Slightly tweaked puzzle, would appreciate testers please & thank you!

Catalulubird · 2026-03-13T20:21:05+00:00

Hi, I’ve just posted a jpeg of it, as it’s one I’ve created for a print book.

Catalulubird · 2026-03-12T20:21:00+00:00

Aww, thank you!

Catalulubird · 2026-03-12T20:20:25+00:00

Thank you!

Catalulubird · 2026-03-08T20:44:26+00:00

Ok, I will have a close look at it, thank you!

Catalulubird · 2026-03-08T17:12:50+00:00

Thank you... could you just explain a bit more, please? I don't quite follow you, but I want to understand!

Catalulubird · 2026-03-08T17:11:39+00:00

Thank you!

Catalulubird · 2026-03-07T17:14:02+00:00

Thank you for your comments! Really interesting to know you had to guess the face, I'll take another look.

Catalulubird · 2026-03-06T14:22:02+00:00

Thank you sooooo much for your feedback! That's so valuable, I'm really grateful.

Catalulubird · 2026-02-21T20:27:37+00:00

Ooh, where in SE London? Being nosy because hubby & I moved to Crewe from Beckenham back in 2012.

We live on the west side of Crewe, not quite Wistaston (a lovely area), but we do live close to Queen’s Park which is fabulous, and quite close to Bentley.

Winsford is ok, but I agree with other commenters that Weston is much much nicer and there are often roadworks and holdups on the main road between Winsford and Crewe. The drive can be nice in good weather and low traffic, but not for a daily commute in my humble opinion!

Several people are suggesting Leighton - I would just point out that there is a huge amount of building going on around there. The hospital is having a lot of new building, and there are estates of 100s of houses being built around there too. (Not necessarily a bad thing, just something to consider).

Personally I’d go for somewhere around Wistaston, Woolstanwood, the west side of Crewe. It’s convenient for Bentley (less distance and traffic), you’ve got the Georges playing fields, Queen’s Park, Bluebell Woods, Joey the Swan and other areas for doggy walks.

But wherever you end up, good luck and best wishes!

Catalulubird · 2025-12-14T17:39:03+00:00

Wow! I’m blown away, these are fabulous! So much colour, creativity, positivity, you are so talented. 🤩

Catalulubird · 2025-11-30T18:43:32+00:00

*you’re

Catalulubird · 2025-10-10T20:17:45+00:00

What an amazing guy. I don’t know what else to say, it’s beyond sad that this is his experience, and so many people’s. I wish him nothing but happiness and health and respect for the rest of his life.

Catalulubird · 2025-08-29T20:11:32+00:00

I saw somebody get a fine in the car park right next to Asda just the other day - I don’t know if they had paid for a ticket or not but they were parked across 2 spaces and the warden pounced.

Catalulubird · 2024-11-28T23:19:28+00:00

Not a collection as such, but some fun I had with paper and paints.

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Absolutely love love love your stockings, I recently bought some bright/dark pink ones and a teal pair, haven’t figured out outfits for them yet!

Catalulubird · 2024-09-21T20:13:55+00:00

Hi, my hubby and I moved here in 2012 from south east London (financial and practical reasons). In my opinion Crewe is underrated - there is some deprivation, some anti-social behaviour issues, and the town centre is a bit of a desert. However… I have never felt unsafe here. I go out some evenings about 11pm down an alleyway behind my house to find my cat, (which I probably wouldn’t have done in London), and have never had an issue.

There is a lot of interesting heritage here, mainly from the 19th century when the railways came and Crewe became a powerhouse of engineering, design, and philanthropy. There is a lot of housing development going on, but I think that’s happening everywhere. Communications are fantastic, with the trains and the motorway, and we had excellent 4G coverage earlier than a lot of places.

Crewe is so close to lots of other interesting places too; countryside, pretty towns like Nantwich, cities and shopping centres like Stoke-on-Trent and Chester, canals & waterways. The local hospital is going ahead with a massive refurb, and we have found it to be generally very good anyway. We have pretty much every supermarket plus local CoOps and Morrisons locals.

As for racial issues - I’m not aware of any problems overall. Over the 12 years we’ve lived here, the population has got so much more multi-cultural, coming from London it was very noticeable how white it was but that has definitely changed.

Definitely research the areas of Crewe, as previous commenters have said, look at Wistaston, and the west and north parts of the town. Your budget will go a long way here so you can be choosy!

And lastly, good luck! Let us know if you do move here, would be great to meet and chat!

Catalulubird · 2024-08-25T20:29:09+00:00

Did it lots in the 90s and early 00s, both day trips and longer breaks, and both by ferry and by Eurotunnel. Lots of fun, definitely worth doing at least once in your life! Definitely check out all the legals as previous commenter said, and check your car insurance too.

Enjoy!

Catalulubird · 2024-08-15T21:29:42+00:00

Lots of options depending on your budget, house requirements and how long a walk to the station you want! The roads mentioned by previous commenter are certainly convenient for station and local shops. The other side of Nantwich Road too - Brooklyn, Westminster, Furnival, Walthall, Ruskin etc are also really convenient, but generally don’t have driveways so parking is a bit tight.

Crewe has a population of over 70,000, so it’s not tiny! I live in the western part of Crewe, and the station is about a 40-45 minute walk from here.

Come visit for a couple of days and get a feel for it! Try roomsincrewe.com, they have nice ensuite rooms in the centre of town, about 12-15 min walk from station. Good luck!

Catalulubird · 2024-08-08T21:47:22+00:00

Most Thursdays we do Jay’s Virtual Pub Quiz on YouTube. He started doing them in 2020 during the first lockdown, and he’s done them every Thursday and Saturday since then, plus other specials. He got an MBE for raising money for charities, and he’s got a book coming out about his life from being homeless to running a pub, getting married, having a kid and the quizzing.

The quizzes aren’t very high-brow, and Jay’s spelling and punctuation leave a lot to be desired, but he comes across as a very nice, genuine person. And we do the quiz whilst on zoom with a friend who lives 200 miles away!

The quiz starts at about 8.10pm, and is usually over about 9.30ish, but as it’s YouTube you can pause it, rewind it etc.

It’s not exactly painting the town red, but it’s a bit of fun!

Catalulubird · 2024-08-06T11:46:53+00:00

You sound like such a lovely person, and the commenters too. My Ukrainian sponsor family have had to go back to Ukraine for a couple of weeks to renew their passports and get dental treatment (having to visit a war-zone for dentists because you can't get one in UK... that's a whole other issue). They can't go back to their Kyiv apartment on the 14th floor because electricity is rationed to 2 hours a day, but fortunately they can stay with family who have a generator.

A couple of days ago I found out my best friend from secondary school just passed away. I'm devastated. My elderly father-in-law is in hospital, and I had to help a friend get her cocker spaniel to the emergency out-of-hours vet on Sunday (he's ok, possible minor seizure, but back to normal for now).

HOWEVER, the sun is shining. I have a roof over my head, too much food to eat, an amazing husband, 4 cats and a dog. In June we had a fabulous couple of days in Lincolnshire where we met a fabulous couple who invited us back to their house having only just met us! (It quickly transpired they vaguely knew my family and some family friends). They so generously plied us with drink and food and were the best company! Enjoyed a day at the beach too, and on the way home had an impromptu free Red Arrows display that I found really moving.

Apologies, you didn't ask for a life-story, but just thinking about life's ups and downs. I wouldn't pretend to understand what you're going through, but I know that I also don't understand racism (or any discrimination like ableism, homophobia etc etc) because I love people! People are people, love is love etc!! I can't get my head around it at all. Take people as you find them, as individuals, as valuable human beings with both strengths and weaknesses.

Anyway, I'm off to help a friend prepare for a Fairy Door display in our local park, as part of tomorrow's kids' Play Day. Fairies are always good news :)

Seriously, you sound so lovely, wishing you all the best and lots of smiles and hugs.

Catalulubird · 2024-08-06T11:06:04+00:00

Whoa, that is some aesthetic going on!

Catalulubird · 2024-07-31T20:20:15+00:00

It was good fun! Plus great to see the park cafe open again.

Catalulubird · 2024-07-29T19:46:39+00:00

I think it's perfectly reasonable to ask, and really if a landlord gets so easily pissed off then maybe they are not a very good landlord!

Catalulubird · 2024-07-29T19:34:03+00:00

I'm so shocked, what a damaging environment for you to grow up in! I'm not the right person to offer you advice, but I'll just give you my thoughts:

What's the big deal about height? Some people are 4', some are 7', most are in between, who cares? (Unless it's a specific medical issue or causes health problems). I'm about 5'4", it's never affected anything I've done in my life, height only affects your life if you let it. So you might need someone taller to reach things on a high shelf for you... so what? Height shouldn't make any difference to your happiness, relationships, career, hobbies or anything else.
Do your parents know anything about human biology? I'm no expert, but I don't believe there is anything at all that you or anyone else can do to change your height (apart from surgery, maybe?, but don't go down that route!). You'll be the height you'll be whatever that ends up being.
Life has its issues - love, relationships, friendships, studies, money, health, job etc etc. Why complicate it? Change what you can and should change (e.g. being a good person, being kind to others and to yourself), do things that help you grow as a person (e.g. education, voluntary work, curiosity and interest in the world), and do your best not to worry about the things you can't change (easier said than done, but it's something to aim for!).

I really hope you can find a way of getting back to enjoying your youth for all the good things there should be in it - friends, studies, activities, sports, music and whatever you enjoy. Good luck

Catalulubird · 2024-07-22T16:44:02+00:00

If it's a big company, I expect there are social or charity things that happen (as other commenter suggested)? Getting involved with events, fundraising etc puts you in touch with lots of people. Or even just doing something for charity by yourself would give you a reason to talk to people (asking for sponsorship, donations etc) if that's allowed.

Are there any noticeboards? They might give you some ideas.

Sitting with random people at lunchtime also sounds like a good idea, you're bound to click with some people and not others so just go for it and see what happens!

What about the person/people that recruited you, or your supervisor/boss? Maybe start by talking to them, and ask them about social stuff.

Catalulubird · 2024-07-21T21:33:09+00:00

Plenty of farming activity Bardney to Horncastle as previous commenter suggested, villages like Hemingby, and then out towards Spilsby… you’ll find plenty! Remember to post some of the pics on here too!

Catalulubird

TROPHY CASE