31st December 2015 - Post on last day of the year

Okay, I've been quiet ... veeerrrryyy quiet and I'm sorry about that. I have been busying buying and setting up my apartment, sorting out the kitchen, my bedroom and bathroom and all the other rooms that I now can call my own. I finally have my own gas boiler and water tank which means of course that I'm now paying bills. Such an adult and proud thing to say, I'm now paying BILLS! Nothing nice about them but it's another step into adulthood and independence.

Today's New Year's Eve and I'm not too fond of the day as such. Never really cared about fireworks and the likes and the Irish don't seem to do that much either. I have to wait and see what's going on at midnight. Last year I went to bed at 22:30pm and woke up from the noise. I turned around and fell asleep again. On 1st January 2015 I went shopping at 10:30am, only a few shops were open. I bought my first Chrome-cast that day to watch Netflix on my TV. Opening hours were incorrect and people looked half-asleep but still, everyone was very nice and I think quite happy to see somebody visiting their shop. It will be different this year. I went to Lidl early this morning as they had DIY stuff on special. Expect a post on my bathroom renovation if I manage to complete it this weekend. Only a splash of paint and some tile grouting. Nothing special but I hate the pale yellowish colour of my bathroom.

I went for a walk earlier and I'm happy I did it as I got some fresh air. It has started to rain in the meantime ... again. At the moment it's quite wet in Ireland. Loads of storms and apparently we have to brace ourselves for yet another one. This means more tea and sitting on the sofa. I'm meeting friends on Saturday which is the day I'm getting out of the house then.

Before I started writing this post I did some crafty stuff for the house. Nothing really turns your house into a home more than some handmade decorations. The markets offer enough things to personalise and make it your own stuff.

On my last trip to Germany I went to the usual small shops in my home town for some decorations. I went to Woolworth and bought small wooden letters, white and very simply. With the exception that I couldn't get one specific letter. You will see further down what I'm talking about. Unfortunately the shop assistant confirmed that they didn't have any more in stock. So I'm missing a letter but I will sort that out.

I wasn't sure how to decorate them as they are very plain as mentioned before and will be put onto a white door. I rummaged through my drawers and found some decorative sticky film - the type you used to buy back in the old days to cover school books. I had bought them a good few months ago in Lidl. Lidl is great for small things like this.

I got out my cutting mat for cutting fabric, my small paper scissors and paper scalpel. Great stuff.

I began to measure the film and cut of a strip. I made some markings to cut the paper into smaller pieces one for each letter.

Once done, I pealed of the film and place the letters on them, smoothed them out and started to cut them out.

Only when cutting out the second letter I noticed that it was easier to turn the letter around and cut the sides away from the top. Especially for the gap in the letter A it proofed to be a much easier process.

Cutting away along longer stretches also proofed to be easier too. So I kept turning the letters around constantly until I was finally done. When on the last letter I finally got used to the scalpel too.

Now have a guess which letter is missing and where they are supposed to go. I already have an idea for a replacement but I'm not sure yet. Maybe something with a small picture frame. I really like the way they turned out.

Like this I've complete a few other projects over the last couple of weeks. One of them was turning an old picture frame (I inherited a ton of picture frames and mirrors with the house) into a key-holder with hooks. Still not quite happy about it as I need to attach additional hooks on the back of the frame as it's currently using one hook in the wall which is not enough.

Painted picture frame with wrapping paper underneath the glass. Six hooks to hold my keys and empty shopping bag. In theory the project didn't cost me a thing as all items were already purchased ages ago. The frame came with the house and the paint is leftover paint from a pot of paint I used for one of my rooms.

My cat is giving me the signal to finish this post - walking on the keyboard and purring.

I wish everyone a Happy New Year and all the best for 2016.

Now, stop complaining that I never post anything ...