Just had to post this! 

The morning of the day after the event.

Just so you know only one other survivor has been recovered. Late last night he staggered out from under a drum and sat stunned and bemused. Lucky for him ninja boy was busy dispatching a feather duster, so we were able to remove the cricket without running interference.

This morning all was quiet on the lounge front. Just a couple of dusty paw prints on DH's amp (which we overlooked as youthful frolics). However, on his morning preamble, downstairs where the evil ones live. Connor came face to face with a Winnie dog - who in his spaced out, drug induced state walked straight past him. Ninja boy was ready, fighting stars drawn - but to no avail, the dachshund ambled past, oblivious. Feeling thwarted by this lack reaction the aforementioned feather duster copped it big time. The duster is now suitably chastised and ninja boy has retired to the kipping spot of all champions - the patchwork knitting bag. His claws are sharpened, his coat glistens and his little shitake mushroom nose shines. He dreams of his next battle with the grey speckled evil one (Killer Pixie) who he met yesterday. There was an exchange of language that turned the air blue resulting in a mega hiss from ninja boy and a (hasty) oops I mean dignified retreat upstairs - the old adage 'he who fights and runs away.....etc' applies.

I'm now off to stick the feathers back into the duster as I'm sure it will be needed for hit and run kitten strafing practice later.

The great cricket massacre at No 5!

Aye, t'was a dark and stormy night.............well it was night, so therefore in this part of the world it was dark, and the stormy was more like, a bit breezy. The clouds scudded across the sky, playing hide and seek with the moon. (We're going for a bit of drama here!)

High in their fortress, atop the tallest bookcase in the lounge, the new brigade of crickets were settling into to their new billet. They pinged, chirped and rustled, making themselves comfortable and enjoying a feast of dried cat food. Little did they know that unexpected terror lurked, and not the 8 legged variety this time. Terror came on little cat feet, clad in black velvet and a ninja mask.

Nothing was heard. No crash. No screams as the massacre took place. Swiped from their cliff top abode and scattered across the lounge floor. Those that fled could. The others, well, all that remained was the odd limb. The ninja caused no other damage and well satisfied with his nights work, curled up in his lair, on the patchwork knitting bag and slept replete and nourished.
-----------------------------------

Now in the morning, in came the human male to find the carnage and remains of last nights banquet. He went to rouse his mate (who had hardly slept more than 2 hours all night and was not of a jolly disposition) to spread the tidings. Ah yes the tidings (to she who hates crickets - cos they give her the willies) that the survivors were most likely behind the furniture and could emerge throughout the day. Also, alas and alack, that he needed to dismantle the behind the sofa yarn stash as that seemed a likely cricket bolt hole. "Nooooooooooo!" she screamed "Not in my yarn."

The sofa was dragged out. The precious, luckily bagged and sealed yarn, gently removed and shaken and underneath there they were. A few stragglers, no luggage and no hope in their eyes and they were quickly hoovered up by the whirling Dyson. Twelve was all that remained of that happy band of brothers. The other eight - well who knows - are they lurking? Were they eaten alive?

Gives a whole new meaning to the term 'a cricket tea' though.

Very quick update.

I am extremely grumpy!

J is very annoying.

The kitten is an adorable cutie-pie! (He's settling in very well).

We have a two legged - but winged stick insect - life is sometimes just too bizarre.

Some people are wankers!

PMT sucks!

Yesterday sucked - today sucks too.

This post sucks - but I don't (hehe) ;0)

Life's a bitch.

Study is good - did loads today.

Ran 2.3 miles - now my legs ache.

Made chicken soup.

Now will read my book and knit some socks.

Later.

Isn't he a cutie! 

Here is Connor having a little nap on the sofa. He looks like a little black fox. We love his black nose and his little black beans (pads). 

Here is a lovely picture of Dolores (Dolly-dots) having a drinkie-poos. 

Here is Connor our new kitty boy from the Cats Protection League. He's 8 mths old and very purry and cute. 

I got me some goodies.

Yarn pR0n below!!!

Look at what Stick Chick sent me in a swap...all that Knit Picks yarn. I is one happy, drooling and petting little bunny today. I have the biggest smile.

And on Monday my new secret pal sent me giftees via Amazon. Three books, 'The Time Travellers Wife, Spin It (no more excuses for avoiding my drop spindle then) and Writers Block. Excuse me whilst I wax lyrical. I love Writers Block - it's a open anywhere book for inspiration. I haven't written creatively for a long time but since receiving this I have completed 4 pieces of prose. And I've enjoyed doing it! So a big "Thank You" to my secret pal.

Winnie is a lot better today - he's even woofed a bit.

We passed our CPL inspection and go to meet a little kitty boy tomorrow evening - keeping everything crossed.

Lookee - I swapped some soap for Knit Picks yarn with Stick Chick. Ever since Skip made me a beautiful lace bookmark I have coveted this yarn. It's Alpaca Cloud, lace weight in Tide Pool. It is so scrummy and delicious and scrummy and delicious and so scrummy...you get the picture. 

2 skeins of Knit Picks Shimmer (baby alpaca and silk) in Flower Garden. 

Two yummy skeins of Knit Picks Alpaca and Silk - sport weight. 

8 balls of Knit Picks Andean Silk in Pool 

2nd Airy Scarf (from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts) but I adjusted the pattern slightly to make it more holely. Modelled by Groucho the bear. I do so like this pattern - I just my family wore mohair because they would make perfect gifts, but all my lot find it too itchy - even KSH! 

A little crochet neck/hair tie made from the same yarn as my curly-whirly. 

Ohhh a curly-whirly

Not a very flattering piccie (ugh!)
This scarf is a design by Sue Morgan and is knitted in Lorna's Shepherd Worsted. It took about 3 hours to make but I decided to add the flowers the following day. Great pattern - total bummer on the wrists casting on 700 stitches!

I have been so busy and life is manic, chaotic and hectic that I the only time I'm really knitting is at weekends. I have noticed that with these spurts of knitting time has developed the need for instant gratification knitting. I have WIP's a plenty of larger items, which are being neglected, as all I want is to whip up and complete a new project. I don't think it's too much of a bad thing and is probably just a phase.

I also made a little neck/hair tie that matches this and finally took a photo of my green Airy Scarf - that I adjusted the original pattern to make.

Non-knitting stuff.

I have been hitting the books big time and finishing the final edits of my essay. Life was smooth and then on Tuesday Winston one of the family dogs, suddenly screamed with pain and collapsed. He was rushed to the vets, who gave him many injections but had no idea what was wrong. I cancelled meeting Yuvee to go to the Hove SnB and mounted dog watch as the vet said if his gums and mouth didn't warm up and gain colour in the next hour then it was off to ITU in Lewes. We made it through the night, went back next day and he is slowly recovery...sort of. He's back at the vets again this morning. His abdomen is all tight and they don't know why...I'll keep you posted.

All this bought home the loss of Buster and I'm sorry to say made me really depressed. I became more aware of the emptiness of the house and missed having a furry little lap warmer. My boys were worried. I don't often do 'depressed'. So I called the local CPL (Cats Protection League) and enquired about rescuing a kitty. The lady has been very helpful. We have had a reference given by our vets and she's coming to do a home visit today. So I'm feeling a little more chipper and hope to have a new kitty friend soon.

I also felt fed up because my SP went AWOL. The wonderful sp gourdesses have reacted with lightening speed and solved my problem there and I have a new sp. who got in touch straight away *yay*. The problem was/is I feel awful for ratting my old sp, I have a feeling it was circumstances beyond her control that made he go AWOL and I didn't like feeling like a whinger but....well you know.

J has been a total arsehole the last week - he's 8 going on 15 and how I haven't kicked his peachy little butt I do not know. Talk about attitude and a clever (in his opinion) mouth. I have explained to him that he cannot win and my mouth is a 1000 times cleverer than his but he's still undetered. *sigh* He'll learn, he can't yet laugh at himself so I have ammo for when he becomes intolerable.

M is good and has been a kind bunny coping with his misery of a Mrs.

All the pets (apart from Win) are cool. The sticks have moulted and are big. The spiders are eating well. I had a little cuddle (sort of) with Dolly-dots the other day. She is such a cutie.

The veggie patch hasn't been touched yet and I have no idea where I'll find the time to do it - it may lay fallow this year.

I walked/ran 10 miles this week on my treadmill. Today is my rest day so that's why I have the time to blog.

Now it's time to hit the ole books again..............let us hope that this weeks topic is a bit more interesting....I actually feel asleep over one of them last week.

Later gators.

You Are Animal

A complete lunatic, you're operating on 100% animal instincts.You thrive on uncontrolled energy, and you're downright scary.But you sure can beat a good drum."Kill! Kill!"

The Muppet Personality Test

PJ's, pizza and marshmallows!

The title describes the L family Sunday Slob-a-thon. We were going to go out for the day but decided it was too dang cold. So we cranked up the heating and stayed in our PJ's. J chose the menu so bacon butties for brekkie, pizza for lunch and hot chocolate with marshmallows throughout the day. The boys played on the PS2 and I knitted (the results of which can be seen below). I also finished a 2nd Airy scarf but haven't taken piccies yet. It was a brilliant day. J said it was the best day he'd ever had (all the money we've wasted taking him places in the past *sheesh*). It was very relaxing. I can't remember the last time I did something like that. I've already been informed that he'd like a repeat of it soon and all I can say is "Fine by me!"

Everyone else had a new hat, so I made one for me and some wristwarmers as well. The yarn was sent to me last year and is from Wool in the Woods - the colours are gorgeous, much better in reality. 

A heap of cousins in a messy room - normal day at our house! 

Ipod cosy. 

A trip down memory lane.

Yesterday on Amazon I found a copy of a book that as a child was one that helped to inspire me and encouraged me to love reading. It's written By John Cunliffe (Rosie & Jim/Postman Pat) who at the time worked at the Brighton children's Library, it's Called "The Adventures of Lord Pip". I remembered that this book got checked out of the library almost every other visit but I never owned a copy. So, seeing it for £1.50 on Amazon I decided to buy it. It was delivered this morning. I read it in an hour.

This book was published when I was three and OMG does it reflect just how much society has changed. Now it would be deemed probably too simplistic and it is politically incorrect in so many ways. But, it still made me happy, it still is a good tale and it bought back memories of that time in my life.

I hope J will read and enjoy it. I know he will accept the story for its own sake - he is not yet critical and sees the wonder of a good tale.

At the same time I ordered another book - for the princely sum of 1p. This was read to me when I was J's age by my class teacher and is by Harriet Graham called "A Fox Under my Jacket" - hopefully it will arrive in the next few days. It was this book that started my descent into being an avid reader. I woke before anyone else one Sunday, grabbed this book and sat in the lounge with it, waiting for the rest of house to wake up. I didn't stir until I finished it. It was a compulsion to get to the end of the book - a compulsion that remains to this day. I think J will love this book and I can't wait to revisit it.

I have found so much pleasure remembering books from my childhood and introducing them to J. We have read so many and I still find immense pleasure inchildren'ss stories.

PS I tried to post a piccie of the book - but Blogger is not playing ball this arvo and I got fed up with fiddling about - so a pictureless post I'm afraid.

Kodo

I know another post - OMG like I haven't got other stuff to do, but procrastination rules!

Anyhoo, last night we took J to see the Kodo Drummers at the Dome and it was amazing. M and I last saw them about 15 years ago and the experience was such a good one that we wanted to share it with J. He was amazed that he could feel the drums and that they made so many different sounds. The giant drum D'aiko (sp?) was just 'Wow!' The energy of the performance and the joy of the performers made it a spectacle that I think will stay with him for such a long time. I felt so proud of him as he read the programme and then explained to me about the different pieces of music and also that he recognised the style of Japanese writing on the wagon that supports the giant drum (it's a least 2 years since we looked at Japanese script).

As a home-ed parent I think experiences like these are so important and can often fire an interest in a subject that is self-directed, but beside all that, the enjoyment of sharing this as a family and having J dance along side us as we walked back to the car made of brilliant evening even more special.

Another goody from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. M has been moaning his ears get cold so I made him a titfer. The brown is a cashmere mix, the other two are scraps of Cascase 220. I normally hate knitting hats but this one was a breeze. 

2nd FO in a week - now that's scary! 

Airy scarf from 'Last Minute Knitted Gifts' 

At last...........some knitting!

Proof at last that I do knit. This KSH Airy took me 4 hours and 30 mins to knit yesterday and it blocked beautifully last night. The photo does not do the colour justice.

I just had to make something from this book and this was calling to me. This is a pattern I can't wait to play around with and make variations on a theme.

(Thank you to Ma for holding it whilst I took piccies).

Little bits of stuff

OK - *soapbox* bit. Why can't people just be nice to each other? It's a sad state of affairs that online forums and blogs are used to ridicule, insult and bully. I thought I'd left that all behind when I left school, nope found it in the work place. No longer work, found it with the Mums in the playground. Home-ed my son now, I find it not with his little friends or their parents but in the virtual world and by knitters of all people. Well it sucks! I will not be drawn into this shit, but I will state my opinions when I feel strongly enough about something and I will not be intimidated - so don't even think about trying it, because it won't work and I'll turn round and bite back.

So....nuff said. *puts soapbox away - plasters happy face back on*

I adore my son. He is so special. He is so clever. I'm having a proud Mommy moment. Yesterday was a busy day culminating in him and M going to the Model show to see real, live Daleks. He was soooo good and so inspired by what he experienced that this morning he remodeled a Lego Dalek he built a few weeks back -which was already astounding - to have opening sections like the ones he saw. He engineered, he problem solved and he delivered the goods. The first we knew of it was when he appeared with it in our bedroom. He also had stripped the sheets from his bed and set the breakfast table with no-one asking him to. So big-up to J - you've made me even prouder than usual.

Knitting - swamped as I am in WIP's I am making good progress but have not been as dedicated as usual as I have been distracted by life. It is my intention to remedy this and kick my ample arse into gear and get some knitting done!

Study - took a few days off. Head not in the right place with Buster etc. Will start my essay next week. So don't expect too much blog activity, unless I'm procrastinating.....moi? No!

So that's about it so far. I'm off to eat brunch before having a marathon tidy followed by a bit of knitting.

PS - any home-edders out there?...Did you get the current EO mag? Did you find the article by the guy from Ireland inspiring? I did. He put what we feel so perfectly and reassured us that the freedom we allow our son is the right way. I found the whole thing liberating. I enjoy being with J and seeing him having such a happy childhood, when I was his age, the bullying was starting and I lost a large chunk of my childhood. I feel revitalised by what I have read .. so if you haven't read it yet, take the time to...it's worth it.

Spoilt baby.

Spoilt rotten - that's me. Numero uno - thank you to everyone who sent me birthday wishes - y'all added to the happiness of my day.

A day which started with my brekkie being brought to me - freshly made pineapple smoothie with hot briochet. Gifties and cards - M's card was so funny I had tears of laughter. J had got me a gorgeous pair of earrings and a bracelet - copper tones - very pretty. My Ma bought me a whole heap of my favourite bodyshop products - I smell so yummy. Big Sis - sung to me down the phone which made me smile. Had a lazy start - lots of post - cups of tea and finishing my book - whilst the M housework fairy whisked about.

I was then presented with a delicious lunch - not too heavy- a light repast (hehe). Then I spent my afternoon buying lots of yummy things with birthday money and being bought numerous other pressies by M - including a platinum ring and earrings *gulp*.

I decided I'd like to have a family meal at home - as had my period and didn't fancy dressing up and hitting the town - though M did offer. He made me an amazing meal - Orkney crab, tiger prawns, wholemeal bread, avocado and salad - all my favourites. We had pink champagne and for puds meringues with fresh raspberries and half fat cream. I waddled up the stairs, replete and happy. We spent a romantic evening (though I did pop into the Knitty chat - cos Yarner (Deb) was in there and I couldn't resist) guzzling fizzy and M then produced strawberries wrapped in white chocolate - I have a drawstring waist on my troos today - because I haven't eaten so much in ages....pig!

The only moment of sadness was when M served up the crab and didn't get his legs clawed to pieces or sung to. I'm sure Buster was with us in spirit.

So pretty much a perfect birthday. And today (I should start on my essay) but I have the house to myself virtually all day and I did no knitting yesterday.....can you see where this is going? I have a bit of extra time to write my essay in. So I intend to read, watch the Olympics and knit today. I should exercise off yesterdays excess....mmmm how many calories does an hours knitting burn? I'll go for a run tomorrow, today I'm feeling uber lazy and have decided to go with how my body feels today.

Hope you all have a good/relaxing/exciting (choose the one that fits) weekend!

A silver lining.

After a sad start to my week, look at how it's ending. This is a present from my sweet M (a day early - I know) for my birthday. Some LL's that I've been drooling over, new Opal sock yarn in green and pink - two of my fav colours, Last Minute Knitted Gifts and two fiction books that are knitting related - he is my hero! He also paid for my wonderful hairdresser Karen to come and give my hair a makeover today - so I'm now a lighter brunette with toffee and gold highlights just here and there. And apparently tomorrow I have suprises in store - I feel very spoilt and blessed today.

Also as the hairdresser came so early this morning and I was rushing about like a blue arsed fly, he hoovered and did the hard floors for me, he also cleaned the bathroom - double brownie points for my sweetie.

Lornas Laces - purty - so soft and squishy mmmmmmmmmm. 

Mr Naughty McNaughty of Naughty Towers, Naughty Lane, Naughty Town in the district of Very Very Naughty. (Xmas 2005 - with his Xmas catnip mouse). 

Sir Buster of Boyzel - he of the fluffy pantaloons and the magnificient whiskers. 

Buster - a tribute to a special life.

Buster is our black and white cat and he is sadly very ill. The vet has told us there is nothing they can do and as he is quite elderly we have made the difficult decision to have him put to sleep.

We got Buster almost 15 years ago - he was the naughtiest kitten in the world. Six months later my Dad died and I needed something to love and Buster was there. Naughty, but there. I had numerous miscarriages and needed something to cuddle and Buster was there. Naughty, but there. He trounced our Siamese on a regular basis and fell in love with our Dalmatian - a love affair which continues to this day. He played with the rabbit and ignored the rats. He was fat and fluffy and chewed my knitting needles every given opportunity. He sat his smelly little cat bum on my text books and clawed my bum most nights to wake me up because he was hungry at 3.00am.

Although I am sad - I know this is the right thing to do and am focusing on the postives of him being such a big part of my life.

More yarn.

Look what I treated myself to today. The yarn is RYC luxury cotton (50% cotton, 45% viscose & 5% silk) it has such a sheen. The picture at the back is what I intend to make with it, the pattern is called Florence. The flash has washed the colours out they are much brighter, perfect for spring and summer. I'm itching to cast on.....but I have so many WIP's......aw what the f**k where are my needles ;0)

A wonderful piccie of Boris (Doris?) the bold - he's soooo fluffy. Makes you want to take him to bed and cuddle him! 

J had a hold of Dolly-dots today. She is such a gentle and docile tarantula, she just sat there all quiet and calm. J was quiet and calm too - first time for everything!! 

Mmmmmm yarn pr0n - Debbie Bliss Maya - in a yummy colour. Destined to be a bag - Booga, French Market or another Torvesta - decisions, decisions........ 

Green turtle and a large octopus.

Yesterday J (some friends) and I went to the Sealife Centre on Brighton seafront. I have so many memories of this site when it was the Brighton Aquarium & Dolphinarium. My Nana would take me every year as she loved the dolphins, it was the highlight of my summer and instilled a life long love of marine wildlife. Now the dolphins, seals and sealions are long gone and much of the creatures there are indigenous to UK coastal waters. But they have the odd exotic creature from far flung shores including a large green turtle called Lulu. It was close to feeding time yesterday so Lulu was at the front of the huge shark pool where she lives. Her movement through the water was majestic and I stood enthralled (ignoring the nagging of kiddies to hurry up), my patience was rewarded when she slowed in front me, lifted her head out of the water and eyeballed me - took my breath away. Then as we walked through the underwater tunnel she swam right about our heads - amazing.

Now the Sealife is a bit dear (we got an online voucher which saved us £8.00) and in the past I've felt it to be a bit shabby (compared to childhood memories) but yesterday they came up trumps twice. Dazed and amazed from Lulu we then walked into the cephalapod (?) area where they had a giant octopus. I have a morbid fascination for these creatures, mainly after getting on hooked around my leg in Cyprus one year - I am told I walked on water that day ;0) anyway, this octi had a body/head larger than mine and a tentacle span at least as wide as my arm span. It was an amazing reddy brown with golden eyes and its suckers were the size of toffees. It suckered itself to the glass right in front of me at eyelevel and I received my 2nd eyeballing of the day. I was suckered (haha) and mesmorized by this awesome being.

The kids had a great time and for once so did I. We walked for about 3 hours, ate an amazingItalian lunch and just had fun.

No time for study or knitting though because by the time I got home I was totally knackered out.

2 in 1 day!

Warning - political stylie type content.

Go to www.iwill.co.uk read it and if your think this is important sign your name to the petition - thank you.

As I sit here musing about what to write I can see the dog making her bed. This entails much digging and nosing of said bed, until she has chased it all around the room . She stops, sits and checks her bits, gets up and does it all again and again until she finds the perfect spot, normally in the middle of the floor or in front of the bathroom doorway. It's brilliant when she does this during the night because you get up for a pee and measure your length, head first into the bathroom, headbutting the swing doors on route as you trip over a sleepy dalamatian. The dog then panics and leaps up as you hop on one leg, because you've stubbed your toe on the bath, trying hard not to shout "Fucking hell!" as loud as you can. Your husband then mumbles "What, what's the matter with you? I'm trying to sleep." followed by a deafening snore. You settle the dog back down in a safe position. You finally have your pee by now you are freezing your metaphorical nuts off and you are so awake you know that sleep will be a long time in returning. Ps - this whole event is even more traumatic if you're stark bollock naked to boot! The moral of this tale - there isn't one other than life is a bitch.

Anyway, the dog is now asleep. The boy is tidying his room (this means he's picking stuff up, moving it 2cm and putting it back down again), Ma has left the building (that's why it's so quiet), DH is at work and I ...... well I have finished my weeks study. I have a little ironing to attend to, a smidge of housework and that's it. Nothing, nil, nada, a day without barriers, timings or anything. So as I have been an almost knitfree zone for the last 2 weeks (illness+study=no knitting time) I think I might just spend a goodly portion of the day on my rotund arse doing a bit of wool torture. What about you? How will you spend your day?

Oh poo!

I cocked up my sock - something I have never done. I had to frog the dang thing - so fed up with having a cotton wool brain still. Perhaps it's because I feel I'm still catching up on my sleep.

J's eye test was cancelled today - the optician was off sick and had to go....wait for it....to the...
eye hospital! They had no other available appts until a week today, short-sighted of them I say.

So the burglar alarm had its annual service today..nice chap...but he shuts all the doors says "Don't open them." So you have 3 adults, 1 boy and 3 dogs all standing in the hall, whilst said lanky geezer goes round opening doors and checking sensors to make sure they go beep. Riveting stuff! M needed the loo, J needed stuff in his bedroom and I needed to get back on the computer *sigh* these things are sent to try us.

Went into town *fanfare* first time in months. This has raised the question 'do you need to be clinically depressed or a nutter to work in W H Smiths? Honest, it was being so cheerful that kept the women who served me going. She reminded me of a dinner lady - yelling at the queue - "Next please!" Isn't nice when people are happy in their work?

I hate shopping centres they are so full of people - ugh! The worst was M dragged me into Game - that shop is full of weirdos.

Enough for now - it's time to watch the penis programme on Ch4 - should be delightful ;0)