A Bit Tired, But Happy Actually!
Hello everyone!
This week has been fab! Admittedly there have been a few stressful moments, such as when my new boss started asking me how long it will take me to complete a project where I don’t even have the bits I need to start the next phase. Hmmm.
After work, Jon and I have started swimming. I love rushing to the pool, even though the trains are packed, and the weather is a bit chilly coming home, and once you’re in it’s basically eat then bedtime.
Amber walks with me through the park in the morning, we are enjoying the bright green willow buds and leaves, the swathes of yellow daffodils, the birdsong, and best of all the huge blue sky and fluffy white clouds.
My legs feel very strong and for those gym goers you will understand me when I say I feel it in my gluteus maximus!
All this exercise is a bit tiring, I wonder when it will go from tiring to feeling fit and lively.
Today we all met up in Upminster at Costa for a giant Jaffa cake, which was a bit too big for me to be honest. We walked around all the shops after a long walk through the park, and Jon had an opticians appointment, and also his beard had grown to epic proportions, like something the animals would live in in a Percy the Park Keeper book….so he was also despatched to the barbers.
I bought some cakes, a spring like hat from a charity shop for £2, a basket of treats from M&S, and a new bag from Roomes.
When we got in we were a bit tired, and I sewed Jon’s new Kryptek Typhon cammo trousers up as they needed shortening a bit. Jon’s legs look short but he is remarkably fast at running; Amber and I never fail to marvel how he can break from a relaxed amble to a full on sprint when required to catch a bus. We trot after him, and he ensures the bus doesn’t go without us.
These trousers are made from ripstop fabric, so they needed a thin and sharp needle and strong cotton thread. I tried several threads and needles before I got it right, there was much tangling and cursing before I worked out what I should be using.
Here you can see me modelling one of my Minion hats for our charity sale coming up. I hope you have a super weekend!
Addicted To Knitting
Hello everyone!
Today was a bit stressful to be honest. Jon was at home waiting for the boiler repairman, he was very unhappy, worried everything was going to go wrong.
I got up and went out, I needed wool for our Knitting Club charity sale, my plan is to make some “Minion” hats, in honour of my love of the film Despicable Me. The yellow colour had proven impossible to obtain online.
Luckily I found the perfect stuff, in an indian grocery shop where I’d got the red yarn for the Remembrance Day Poppies.
I soon had happy and funny news to go with my wool, Jon sent me a text to say the boiler was completely fixed, then a picture of the cat climbing the curtains.
I was delighted the boiler was fixed, and glad Jon could now relax.
The picture of my curtains being ruined by my cat was funny, as my dear friend Alison was going climbing today, and Ali gave me Woozle as she rescued her and rehomed her to me. My old and sleepy cat hasn’t climbed anything for a year, I think she knew her saviour was climbing and wanted to join in the fun!
Anyway, I found some hat yarn to go with my new coat and I’ve knit furiously all afternoon since coming in from my swim. Which, by the way, was absolutely lovely!
I hope you’ve all had a happy day too!
Treasure Chest!
Hello everyone!
It’s the weekend! Yaay!
Today I got to lie in for a bit, do some chores, and sit in a long bath. And knit some.
Such an exciting day as my new knitting cupboard was being delivered!
When It arrived at 1.15, I realised I could do nothing with it as it was wrapped in a cardboard carton, was extremely heavy and I have a dodgy arm. So I shoved my swimming kit into a bag and strode off to the gym for my usual hour of laps. I figured it would do my paw some good too.
The bus ride was quick, I knit the white shawl the entire way and there was hardly anyone about in the gym, and soon I was in the pool.
The water is so turquoise blue, there is a glass wall, and you get to see the play of sun and cloud. The water glitters with the light that pours through the glass. It is iridescent.
It cannot be mere coincidence that I started to recover from my depression as soon as I joined the gym. I think the water has healing powers.
My new silver, white and pink Havaianas from the store in Carnaby Street are a god send, as the slippery tiled pool floor has sent dozens of people onto the floor with a crash. I can now pad about safely, the tricky bit is getting my nail polish to match, my current toes are not quite orchid pink enough….
Today at the pool I suffered from tattoo envy. Let me make it clear I will never have a tattoo. For the first time, today I saw a girl who had a really pretty tattoo which I thought was quite lovely. It was of a pair of wings, on her back, it looked great. She had a very gothic look about her, which is fine when you’re young. She had loads of tattoos and they were all exquisitely done.
I came home, and Woozle liked her box. She slept on my lap and I watched the programme on TV on Knitting. It was surprisingly heavy on manufactured knitwear, which made me lose my concentration at times. It was nice to see Kaffe Fassett and Sandy Black talking about their craft. Kaffe showed the first cardigan he ever knit, not a single end was darned in at all. Surely he would have sewn them in by now, or given it to one of his assistants lol!!
Since I knew I was getting the chest, I have been consumed with ideas about how to use the drawers.
Now it is unpacked, Jon kindly saw to it when he came in from work. I have put some bits in. You can see below how Woozle is helping too!
Once I have got it how I want it I will post some more pictures. My iPad sits in its own little slot. I need a coaster urgently, or some kind of doily for the top part, as my cupatea will mark the shiny wood. It does smell wonderful.
Tomorrow Amber and Lily are hanging out here for the day, in girls pal time, and I am off out with dear Alex. Several pints of cocktails, after a trip to Loop, then I’ll be back home, but no knitting is allowed after drink. It is the law. Lol!
Thank you all for your birthday wishes, and for the kind advice about how to help my arm. Dear friends! I am having a super weekend!
Friday And School Memories
Hello all!
I hope you’ve had a sunny day like we’ve had.
Today we went on a jaunt to visit my old school. It is always funny going back there, and today it was really hot! I had my bathing suit with me, and couldn’t wait to hit the pool afterwards! We had some paperwork to complete for my nipper, and we had coffee together, it was nice.
The pool is magical. Turquoise water, ripples of sunshine on the water, the pool to myself. I did a full hour, then floated about with my feet crossed, then did a few more lengths, I could barely make myself get out.
In Boots, before my swim, I picked up a couple of fabulous products, I needed more shower gel and there’s a new shower gel out that’s key lime and peppermint – woo hoo! Mojito bathing! Also, in the papers yesterday, there was a rave review of a new hairbrush that apparently wicks the water out of your hair, which I wanted to try.
The Mojito shower gel was fabulous, and I was only able to get a shower comb from the hairbrush range, obviously all girls with long hair get desperate at the length of time it takes to get your hair dry, and it sold out, the brush shelf was empty.
I had doubts about spending £5 on a comb, but it worked like magic. By the time I walked to the bus stop, I could feel my hair was nearly dry. Next time I go to the gym, hopefully they’ll have some more of the brushes in stock!
Jon made Levi Roots Puerto Rican chicken and rice again, it was wonderful. I have a Tupperware full of the leftovers for my lunch next week.
I finished the first sleeve of Amber’s cardigan, and cast on the second. We’ve had a bit of a Tom Cruise weekend, we watched Oblivion last night, it was a fantastic film, and tonight we are watching Reacher, again another super film, although TC is a bit short to play the character we know from the books, who is supposed to be 6 feet 5 inches tall!
My dear cat is on my lap, she is my dear love.
Tomorrow the man is coming to quote for a new kitchen floor. I hope he doesn’t charge the earth!
I have visited my local yarn store, aka my stash, and I’ve brought down my Rowan Handcraft cotton supplies, and I’ll make a start on my table mats! Also the cat needs a baff!
Hope you’re all looking forward to the long weekend!!
30 Degrees, Silk and Swimming
Hello all!
It’s supposed to be 30 degrees so I’m heading for the pool shortly.
Also, it’s Amber’s 4 day trip for “Pathways to Law” Conference, so I’m trying not to miss her already too much! I really don’t like goodbyes, even little ones. I know I’ll cry.
When my dear friend Ali came round to say good bye before moving to Bristol I cried for hours after she left. Just remembering how I felt, all those years ago, I’m dabbing at my eyes again now.
That was a big goodbye. I’ve done so many of those now you think I’d be hardened up, but no. I guess if you’re cursed with a really big heart you feel too much and will always be too soft and feel too greatly.
I slept all day yesterday. I thought I was hibernating at one point. Apparently there’s a morphine like substance in milk and you can get withdrawal symptoms that can be quite severe. It’s in the milk to make sure babies come back to their mothers apparently.
Today I feel great though, the cat is on my lap, I have swifted 4 skeins of yarn, and I’m off for a swim after Amber is installed on a train. Cards for her birthday have been arriving this week. How weird not to be with her on her birthday on Monday!
The Stereophonics have been playing as I swiffered a weekends worth of yarn.
My hayfever symptoms are getting less, can it be the reduction in Dairy? My body feels great. I know it’s early days but Jon and Amber are really supportive, that rundown Jon cooked last night was glorious. God bless Levi Roots.
Sunday Already, Where Are My Needles?
Hello all!
I hope you’re weekend is going well!
It is 10 past three on Sunday and I am wondering where my day has gone. I got up nice and early and got ready for my swim, oh yes, then Jon decided He Was Coming Too so that means we didn’t leave the house till lunchtime. Then after our swim we saw our friend Majick, and we had coffee.
Am not sure if it is a male thing, however we have our Greek holiday in a few weeks time and Jon had no holiday clothes whatsoever. After our swim I accompanied him to the shops so he could buy shorts (he got the last two pairs of plain ones in his size in M&S). Somehow if I’d not nudged him along I suspect he would have just packed his work clothes into the suitcase with his sandals. He has no sunglasses as he lost the D&G ones I bought him, apparently he is bringing his shooting glasses with him. Bond, James Bond eat your heart out.
I’ve just got home. The day is nearly over. I have accomplished very little. I will have to exert myself to get things done in time now.
The family have been promised lasagne for dinner, I always think of Garfield. Am thinking of making some rhubarb for pudding. I like making lasagne, eating it is sublime obviously, but it is a bit of a faff.
The cat is still behaving a bit oddly, but I expect it’s abscesses hurt quite a bit. I wish I could suffer for it, I love it that much.
Right, I am going to plough on with the blue squares scarf, see if I can get it done this week, not much more to do. If it brightens up this afternoon I’ll take some pictures.
Swimming and Blue Skies!
Hello everyone!
Hope you’re enjoying the more pleasant weather lately, it’s not exactly tshirt weather but it’s been a week or so since we had hailstones, so I am counting my blessings.
We are really looking forward to our holidays, our destination Tolos has just been awarded a blue flag which means the water is of the highest cleanliness. I can vouch it has always been clean, there were so many little blue fishes swimming with me, and they were so curious, and I was so outnumbered, I did at one point feel rather intimidated.
This week I have done some super cooking, and quite a lot of swimming, and my ruthless decluttering of my house according to Flylady’s principles, I did a couple of cupboards out and my craft cupboard has been overhauled again. At least I can find what I am trying to lay my hands on quickly now.
The ongoing sorting of knitting patterns and materials progresses rather pleasingly. I am now thinking about summer knitting. Pale colours, cool fabrics, shiny accents, a new summer bag! All the winter yarn is being bundled up, all the WIPs, I am doing no more warm weather stuff until after my birthday.
Let me tell you about my cooking, last night I cooked some peri piri ribs, they were really succulent, and today I made some chicken soup for tomorrow, as well as a delicious Thai Green Chicken Curry.
Today, and yesterday I swam nearly a mile each time. My knitting is helped greatly by the bus journeys. I should be knitting now but we are watching Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, and it is rather gripping!
I can show you my progress so far with Amber’s cardigan, my cat as usual provides a jolly backdrop.
Sunshine at Last!
Hello everyone!
Hope you’ve had sunshine where you live today, it has finally been nice enough to go out in just a tshirt, admittedly with my new blue shawl over the top.
I left my house at 8, went for a swim, grabbed a coffee and came back in time to help Jon a bit in the garden. He has done a superb job today, mowing, strimming, weeding, tying things back, the whole 9 yards.
As a thank you, I made a fabulous brunch and we all sat around having a very jolly afternoon, as all the jobs were done by midday.
This afternoon, I tidied the living room cubby holes, these are known as “the secret cupboard”, by virtue of having been specially built for me when we moved in by Jon and you can only see them if you know they are there. It made a huge mess to be honest at first, but now it is done, it looks very neat.
Also, I can proudly report that all my filing is done from my mammoth magazine hacking project, and now I have half a dozen binders with a wonderful and inspiring series of useful patterns.
Upstairs, today also I had a good look at my stash, I found some cotton to make another dishcloth, so I have my Tunisian crochet hook in hand and am hooking whilst watching “Daredevil” on tv. The cat has sat on the cushions all day long after being confused by the garden changing from a jungle to an oasis earlier.
The point of getting the yarn boxes down was so I could see if I have anything to go with the 300g of the blue cashmere left over, and I have found a ball of teal Andes and a ball of royal Grace yarn, plus two skeins of Alchemy silk in turquoise I have had in my collection for way too long. I am thinking a cardigan, to use these babies up. They are in a box on my radiator right now all making friends lol. I now am thinking of a colourblock chevron lace or something…..
We had salmon for dinner, just a very ordinary meal, but as a treat I made a crumble for dessert, I used two cooking apples which are quite sharp, and cooked these off with cinnamon and a tablespoon of water, then added two cut up nectarines which were dented and unlikely to last, and half a punned of blueberries. The crumble topping had a small bag of seeds in it, together with coconut and oatmeal. It tasted super! I will definitely use these ingredients together again,the nectarine and blueberries combined in such a delicious way with the apples, mmmm!
Anyways, back to work tomorrow, my train knitting is packed and I’m going to be wearing my new striped silver scarf. The charity shop near my hairdressers has the best stock, I never fail to find something nice each time I go. I hope you have a good week, and that the nice weather lasts!
Before the nap:
During the nap lol:
Tuesday, Two Days In!
This week I’ve finished my blue shawl and been working on my blue squares scarf on the train, and filing pattern clippings at night.
Today was a bit of a change, the weather has been glorious and tonight I took myself back to the pool for a midweek swim. So restful.
Now, I am with my cat, we’re watching tv and I have a new project or two in the wings and on my mind.
Firstly, I’m making a tea cosy for my knitting club friend Sarah, as a birthday gift, in my Grandmother’s favourite knitting pattern, I am really looking forward to it. I want to find some wool from my stash to make it with, bright and smart looking. Sarah has said her kitchen is really colourful, pink, turquoise, purple, navy, green and red. You can share my progress. My Nannie made hundreds of these cosies for neighbours and friends, I wonder if any have survived the years.
Secondly, I want to make a cowl, inspired by my recent delve into the genius of the Purl Bee. I have bought a bag from Mexico, it is made from traditional blanket fabric, and it is black, off white, pink, red, yellow and taupe. The stripes are arranged in a certain design, which I aim to copy, and when it arrives from the US I’ll be able to get the right yarn and make a start. I’ll post some pictures here too.
Sunday Swimming and Blue Skies
Hello Friends,
I hope you’ve had a super weekend so far!
We have had several huge spiders in the house, I think Jon attracts them. Amber and I shudder when we see them, but we couldn’t hurt anything. So we just let them get on with their day. If they’re in the bath and we need to get ready, Jon picks them up and moves them with his bare hands! Yikes!
Today we went swimming, the weather forecast had said rain but it was warm, we went out without coats or scarves. It felt very odd not to be cold, but in a good way lol.
The pool was nearly empty, we pootled up and down happily, I was thinking and planning and scheming – which is my usual method of relaxing, and as we swam past each other we smiled. It is really nice to see Jon taking charge of his fitness, he’s been every day this week and you can already see the difference, the DVT he got before Christmas knocked the stuffing out of him.
With all the chores getting done without anyone working too hard, the weekends are like being on holiday. If you read the Flylady site, you’ll see this is how you can end up, with weekends free to nap, go to the gym, and smile at each other, because your housework is taken care of in bits during the week so you don’t notice you’re doing them. And you stop shouting at each other and being mean to your nippers.
It’s been exciting knitting-wise, the shawl is cast off! Yay! I can start another one now lol!
Just to prove how enjoyable the shawl edging was, I took it with me today on the bus, and for three rows done, no mistakes. Jon has promised to block it for me next weekend, but we should have a small ta daah here, shouldn’t we! It is so nice to cast off! What to knit next?
Skyscrapers and String 