left" height="150" alt="gothic_valentine_badges.jpg" src="http://www.ekmresponse.com/Documents/297/Stock/gothic_valentine_badges.jpg" width="150" /></a></p><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;">New gothically dark and glamorous badges from 70p</span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;">And for those of a more cynical nature...</span></p><a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/lurve-15-c.asp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428873721370499490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 149px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjct4sW41z-qI1AuEnZwVXac1n9Nj6kX4O3BeuWWkJZWe53vqDPRG5oHXqoLHwQXMOD1iS1JAIIVYKkNDdNh_Ccc4g76LccbXwC2fHd-ovPnAuIsErNX1P4J33h-z3adrzMLmXCGKpcMZs/s320/anti+valentine+badge2+copy.png" border="0" /></a><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;">there's always an Anti-Valentine!</span></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; COLOR: #ffffff; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" align="center">click here to <a style="COLOR: #ffffff; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" href="http://www.blogger.com/[UNSUBSCRIBE]">unsubscribe</a> from our emails</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-84969145725659588412009-12-08T10:21:00.002+00:002009-12-08T10:24:54.445+00:00Grinchy<span style="font-size:85%;">I'm getting there with this flu stuff although my sense of humour appears to have abandoned ship!<br />That could be down to the fact that I've had little time to wallow in my own self pity or even enjoy time reclining on my sofa suffering silently (but stoically you understand) because others decided they were going to get it too. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">How mean & selfish of them! This was supposed to be about me, me, ME!<br /><br />Oh well, they'll get theirs when there's nowt under the tree but a dry old satsuma and a box of PG Tips.<br /><br />Anyway, still looking for some Christmas Cheer, don't see anything but Humbug at the moment.<br /><br />Yours wallowing<br /><br />Cindy Lou Who xxx</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-40447784515455312802009-12-04T07:49:00.004+00:002009-12-04T08:58:04.646+00:00Tamiflu and hot Timto<div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">When my son was small & learning to talk, and later doing the talking for his baby sister (who didn't utter a comprehensible word for 2 years but has not shut up since) many new words entered our family vocabulary. </span><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">To be honest, it's a whole new language often leaving both strangers and less close family members confused & bewildered, but these things stick.</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">I'm resting at home at the moment into my 5th day of The Flu. I guess it's of the swine variety as they've issued me with Tamiflu and, by jove, it's marvelous stuff! </span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">However, as I was moping about earlier in the week, not knowing where to put myself to ease the pain my body was in, wondering if my headache would ease with the aid of a knitting needle through my eyesocket & debating whether or not I should take the on-line flu test ("I couldn't possibly have Swine Flu that's what other people get...") I winge-text my sister looking for sympathy & reassurance (not much chance of that I'd say judging by the reply <em>and I quote:</em> "oink"). </span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Finally though, she came through "hot bath and hot timto" she says...just those 5 simple words and the world seemed brighter. OK, OK, so I was still in pain and desperately looking for a knitting needle but I found the energy to get onto the National Pan Flu Service get myself & my 38deg fever diagnosed.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">So 3 days of Tamiflu & hot timto and I'm recovering. No hot baths though, I'm too sweaty as it is ~is that too much sharing?</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Holding up my bottle of timto in traditional Oscar style, I'd like to that all the people who made this possible</span></div><ul><li><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">NHS for the Tamiflu </span></div></li><li><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Himself for going to the chemist to fetch it & bringing me back a jar of pickled onions (still trying to figure <em>that one</em> out)</span></div></li><li><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Suey for the hot timto recommendation</span></div></li><li><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">my kids for talking funny and <em>even</em> never shutting up</span></div></li></ul><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.vimto.co.uk/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411295852535205330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 92px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpbhe-RnAQd2AlY35IW1ftUJABWkfFuxUZafFGMSStUiuH79Ysps98aI3PvIB_Q7a7yWX3GEUDg8ioC09fvdma1fcArZgZE0ToPx_Lx0MAxAkn8-IaBJ1mgf2Z9Sn4DClw_A0KBV_-Cc/s320/vimto.bmp" border="0" /></a></span></div><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Hot 'timto'...the elixier of life, warmer of cold hands & great sledging companion</em></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-66471617537120325022009-11-26T07:48:00.003+00:002009-11-26T07:57:27.985+00:00Chocolate Cake Part 2<span style="font-size:85%;">Another cake? Oh yeah....</span><br /><br /><div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Great success with the <a href="http://thestroppycow.blogspot.com/2009/04/chocolate-cake.html">first</a> for Red Nose Day so, for Children in Need and with a more Christmassy feel,</span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Chocolate Cake Part 2:</span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408316847393180610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UWRf3A-YywKv3uKiSCbtpbD0z_oUIjOVjmff-vyzHsm3fOhhhUyGamf1V9W5WXdLyHY8WyfGDXTI3n-yts8wDFhWOW-jy0Kko_HIbtiAXtf2AwW8Tb6RJWZf6PbYoTh-YA_PT6MbPPc/s320/CIN+Cake+.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408316850348639106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxWwkgl_euuhkE_fkrhr1rk3196wrgeIpc7WlT5Mxqos2bPBuaYzavanMCgsZcWZ9C5346kJczYRbI7jm7u9eXuPo1CjhD82JtmJ0DCMt2s1QqfnC5SJTcj8FvwXDLfJPpT6Il4XoKUI/s320/CIN+Cake+2.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Raised £43.00 for </em></span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Children In Need</em></span></a>. </p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Thank you <a href="http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com/">NSN Birmingham</a></span></em></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-57149421735832771192009-11-05T09:47:00.002+00:002009-11-05T10:01:36.939+00:00Hallowe'en treats<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyEh5i6a4MEZtoOsChyLVOvbuMQKIt1gmu0NKCmLqNfr_dIPsHCtI_pnfDNu3Oi86lkjQa5oOwLUWR4tUE7gr0tSFatmEDPZBWih7JhsxYy-adRDo7cGn0y_l-TF7VhnVhXFOHNTPXoY/s1600-h/11658_321699045306_681655306_9351734_1077437_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400554512738447522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIyEh5i6a4MEZtoOsChyLVOvbuMQKIt1gmu0NKCmLqNfr_dIPsHCtI_pnfDNu3Oi86lkjQa5oOwLUWR4tUE7gr0tSFatmEDPZBWih7JhsxYy-adRDo7cGn0y_l-TF7VhnVhXFOHNTPXoY/s320/11658_321699045306_681655306_9351734_1077437_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><em> <span style="font-size:85%;">Tardis Tilly & her Doctor</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">How cool does Tilly look as the Tardis? Although she didn't grow up with Blue Peter like I did, her creative skills have obviously been inherited from me!</span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400554518631470626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 182px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYJ56xlRu9uaQ7PKDerAEHBar19opAvE_ztuEa6fzJhQmeIUuLyY43z2oRVdyhpTGD2Mv31QTdZjM7GwcA46o1t5fiN99RGDdLL7NZ0qRj8FbH3aXmgpAuFGk8btbtJYr1tt86-7pKcE/s320/DSC00609.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Customer Gary looking fab in his Rorschach costume with large <a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/watchmen-smiley-face-badge-1784-p.asp">Watchmen badge</a></em></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><em> </em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>"I've attached a choice of photos for you to see how the badge rounded off my Rorschach costume brilliantly. Thanks again"</em> </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">What brilliant costumes, makes me wish I'd made an effort...maybe next year!<br /></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-76008821231607768712009-10-28T10:16:00.002+00:002009-10-28T10:49:50.500+00:00A moment of weakness?<span style="font-size:85%;">JML ads get right up my nose! They're right up there with that dreadful Glade ad (incidentally the <a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/i-had-a-poo-at-pauls-badge-2125-p.asp">badges</a> are selling like hot cakes); who the heck is Paul and, quite frankly, the little snot is welcome to go as far as I'm concerned.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">However, in a moment of weakness that I can only put down to my bitter disappointment at the lack of eggs coming from my 3-taking-the-piss-soon-to-be-spit-roast chickens and failure to recover from a retching fit (chicken poop is evil) that left me in tears for the 5 miles to Focus, not only did I buy a bright green tub of Doktor Power but also a Magic Carpet! </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">As I already own a Pedegg obviously I'm a low involvement processing marketing dream!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-59321368730045593552009-10-15T10:47:00.003+01:002009-10-15T11:16:19.891+01:00I've lost a minute!<span style="font-size:85%;">For reasons that have been lost in the deep, dark, murky sludge of my brain I keep my digital clocks 6 minutes fast. I have one by my side of the bed and there's the one in my car.</span><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Now, while we were settling down in bed to watch <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1441135/">Flash Forward</a> on Monday night (how gorgeous is Joseph Fiennes??), I noticed the Channel 5 clock was now 7 minutes behind mine. Odd! </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Then</em>, yesterday, while I was driving up to Bolton there was a time check on the radio and my clock in the car was 7 minutes fast! </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">How weird is that??</span> <span style="font-size:85%;">Have I lost a minute somewhere in the last week? Can digital clocks simultaneously jump forward? Maybe I was abducted by aliens, or maybe time in my bedroom and car are parallel universes that have slipped through the Rift...maybe I watch too much Dr Who?</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Still, it's very odd!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392767855247901010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRYm0lNGnyJEMZPdQx3mgjyOWY8tbHg6kX6MnwrauXugjE1g2MjrXRV1PSwIcc0c1v89AWIxerm8ktGJSfFq6Qn394rXhkwGyLVUB7wSAAh3HnRbkSS5u-yezknhWWLWZbOuj61zK2EM/s320/tardis.jpg" border="0" /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-88356384700995139292009-09-29T07:09:00.005+01:002009-09-29T08:22:09.689+01:00He's not getting up!<span style="font-size:85%;">I <em>had</em> put aside 3 days this week to work on my accounts. I lost one day last week when I offered to accompany Himself to a funeral in Bristol on Wednesday. So, left with 2 days I planned... </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">An extra hour in bed this morning to get stuck into the new Dan Brown, then a gentle gathering of receipts and invoices before moving downstairs to boot up my new Notebook.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386769789779052274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 307px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayIdcGEXo-Udd4zypmOQcw2PsMBLb9ynDx7EDvZOoPiEqZ-VjsjfDwubauc5uF23uWAAanVZ6Q8Q7GrWZ7hN3ic-n-XF3CaPr3_14B4rAzuDimaK9rwXUsTYaJoB6YHntXO_fvHfj84U/s320/packard_bell_dot_s_netbook_review.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Cute...innit?</em></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Hopefully fortified by a Double Chocca Mocha and a slice of toast with cashew nut butter (tried it yet...OMG it's delicious) I could tackle my new Sage Accounting programme (that's why I needed 3 days!!!). A break around 10ish to nip across the road to the garden centre for a birthday pressie, then head down, full tilt for the rest of the day and Thursday.</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">HOWEVER! As I staggered to the bathroom in the dark this morning I thought 'How odd' (I did!) U-oh, the first stirrings of panic, is He not getting up? He's not dead, I'm sure He's not dead,I felt him shuffling about in bed...back to peer at the LED alarm, 05.48, <em>is He not getting up</em>???? </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">'Alright love?' I asked ( is He not getting up?) </span><span style="font-size:85%;">'Poorly!' He said (bugga, He's not getting up).</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Now I feel guilty, cos he really <em>is</em> full of a nasty cold and he <em>will</em> stay in bed (he isn't a martyr when he's ill) but I'm a motherer - I can't help it . I need to supply warm tea, toast (no cashew nut butter though), paracetamol, comfort & sympathy, check his fevered brow and generally make him feel desperate to go back to work! I'll feel guilty if I get sucked into work & forget he's there so I'll not get stuck in as much as I should and then feel equally guilty for not focusing! Deep eh?</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Anyhoo, I'm going to give it a go. He's pretty hot on Sage so at least I've a captive advisor if I'm really stuck and I do love having him at home...honest I do! HONEST!</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-17848699291459254822009-09-22T11:47:00.007+01:002009-09-22T12:15:18.224+01:00September Newsletter<div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">I'm constantly mystified by the ratio of work achieved to time available. (Actually, I'm constantly mystified by life in general, but there's only so much space in this newsletter!) Summer is, traditionally, a quite time for us. Students are away from campus, foreign places & holidays beckon for some and the weather draws us -hopefully- outdoors. It's a time when we, here at The Stroppy Cow, should be taking stock, re-charging our batteries & getting all the admin up to date. There should be time for all those little things that get left for 'when its quieter'. But that's not how it happens...why? I've got the time? Sure, batteries are recharged (thank you, glorious Northumberland), but is my office tidy? Have I reorganised my storage? Are my old files deleted? </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Nope! Hey ho, I guess it'll get done when I'm up to my eyes in it!<br />Hope you had a wonderful summer!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#993399;">Coming soon:</span><br /></strong>Oh, I've had a lovely time buying new quirky gifts. They'll all be on the website by the end of the month but here's a sneak preview. </span><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/owl-phone-charms-2133-p.asp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384242029737666482" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWmFSNio_4Czf65zGFiKFa78fXkZ3VBNd7Gf0FM497siBDnQ4GRMCcw8tnyuxVE1mL0trSEIJuDRsVHQcZiUVDWEMb2d1FEd_cNzTOGOQWCePw5b0oZA6nVsn69G1UxmTqLAo_f4WJ8k/s320/owl_pink.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Owl phone charms</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">£2.99 each </span><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/bagspursesmake-up-bags-etc-31-c.asp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384243459703639442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 210px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 210px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKR92rAQ3PmfpzZohrbZf5ImBo9mXXvsa-9YWtx32YSxYwpLCwW7znXgim4SO_J4gwuAN_VFryBl2_LTZDRlnCyGPOnjJpEiOuOEVMAWMmGLb6QxfVE4PShaHcfNb5QRH3qQSlVvTyvM/s320/domestic+goddess+shopper.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">60's Retro Shoppers<br />£9.99 each </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384244663856902418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 210px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 210px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAFrtaXyCtXq9WnaDMgb5irBzx8Cg8crxDsUwIC1ua69Lwt-0kF2zplZ8yPYzDnxlL8MfXcWhgV-rN5_8Pfx-YZZFL0cvqVsf4MET08bt3339SEZVdXXl7jr33o2G2PpyY5NCWquCRVQ/s320/ww+shopper.jpg" border="0" /> </p><p align="center">Wonder Woman Shopping Bag</p><p align="center">£12.99 each</p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#993399;">New Badges</span></strong><br />Halloween<br />It's that time of year again and, as well as the old favourites, we've added some new badges to our Halloween Collection.<br /><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384245526700201394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 149px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgWxGkkp5QIB_RZzyXlEepZImi7LeGAf2HfGqOF1l8lyMNf820sHuKJQcLXdA7kK_aMvFO_xNhzpkcX1pT9tXEV5J9AQzWxH1oyIn884k8hdNNPRArS9Qw1F0VAXJDcwcAP3NCMtlb9s/s320/baby_group.png" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Baby Monster set of 4 Halloween badges</p><p align="center">£2.00 </p><p align="left"><br /></span><a title="Halloween Badges" href="http://www.ekmresponse.com/Services/Redirect.aspx?To=aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGVzdHJvcHB5Y293LmNvbS9oYWxsb3dlZW4tYmFkZ2VzLTQ2LWMuYXNw&CID=1404&Hash=8ea6b44782b1d7b047e81b5a5d57790d7cca83701624c19767f5582a0f762dce"></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;">TV & Movie</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Lots of demand for movie related badges with the fantastic choice we've had this summer at the cinema. </span></span></p><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/harry-potter-invisibility-cloak-badge-2028-p.asp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384246699974239346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3wvhIr_z2t7c165_Ap5CM1-EehyphenhyphengV-5YNmQl7Ujw6N5XNms5u50vbunvFVSsQfuA4IBN_LrHLmay3PNbtzwcPvjoqvFhN7gMEF2NVDKQGsQlorchn57TrpXOwmv44AexOpLQXuY91AI/s320/invisibility_cloak_badge.png" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">44mm Harry Potter Badge</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">£1.00</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">and get ready for the new Dr Who season... <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384246707197872082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKTa75xhm4AdYDc21Jv4dDl9sm_o7jslidGv_70d1rs5VuMkDRf_rzVeY1s1hLr5aJJrUH1xqBUEXOsV9bw4u86_XLUrvmImTIG7QIMRTg4s-6ayE45j6bRX59OVNJmZXWkDdFYbhPv0/s320/timelord_badge.png" border="0" /><br /></span><a title="http://www.ekmresponse.com/Services/Redirect.aspx?To=" href="http://www.ekmresponse.com/Services/Redirect.aspx?To=aHR0cDovL3d3dy50aGVzdHJvcHB5Y293LmNvbS9kb2N0b3Itd2hvLXRpbWVsb3JkLWJhZGdlLTE5MjYtcC5hc3A=&CID=1404&Hash=f6f64d7035078d2776e734822c3eb3995b727804acd7cf22c3b6599210740903" hash="f6f64d7035078d2776e734822c3eb3995b727804acd7cf22c3b6599210740903" ahr0cdovl3d3dy50agvzdhjvchb5y293lmnvbs9kb2n0b3itd2hvlxrpbwvsb3jklwjhzgdllte5mjytcc5hc3a="&CID="></a>Timelord badge</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">from 70p each<span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Hope to see you soon and, don't forget, we make custom badges too!<br /></span><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-18655183741865135122009-08-27T06:31:00.003+01:002009-08-27T07:05:13.582+01:00Fear of Flying Part 2<span style="font-size:85%;">I hate flying. I've said it <a href="http://thestroppycow.blogspot.com/2008/07/jet-lag-sucks.html">before</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I fly, but the desire to see strange exotic places is beginning to take second place to the certainty that I will drop from the sky. As I type this I can feel the need to dash to the loo, the familiar gut wrenching liquid mass that was once my insides is threatening to leave my, well, insides.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">If it was just me, I wouldn't bother. I'd leave the UK by other means if I had to (although I am claustrophobic and the Channel Tunnel is a bit of a challenge and I <em>do</em> get seasick ....) I can't NOT go on holiday abroad and spoil it for every one else - can I?</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">We're off to the Algarve in just over a week with some great friends who have promised to ignore me as I go into melt down as the airport. I have a feeling that this is not out of respect for my privacy but more a case of 'avoiding the leper'. And who can blame them?</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">But I have a secret weapon this year. I have bought a hypnotherapy CD </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Overcome-Fear-Flying-Glenn-Harrold/dp/1901923371"><span style="font-size:85%;">'Overcome the Fear of Flying'</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">. It promises a pleasant voice to guide me into a deep state of mental & physical relaxation. Mmmm n</span><span style="font-size:85%;">ot sure it's helping so far but I'm certainly sleeping like a baby at night! </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I'm not susceptible to hypnosis. I've tried it before and it just gave me wind. <em>But</em> I do believe in the power of positive affirmations and if I can get myself under control I <em>will</em> cope.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">So, I'm off to lie down, plug Glenn in & think positive thoughts of warm weather, glorious beaches, great company, yummy food & decent coffee. Wish me luck!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-42001711590788264232009-08-06T11:35:00.004+01:002009-08-06T11:59:30.214+01:00Here come the girls - I hope!<span style="font-size:85%;">So, our main holidays are out of the way. The chicken run is (more or less) finished, just a last minute <em>hey-there's-a-good-idea perch</em> to put in and an <em>OMG-how-are-they-supposed-to get-into-their-house</em> ramp to fit (we forgot about that!!)</span><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366797929136460914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpmqKI2Pwj6wW4bhQgpxd889QR3cT67AjRC080JXjbXKkUkOvjkYAV5BExK9Nif-IUAm7ea8bGeDgAxrpQj-BEIgWFfuuuAe08cA7FZ-LmRWi8ExgJdEIKC72ehpkZL7xk5GO9tDM23Y/s320/final+touches.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Those trousers look MUCH better from the front (honestly)</em></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">I've backed down on the Ex-Batts idea from my last posting. The 'could go wrongs' far outweigh the ethics as far as a newbie keeper like myself is concerned. However, the idea has not been shelved and I hope to add a couple once I'm confident with my ladies.</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">We intend collecting our girls on Sunday so watch this space.</span></p><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366802890566139202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 245px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5npaF60ep4LhCzsGjdk-wXgFSBg9v-wErX185ivZjsC9QOShyphenhyphenjoKpdalqdOQKbOw9I3hQBZwyDiMhg1PEQO5u6u-XS_hmNgf7cerYi5Xi8yUPZIdWkit6mHEbp2seAVSVwmnXCXxWGy0/s320/untitled.bmp" border="0" /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-28937739249221788192009-07-01T06:10:00.009+01:002009-07-01T08:08:26.754+01:00Domesticity & Ex Batts<div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">What a lovely morning! OK, the sun's not shining, it's 18*C, clammy, sticky and warm BUT it's very peaceful in the garden. I was up at stupid o'clock (05.30) as usual, making Himself some butties for lunch & sticking a potato in the microwave for mine, when I came over all domesticated! </span><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Now this is a phenomenon that doesn't happen very often so I grabbed it by the horns, put all thoughts of leaping on the PC, once He'd tootled off on his way to Brum, out of my head and began sorting the washing. I slightly startled the chap from down the road, on his bike, on his way to work, by nipping out with the re-cycling in nowt but my jammies and turquoise Crocs. I didn't have my glasses on so ~ it never happened! </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>I know!</em> Get a life!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353366030482217170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmU35XDoZTEE2oHiuUvyjJwTWW9vNwSXFoAF-SmaKG3nnAOneaGd34hH8Jh3Xw7vd91oMBB6kPBivLnCUiQD_TjlaUlVro_40gieE-mjrPMTMRLZdT4cXA3vt43lgNpNBazneN3r7Fg2U/s320/strawberries.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Mmmm lovely!</span><br /></em><br /></p><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">However....I did decide that I would take some fruit to work and picked some fresh raspberries and strawberries from the garden, at which point I was hit by how peaceful it was and only the presence of my chooks would have made it perfect! I could picture them scratching away in their little run gently chuckling away to themselves.</span><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353358258069847506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7S9s-SXsPmvnufJicWH-f3W8c5au4-1BmRd4lAcA9b9Nx0bS0nQfHNiqUIr1jBc7Z7BUAu5PlL0ysIBDLrz9Xt3ePCkrqpjZKgllwtg5AdYMxCxwJ8I_k6KHQXSFx5IZO0Gu-LjpFo0/s320/chickens+003.jpg" border="0" /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Chicken Shack Phase 1</em></span></div><br /><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">We're getting our <a href="http://www.bhwt.org.uk/adopt_some_hens.php">Ex-Batts </a>in August but I have to treat/paint the hen house first and Himself has big plans for extending the run. I must confess to being slightly nervous having bought a book and reading about what dreadful things they can get in terms of lice (yuk, yuk, yuk I hate stuff like that makes my skin crawl!) but, hey, I've had kids! Nuff said!</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-21775735663645606052009-06-01T13:44:00.002+01:002009-06-01T13:48:09.401+01:00Government Expenses...the answer:<div><span style="font-size:85%;">Just a quickie...<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">resurrected</span> an old favourite which might just give us a solution to present farce:</span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/come-back-guy-fawkesbadge-1464-p.asp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342339618421848818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahhDMCsANxgiaqL9utuVMAcEMNuUDL0oMTqN1fIIaR5PVEAkK60BOm4fgIQKzjYrEUmselnkxhUcKFXI4uOC3i4P1iNU1D1d214W3IC7A7NB_sCZuON8vlqkV1v34-idGOVJIlIc2jmk/s320/guy+fawkes+badge+copy2.png" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-80660698944535594462009-05-21T14:04:00.004+01:002009-05-25T08:30:58.837+01:00That darn cat...again!<span style="font-size:85%;">We have a cat, well 2 actually, one is sweet & gorgeous & snuggles and looks up at you adoringly from your lap but never hangs around for photos then, there's <em>the other. </em>She's not evil, she can be affectionate, she's a <strike>bit</strike> lot of a tart & is very un-ladylike in the manner in which she likes to be stroked. She prefers you to lift her up to her food (we keep it out of reach of the dog) but will jump if she thinks you're not watching ; she's the runt, but boy, <em>is she in charge</em>! </span><br /><div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Merry</span> <span style="font-size:85%;">(yes, the other <em>is</em> Pippin - Tilly could/can quote whole scenes of dialogue from Lord of The Rings!) has already had a mention in this <a href="http://thestroppycow.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html">blog</a> and deserves another for her chuffin cheek. Apart for sneaking in once again while I'm taking stock photos, she thought it would be more comfortable if the bedding she had her eye on for snuggling on top of, was more accessible...</span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338266798603536114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 274px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIB4afYrP_6Zyf_jzh1g3QPG3aPRB2kVyAJCjECrEwSFLbpj0jn_kLh1ridYInPVfwHMxRt51Cj-1DWjeJOUG5dCRijHsUQApGZW9Hqt6gFJD_FNxNAV4XA04SAJoviujBjzrKNmpLfU/s320/Merry_mischief+copy.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">She won't notice if I just stick my head under here, then it'll be a quick shove and 'ooops did I do that...me bad'</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338266803373097378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKGg83jCniOopST8tTocWdsNBUGWec3KLQTtiNII7nM6k6pApr1XE3zSyQur2YWcEQrpRrUtrYgDAa9Gdcaj1xyxlZclwSmn3QWKm-wdGl6pwDrYbs-Rkw4FxZQ4bm9cClDWt9EuEdcs/s320/Merry_mischief_2+copy.jpg" border="0" /></span></em></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Tadah....easy peasey. Look out duvet....incoming!</span></em></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-3847057179739328942009-05-19T13:24:00.011+01:002009-07-06T07:43:33.108+01:00Testimonials<div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">I get lots of lovely emails from customers of <a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/index.asp">The Stroppy Cow</a> and I thought it would be nice to share...</span><br /><br /></div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337511053995986882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6eW2-Ijdf_BowifWkEsodJSnjMlUMSWZGM0sF28LkMTeh1TkQNiwq-9HQkJvvBIzbEnd78JeJ4Hi7wQ-RuyG_nMBVnjAfOwRCaaQRSOD9USw2fCKnCC_6FSWju0cymxPv8VBf-xjiFCs/s320/Jade+-+butterfly+bracelet.png" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;">We received a request for a customised <a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/bracelets-17-c.asp">charm bracelet </a>with a butterfly and star theme from Jade in Glasgow. Here's what her mum had to say:</span><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Hello just to let u know recieved bracelet today jade was over the moon with it she loved it many thanks for being able to create what she was looking for . ( It was just a wee gift from me to her for her highers this week )</span></em> <span style="font-size:85%;">and Jade: <em>Hi, It's absolutely gorgeous. Thank-you so much.</em></span><br /></p><br /><p align="left"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337514682909198498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 294px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLlR-cpQgGHrk-u9rZyfaXi3IFk-dDQeolDzRgTYBgQ-eSvN58KlJLoagpDEXjZPb-Ko8J3_hj8sajVqDS326BGEv0OvX9_B7vCQiZoHi_CF-iEirZgYPcV34nOoHI9_8ZlhQSXPm6yE/s320/std+2+copy.jpg" border="0" /></span></em> <span style="font-size:85%;">Save the Date Magnets for Nicola and Paul in Liverpool for their wedding in 2011, fantastic idea...</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Lynn, <span style="color:#cc33cc;">THANK YOU.</span> My magnets look great! They arrived today and i have printed the cards and stuck them on with didi gluedots! They are perfect! I shall send you some photos as soon as i gt myself organised. Please feel free to put them on your site if you think it will drum up some orders! </em>Nicola</span><br /></p><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338157814626870834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 263px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsJPqdfks2qy5eYvYXdi9qzohLsWTvRwLK3OTHi8cUqG22cpd_kB_7iF4q8uQxh5H1nulgCqpvMp4Pk2f6G1HyG4v56G7uFTYuoI-PQleKiyH9T6ku0oDtwf7ABFYD4tcwGvlT5LoUak/s320/archery+copy.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Archery achievement badges for <a href="http://www.2020archery.co..uk/">2020 Archery</a>. </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Hi Lynn - really pleased with the badges. So pleased in fact that we'd like to order some more!</em> </span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">And they did!</span><br /></p><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339658533519013714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaANEZwcIdnk8A5wdYOwiwc_SyxZb6QO2S8ZKByi0wxak3lisWb1S36c4nxl0dYv_pTjU_VPNG1gMfJJjIIYZ2AmshomPOp_jI8C2XE-BJ0tPNqyVdRxGgACBOphKyyCwmBlBbWJcB_CU/s320/archery4+copy.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Just some of the Worcester round badges</span></em></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342603778813543106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtorgaQrl_B3rhFuHVMwWp5bSbxlTAbkvFsg1x5ZiC1Xo3xlY8DXYpDK-XXvyQS6HORCf5cNs9edo3dUa88fVhyphenhyphenqsVXRWAJN_NLnfay_YOAJcVED_2bm6jA9GSVmFVKtvkH8S1_yixOb0/s320/archery5+copy.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><em>2020 Archery logo badges</em></span><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342602404935232722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6So3NpNW9oOpFiYFp1bYDpj9Gkglyzrb9O59KZqo5MObVqPT6wFll_FwK1vdc5uCPtF-56CHfbcNF7MeAj-GCiDz9EtfqsKChWPuCzJF78NjTRTO7TJHpPd3uvZpUQXxAeufPdorOFg/s320/navy+copy.jpg" border="0" /></em></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Pub saving in Guernsey:</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Hi Lynn<br />Just a note to say that we have won round one towards saving our pub !! Our badges being worn proudly !!</em> Corinne</span><span style="font-size:85%;"></p></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343424516883769682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 281px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIM8nGQdf7xVkXEY5bWxbMO0M41KTeb-djun895FIzIMT7X3xIUzR52bGhrlke7VDZ1MT6alUwx5wSwZzVjiKOQ9_1Q1UFSNpz_3xQFGpwvLqixPxHUVv88ogzR7zv9bZbclon4qgjGMw/s320/hatchet_man_magnets+copy.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p><span style="font-size:85%;">Brillaint graphic supplied by Ian in the Midlands, made great 44mm magnets.<em> </em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>So happy with the customer service and the actual items, i will order more! </em>Ian</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-27589848206007941382009-05-10T17:10:00.006+01:002009-05-10T17:39:22.296+01:00Custom Badges<span style="font-size:85%;">What a week! My poor printer has really been hard at it this last few days trying to cope with the custom badge orders we've had this week.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Here are a few of the orders:</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SatyHBNEEU3SkNZ2lj9yD2gv6Wp0DrjtdSq9m5FzPA0P73JKSC-6yS8a6dIlxd32TcF9zXWzzYJrgBsxoDhi7NqGxjzG7o4ffZZb2GFqLd-CDNm-iiabj3XHMTS_ICeZ27JfS0iyu0Q/s1600-h/std+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334232159032386706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 249px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1SatyHBNEEU3SkNZ2lj9yD2gv6Wp0DrjtdSq9m5FzPA0P73JKSC-6yS8a6dIlxd32TcF9zXWzzYJrgBsxoDhi7NqGxjzG7o4ffZZb2GFqLd-CDNm-iiabj3XHMTS_ICeZ27JfS0iyu0Q/s320/std+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">Save the Date magnets for Nicola (more details of this service to follow...)</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhed4Jdc-5IxIKD_kudJPinAdDqIEEBnQ3Rk0VbVBBRQLLs8dRGLF6vX1r8Sp0lIU0e25HuOH5zuIlvoXcg53qQaDQvnEXqmBFvZ0D_AGAZBTjF7MV9Fhp4RZNFjl2MszmqDpSON08yGEA/s1600-h/std+2+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334232148199334498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 294px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhed4Jdc-5IxIKD_kudJPinAdDqIEEBnQ3Rk0VbVBBRQLLs8dRGLF6vX1r8Sp0lIU0e25HuOH5zuIlvoXcg53qQaDQvnEXqmBFvZ0D_AGAZBTjF7MV9Fhp4RZNFjl2MszmqDpSON08yGEA/s320/std+2+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Save the Date Magnets</span></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0CN3xx21BbdI7AAVOOrDzi7GbTVZf9fQRoygHXOv7HI7m1it78zzzGyrdoO_goQwQADzbjEl883bZr-0MklOU99o25oWOtcZAqASnJbnrJLFoVDZAZRBPthOM2RJdnBaMh5aOU3rd58/s1600-h/shelter+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334231767536726066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0CN3xx21BbdI7AAVOOrDzi7GbTVZf9fQRoygHXOv7HI7m1it78zzzGyrdoO_goQwQADzbjEl883bZr-0MklOU99o25oWOtcZAqASnJbnrJLFoVDZAZRBPthOM2RJdnBaMh5aOU3rd58/s320/shelter+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">500 x 58 mm badges for Shelter (UK Charity) being cut out</span></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5VleEkxxYkUfSGaEpXAj1qDdjOtLgI7x2PP9rVbkbKbkZeoxwCy79g-82nwTqUfiPfp7KlzwZOcY6p9-AJkXSE4AJFGfAbHGMQBPTM6PNy2U0MoVgp8IiJwC3Xt124jzWHq6iUsd4jI/s1600-h/shelter2+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334231759967217266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5VleEkxxYkUfSGaEpXAj1qDdjOtLgI7x2PP9rVbkbKbkZeoxwCy79g-82nwTqUfiPfp7KlzwZOcY6p9-AJkXSE4AJFGfAbHGMQBPTM6PNy2U0MoVgp8IiJwC3Xt124jzWHq6iUsd4jI/s320/shelter2+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Several hours later,</em><br /><em>badges ready for shipping</em></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gJdwAa2U5VWBsuuiEuT1tDdhvaG6No5sVeCSCgveORJRRk_MzCZxxAXeOYLA2wC__ZFqonRQ2H_l4GN4c2YSBTyn7UrtHdE2P7fdJWlulVbhbZtt2kQ0OXYsAbSNW28BKDJMumMvGVw/s1600-h/chaos+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334231759760590402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 274px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gJdwAa2U5VWBsuuiEuT1tDdhvaG6No5sVeCSCgveORJRRk_MzCZxxAXeOYLA2wC__ZFqonRQ2H_l4GN4c2YSBTyn7UrtHdE2P7fdJWlulVbhbZtt2kQ0OXYsAbSNW28BKDJMumMvGVw/s320/chaos+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Himself has been a great help and is a wiz on the badge machine now. He took this pic</span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;">to illustrate the chaos in which I work...didn't like to tell him that this was tidy!!<br /></span></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rRa0_5lxB3EXFMH05C2s2B3DsXxoadvW9G4lh3YlUOL3Gb9tsR1O5yXeu84GWeHQlrlGN922C9K4V36hFuflMRQmHh6fU6JXIeehWkEQVFJUED2UjueOO-nInuJHeyLzm-GNwhONoFM/s1600-h/archery+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334231754064460434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 263px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rRa0_5lxB3EXFMH05C2s2B3DsXxoadvW9G4lh3YlUOL3Gb9tsR1O5yXeu84GWeHQlrlGN922C9K4V36hFuflMRQmHh6fU6JXIeehWkEQVFJUED2UjueOO-nInuJHeyLzm-GNwhONoFM/s320/archery+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Archery Club badges</span></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrdDTNOhtIAijzISYyiWzN-KLE5voGar_XfPuGINDReuLDM20O1bcFs61_3_7lRcN2kKRyWhbqWDXuf0MjfpHrUmHGZIEGixKgz2X3vLgarNkMI_ymqJSkIEJvKR1PNi-zrg75b3KHzc/s1600-h/archery2+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334231754673137234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrdDTNOhtIAijzISYyiWzN-KLE5voGar_XfPuGINDReuLDM20O1bcFs61_3_7lRcN2kKRyWhbqWDXuf0MjfpHrUmHGZIEGixKgz2X3vLgarNkMI_ymqJSkIEJvKR1PNi-zrg75b3KHzc/s320/archery2+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;">With scores </span></em></div><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">There were a few others too, but I forgot to take photos!! </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Check out <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_stroppy_cow/sets/72157603863780292/">flickr </a>for more details.</div><div align="left"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-29478305354595753052009-04-30T15:15:00.005+01:002009-04-30T16:18:17.432+01:00Successful Advertising<div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">We have seen a marked increase in the number of custom badge sales here at The Stroppy Cow these last few months. This is probably down to a number of factors. </span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Not only do they represent great value in terms of advertising for your business but the cost is not prohibitive if you want to sell your badges on, either as a band or organisation. Everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment and getting your name out there in the market place can be expensive.<br />Here at <a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/">The Stroppy Cow</a> we've been able to stream-line our prices thanks to careful buying on our part and this is reflected in our new </span><a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/bulk-prices-4-w.asp" target="_blank" linktype="link" track="on"><span style="font-size:85%;">bulk pricing</span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">list. </div></span><div align="left"><br /></div><p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmOeQect1vRQO3-Cwy3gwSx8zigNjCYWY7WymCVsD4jvttE2eoGAEkQvVnyhsSrpt6X3ERg_5CqyLttspZCGaPq95Sn3IWJgedFLObqzOGUt63ZoDEeL7u-1WU9x5i5_7AjTAGUe89fg/s1600-h/chequered+past+badge+copy.png"></a></p><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">High quality button badges are a fun, cost effective yet powerful way of getting your message across ~ promoting your business, band, organisation or event.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Just imagine 100's of people promoting YOU from as little as 12p* </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">By creating an interesting talking point between fans/customers and staff, promotional badges are proven to help increase awareness & sales. So what better way to promote your company, product, service or event than with a button badge?<br /></div></span><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://www.chequeredpast.piczo.com/?cr=7&rfm=y"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330490244147514050" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 149px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmOeQect1vRQO3-Cwy3gwSx8zigNjCYWY7WymCVsD4jvttE2eoGAEkQvVnyhsSrpt6X3ERg_5CqyLttspZCGaPq95Sn3IWJgedFLObqzOGUt63ZoDEeL7u-1WU9x5i5_7AjTAGUe89fg/s320/chequered+past+badge+copy.png" border="0" /></span></a></p><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">1 of 100 25mm badges made for Vespa restorer.</span></em></p><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">*1" badges start from 12p each for 1000 and make brilliant give-aways at Meets, Rallies,Clubs...</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div></span><a href="http://www.thisisguernsey.com/2009/04/18/ritz-regulars-petition-owner/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330498938834026898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrmKNgvDCklc4_zYjhgrBy7QbfjufG8bsdPJkY9c0G20X6jKrwoOfqDABwiJjsPKtOkMqGrVmlHoxH9YKngLQ0YOKRSdKZv4pyn2MqbBvZte7GQgR_HD4Gr9KLFMeCtKdw2dACKgZI7k/s320/navy+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">1 of 100 25mm badges for campaign to save St Saviour’s Tavern on Guernsey</span></em><br /></p><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">And what about selling them on? </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Well, at 23p each for 100 there is plenty of scope to more than double the cost price to make a very attractive retail price. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">But, don't forget, we don't just make <a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/faqs-3-w.asp">badges</a>. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">We have magnets and mirrors too. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">And we're currently working on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Save_the_date">Save The Date </a>magnets for Weddings, so watch this space.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-67219223442139765242009-04-30T14:56:00.002+01:002009-04-30T15:04:15.215+01:00Spring???<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ruyRphkkevfE1pZ0Fu5oyVryO_HRvRkobIUtOpYe_7zlARDED_HMSaC3yyzt2D7B_fqy_lpqa3KlCu9GHDmXXX-5L_iZzC5oNM5Zty__sm7HuyJx5opBftGuZtgnaYhJhNUsBw7QRa4/s1600-h/swallow.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330483471044451954" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ruyRphkkevfE1pZ0Fu5oyVryO_HRvRkobIUtOpYe_7zlARDED_HMSaC3yyzt2D7B_fqy_lpqa3KlCu9GHDmXXX-5L_iZzC5oNM5Zty__sm7HuyJx5opBftGuZtgnaYhJhNUsBw7QRa4/s320/swallow.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>"One swallow does not make a summer, neither does one fine day; similarly one day or brief time of happiness does not make a person entirely happy.</em>"</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Good old Aristotle, I reckon he was a glass half empty sort of chap!<br />But he may have had a point about the swallow though. I saw my first two on Sunday while enjoying driving though the Cheshire country side in glorious sunshine. They were swooping out of a farm barn chittering as they went (probably going on about the state of the place & wondering whether it was worth popping over to Ikea).<br />Sending a silent prayer to the goddess of camping (yes, it's <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=staycation">staycation</a> for us), I speculated out loud, to my other half, about the coming of summer...<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">I have now switched the heating back on and am grateful for not being able to disconnect my electric blanket on my bed! </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-10440154035821667502009-04-11T16:34:00.003+01:002009-04-11T17:38:09.553+01:00Chocolate Cake!<div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Last month, Himself asked if I would bake some cakes that he could sell at work for <a href="http://www.rednoseday.com/">Red Nose Day</a>. Not a problem I said..when would he need them. Monday he said. Ok I said. </span></div><div align="center"><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Sunday came along and I expressed a need to pop out to get the necessaries to make the cakes. Oh, it's not til Friday he said. Are you sure I said. Yes he said. I'm sure your email said Monday I said. No, he said, Friday, for Red Nose Day. Ok I said. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Next day an email arrives in my Inbox. Hi Love, it WAS today I needed the cakes! </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Mmmmm....</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">So, not to let the opportunity pass to raise some money I offered to make a big chocolate cake and some cupcakes that he could auction on the Friday.</span></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323468673284741298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 297px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwFkGOr0S0QkFcN9uhQiMfw4bYkYt-rQlOKHnmRYDl3JN9Is9vJo-ZNYGVhW_cSBXIM6jXUtC7bOhqjRe52G2hCpfiXB5Qn_pwT9C1dpSeFv_q12TwbotifuikfvXWOtIY2ZXQuxKTQs/s320/naked_choclolate_cake.png" border="0" /></span></div><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Naked Chocolate Cake ~ Chocolate sponge with white praline butter cream filling. (The Margarita bottle</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">was <em>not</em> full when I started!)</span></div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323468681287480162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYG4-DyN4kG91puWBGULrd9wLr1t6euFupdXBzwdjpjV0FRrvNY3xV5-kyhXTo0tXbb8xgQxDL9_V6l3HAWAWDNOCB_x0zHq3TMqwMVeS1ocoMwfZ2Mi8qL2TUF6iVUNoiyqfO_BYL3l8/s320/semi_naked_chocolate_cake.png" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Semi-Naked Chocolate Cake ~ covered in chocolate frosting</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">(drooling yet?)</span></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323468689225504818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNMZ2qflFzIahE52d6xJkjIKJ0XNpAZqToh0RligVaEyfjg2GkAq9UbBUWKelUCdAbBE1E6rafK1bcvfU0BbCfGoUC1SrvnZ1iX7s6hy_Yg3H0xp_RL7l-XraHgVkq1LgDr2B8CIwl1g/s320/Chocolate_cake_chocolates.png" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Layers of dark, milk & white chocolates and fudge</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">with melted white chocolate drizzle.</span></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323468694076725490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUP3CK1_wL0ng-jDu8GBt4fev1WJCbCVxrNsGic5GH7sqUJC0HdWdOW7llcCNDi_wf7fo3qKf0lE5sH_qeNYdBqZjocE89hKmOmT7NN7OxxG-HqTkAWrY0MxvdVtr-jMU7wH4qtOh-7e4/s320/chocolate_cake_fully_dressed.png" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Fully dressed chocolate cake ready to go off to be auctioned.</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">I made the chocolate sponge mix 4 times in all to make an additional 2 dozen cupcakes, each finished off with frosting, sprinkles and a chocolate.</span></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323468702143232082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEXiX_Ihp4OIYxg-5s6AENsiSkW0w2EPm8Zb8vV1R_4LYIQlSktl5p1KSyEDKBEyZ-c03BL7uDfrGBsS7-_PJ7IefuWMoEK3SbpVnMch1H9ot8YR0_AK9t9YsUsYuHlR6-XEErLGKaPY/s320/cup_cakes.png" border="0" /></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">The cake sold for £35 and the cupcakes for £1.00 each.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">It's been a long time since I did any baking and I loved every minute. I was asked if I did it professionally....hey, nice compliment and a lovely idea but ALL that washing up?? No thanks!</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-14739827296819592952009-02-19T11:40:00.003+00:002009-02-19T11:50:36.777+00:00Cat Sabotage<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7qJLBpuFgVl51TLlXAB6-NLPTo_bnhvb2WyU-975J7paUATxBBeXNVIJXdnAfy20ynT86K-1y11evUOKdSq6RiSSHlEEvxoDrZrOhEG3aY91-EgfgwuSg7WgmeAtCYr3EpVs719-N54/s1600-h/Merry1.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304472310777713394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 318px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7qJLBpuFgVl51TLlXAB6-NLPTo_bnhvb2WyU-975J7paUATxBBeXNVIJXdnAfy20ynT86K-1y11evUOKdSq6RiSSHlEEvxoDrZrOhEG3aY91-EgfgwuSg7WgmeAtCYr3EpVs719-N54/s320/Merry1.png" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">In like Flynn this cat. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Not five minutes before I'd been <strike>stroppily</strike> happily</span> <span style="font-size:85%;">taking photo's of all my yummy new goodies for </span><a href="http://www.thestroppycow.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Stroppy Cow</span></a>, <span style="font-size:85%;">leave the room to pop them onto the pc and woosh...she's in. AND in my light box too!</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Now there's muddy footprints inside. Grrrrrr.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I swear she told me to sod off when I shouted at her. She certainly looked at me as if to say 'what ya gonna do about it loser'. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Sigh!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8526370256100396816.post-29924210580948854562009-02-17T16:24:00.005+00:002009-02-17T16:42:37.129+00:00Ebay Blues<span style="font-size:85%;">Sometimes I get so pissed off at Ebay. They frustrate me so much, hiding behind cut and paste 'Customer Support' emails which make it so obvious they haven't even read you email, let alone understood your problem. </span><div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">I don't usually visit the Community Forums but I wandered in there this afternoon in search of comfort and a group hug. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Wasn't feeling the love in there though...just more evidence of frustrated PowerSellers.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">However, there was one chink of light that turned out to be a full blown sun beam!</span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Pop over to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tDtoZzIOTw">YouTube</a> have a larff at this...cheered me right up.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;">Suitably inspired I came up with this badge.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303807296216743714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 199px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjsZZwE_z-DGUPEfDbel5C-IxXzn3pxiyM92htyVTP6qFD_Uueto5T4n4NeWNxX0O9qEl8kfufB8rUSjywzo9EySyX__h0-OijkplbjgJ05JAtXHAK9uMBV1paxTGtLwnC6bb0kZLjbc/s320/shafted+badge+copy.png" border="0" /></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0