Riding Rainbows

I bought this gorgeous plaque which looks perfect hung from the Number 6.

Number 8

Number 8 finished! The Numbers are available on the Childrens page of Rainbow Valley The Poppy is available on the Scrapbooking page of Rainbow Valley

A Steep Learning Curve.

So, there I am thinking that I can learn all of this new stuff gradually when I get thrown yet another curve ball.

There are new selling regulations which are coming into force all over Europe on June 13th 2014 and my website has to comply with them!

Panic!

These new regs are "The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013" and have been updated to include a new section to cover the selling of "Digital Downloads" and that means me!

If you buy anything online, you have 14 days in which to change your mind and inform the seller. You then have another 14 days in which to return the item and the seller has 14 days from its safe return to issue a refund.

You generally do not have a right to cancel once a digital download has started. However, this is only the case if you have been told and given your explicit acknowledgement. You generally do not have a right to cancel once a digital download has started. However, this is only the case if you have been told and given your "explicit acknowledgement". The simplest way to gain "explicit acknowledgement" would be a tick box at the check out.

The problem here would be that I do not have my own check out. I use a variety of selling platforms across the www. Mostly USA based who do not have to conform to these rules and are not willing to change things to help European sellers comply with regulations.

We think we have found a way around this while still complying but trying to get a straight "Yes" or "No" from anybody official is like banging your head against a brick wall.

Back to that steep learning curve. Instead of learning everything gradually, I am having to learn it all at once. Mostly I can find what I need online and adapt it to my needs. But sometimes I get totally stumped and have to look for an alternative way.

I think, by the time I have finished, I will have earned a degree in "Copying, Pasting and Fudging it". But I am quite pleased with what I have achieved so far.

Number 4 finished! The Numbers are available on the Childrens page of Rainbow Valley The Daisies are available on the Scrapbooking page of Rainbow Valley

Ten

It has been rather a long time due to other commitments but I have finally finished number 10. The Numbers are available on the Childrens page of Rainbow Valley The flowers are from "Scrapping with Crotat" and are available on the Scrapbooking page of Rainbow Valley

Life Changing Decisions.

I have never been one to air dirty laundry in public. I like my private life kept private. The problem is that things happening in my personal life have drastically affected my professional life.

So, without going into too much detail, here is what has been happening over the past few months while I have been extremely quiet.

Just before Christmas, I left my partner of 10 years. I hadn't been happy for a while. My son certainly hadn't. And over the weekend of November 30th/December 1st, things happened which made me evaluate my situation and make the decision to leave.

It wasn't an easy decision to make, in fact it was one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in a very long time. But needs must and on the Friday of that week I moved into a new house with my son.

I moved in with my partner with a whole heap of belongings but, over time, they had been whittled down and I moved out with very little.

This is when you realise what amazing family and friends you have!

Money, furniture and household items came from all directions and in no time at all, my new house was a cosy home.

Of course, moving that quickly meant no internet but, again, I had loads of offers to go and make use of a variety of WiFi connections. I had to rely on my poor little, overworked netbook but I was able to keep an eye on things. My internet was connected mid December but trying to run a business on the net book proved very difficult.

My other major problem was that I lost all motivation to crochet - not a good thing when that is how you earn an income.

While I was struggling with the curve ball life had thrown at me, my son positively bloomed. As hard as the decision had been, I knew it was the right one.

Life marches on and that was nearly six months ago. Things have changed. I feel better apart from an occasional pang of regret. Not for leaving, I certainly don't regret that, more for not realising what I did a lot sooner. But the past is in the past and that is where it should stay.

The future holds so many possibilities.

And I have so many plans!

This time next year Rodney, we are going to be millionaires............

Two

Number 2 finished! The Numbers are available on the Childrens page of Rainbow Valley The Pansies are available on the Scrapbooking page of Rainbow Valley

Nine

Number 9 finished! The Numbers are available on the Childrens page of Rainbow Valley The Bees are available on the Scrapbooking page of Rainbow Valley Now I know when it is quarter past and quarter to. And it is actually looking like a clock on the wall.