It's been a long time

So, it's been a long long time since my last post. I'm not even sure that anyone will read this post. But I've been itching to start blogging again for a while now and I'm ready to get back in the saddle. I had good reasons for stepping back from blog world, and whilst I'm not looking for sympathy, or messages of support, I do believe that if I'm to keep this blog real then I should tell a little about what's been happening the past 18 months or so. Get it out of the way, then I can get on with the fun staff I always enjoyed writing about and sharing with like-minded folk.
I was unlucky enough to be diagnosed with breast cancer back in January 2010, and there followed 18 months of being prodded, disfigured, pumped full of nasty nasty chemo drugs, zapped with radio waves, pumped full of more nasty drugs for a year, and now I'm on Tamoxifen for the next four years which is crap. But it's fantastic too because it's done what it should and all is looking good for me now. The outlook is positive and I'm ready to get on with life. I know I'm one of the lucky ones because the medical profession were able to do so much to help me and I'll be eternally grateful.

I've read that people who go through a life-threatening illness or similer, often change their lives completely when they've through the worst, and try to experience all sorts of things they've always wanted to do such as sky-diving, or swimming with dolphins, or going in hot-air balloons. Can't see it myself, I certainly don't feel like that. But, I want to take pleasure in the little things in life, and blogging is one of those. During the worst days last year, when I could barely get from bed to sofa then back to bed, I still read my favourite blogs and enjoyed seeing what others were up to. So I'm starting anew, sharing the same stuff with you that I always did, 'cos it's never gone away. Lots of thrifting, home projects, cooking, money saving tips, anything else that inspires me really.

I thought I'd talk about world maps today. Hmm I hear you say, that's not very exciting. But I've noticed more and more world maps being used as a decorative item in the home, as I've browsed t'internet.

You could have a whole wall wallpapered. I think my house is too small to carry this look off

You can buy a world map canvas from Ikea. But at £100, a bit beyond my budget.

I generally work out a cheaper way to get the look I want, and I came across this fabulous world map wrapping paper at Cooper's


It just so happened that I had a large frame on the wall on my landing, with a very boring print in it, which was the perfect fit for the map. So, after carefully removing the old picture, ironing the creases out of the wrapping paper, and fixing it in place on the mount with double sided tape, I gave the frame a gentle rub down with sandpaper to "shabby" it up a bit.

Tada!

I'm delighted with the result. Just what I wanted and it only cost £3.00! Today is a good day.