Labour of love in green

Blocking merrily away on the dinning room table. This has been a stop and start project but last week I decided it had to end! The last 10 days or so I have spent as much time as possible working on this to get the 2nd half of it done. It isn't that it isn't a great pattern - it is. The construction is interesting and the charts are easy but not simple - it has enough in it that you have to stay on the ball...but...it takes a long time and my attention wanders.

I am very happy with it now it's done - the ends need sewing in when it's blocked and dry. It is for me and I look forward to wearing it.
Tech bits of pattern/yarn etc can be found on Ravelry.

Books 14, 15 and 16.

The Dreamers Cat - Stephen Leather

This was the first book I read on my Kindle. It was a recommendation by my sister-in-law.

Not the worlds longest read or the hardest but definitely an intriguing one. It had a good paced plot, with lots of interesting changes of scenario but all the while keeping the main plot carrying forward. The main human character didn't have that much depth but his cat certainly did. I like Sci-fi but am not normally a fan of thrillers, the mix of genres in this story works really well and it added another dimension to the plot line.

I did work out the end before I reached it - that is the main reason I tend not to read thrillers I have an uncanny ability to suss them out really early into a book! I have another of this authors books downloaded ready to read - I hope it lives up to this one.

American Gods - Neil Gaiman.

I can never choose between this one and 'Neverwhere' . I love them both.

Revisiting this book was wonderful. I love Gaiman's tone and pace. His use of language and the overall weirdness of his story telling and Shadow is probably my favourite main character (though my real Gaiman favourites of all time are Vandemar and Croup).

One of the delights of this story is the uncovering of the old gods and the telling of what they are now and how they have merged into our society to survive - it is all very clever stuff.

I don't want to give too much away - for anyone who hasn't tried Neil Gaiman's books -  'American Gods'  is a good place to start.

Immortal  - Lauren Burd.

More vampires this week. What can I say about this Twilight/Vampire Diary hybrid?

Well I was taught that if you can't say anything nice - then say nothing.

"Nothing."

The Avenue

Who has not seen their lover
Walking at ease,
Walking like any other
A pavement under trees,
Not singular,apart,
But footed, featured, dressed,
Approaching like the rest
In the same dapple of the summer caught;
Who has not suddenly thought
With swift surprise:
There walks in cool disguise,
There comes, my heart.

Frances Cornford (1886 - 1960)

Wednesday Madhouse - Crafts

I grew up in a house full of crafts. My Mum sewed, knit, crocheted, made my ballet costumes and clothes, did macrame, made candles, baked, did embroidery and was always making crafty things for fund raisers and school fetes. She collected 'Golden Hands' and 'Craft' and turned her hand to most things in there at one time or another. I know this is where my love of crafts comes from and my older Sister and I were encouraged to try stuff out and learn new skills. Despite this, it was my Sister who taught me knit, not my Mum. One birthday K bought me a knitting pattern (dolls clothes) and needles - she got me a tape measure and made a felt case for it and made me a sewing needle case with needles and a thimble in and some little scissors but the best part of her gift is she took me to a yarn shop in town (Castle Square, Brighton) and bought me yarn - in skeins (which I'd never seen before) - to make the pattern for my doll. I still have the pattern. We came home and together we wound up the wool.

I did knit as a child, K showed me the basics, I used to make shapes up, guessing how to increase and decrease. My Barbie had a lovely selection of garters stitch halter tops (child of the 70's) in a bright lilac colour, but I didn't love knitting for a long time. Even as a young adult I prefer to sew or do needlepoint or crochet. I became a sporadic knitter.

After J was born I discovered patchwork - spent 3 years going to classes - loved it. Went to shows made numerous quilts, cushions, spent almost every free indoor minute working on it. But, isn't there always a but? Too much of a good thing, studying with the OU and preferring machine piecing (at that time) meant I started to fall out of love with patchwork and quilting. Around this time I rediscovered knitting  - we were going on a canal holiday and I wanted to take something portable with me for the evenings to keep my hands and mind occupied. There was a trend for big yarn and big needles (one of my previous issues with knitting was everything, other than baby stuff, took too long) I bought some supplies and pattern and had a 'eureka' knitting moment on the Kennet Avon canal. T'was a rediscovered skill that became a passion. At first I had to badger my Mum quite a bit as I was very rusty with my skills, but then I discovered Knitty and other online resources and off I went.....quite funny really as now Mum picks my brains.

I still do other crafts - including patchwork when the mood takes me. And I am still surrounded by crafts as Mum makes cards and M has his pottery and drawing. At the moment J shows no interest in any craft, perhaps it may skip a generation or it may just be taking its time and sneaking up on him.

I don't know how people live without making stuff and crafting, it has always been such a part of who I am, I'd be lost without it.

Well really

I've been a little remiss with my blogging - just books and madhouse really. It's not that I can't be asked, it's just although I am busy it is all stuff that is mundane and really not worth blogging about. Boring stuff like dental visits, vet visits, shopping, chores and so and so forth. I've been catching up on stuff that got overlooked or forgotten and other bits like clearing out drawers and cupboards which creates a mountain of recycling which seems to take forever to sort through. See really riveting.

I have been knitting and spinning and sewing but it is all stuff in progress - so no pictures or details really. One shawl got 80% of it's body knit in a week as I was determined to move it along but since that burst I've not had the time (due to so many bloomin appointments) to carry on with my massive push on it. I lost my sock mojo for a while (might have re found it now), the gnome gloves still need finishing.....I got distracted.

To make it worse I've put my neck out and am on pain killers which make me sleepy. I think I'll have to go back to the quack as it isn't getting better and I'm having problems sleeping too as I can't get comfortable.

I think I will, try, this week to waste less time faffing about (getting distracted) by all the pretty/blogs/knitting/FB/BTW and get some stuff moved along.


As I've nothing to show you here is a picture of a disgruntled Bo-bo - her expression very much mirrors my own right now.

"Who do you think you are a looking at Matey?"

52 Books - 12 and 13

Doing these two together because they are by the same author are 1 and 2 in the series and that's the way (uhuh-uhuh - I like it) I read them.

Vampire Diaries - The Awakening/The Struggle - L.J. Smith

I have, since my teens, loved vampires from my first ever reading of Bram Stoker aged about 13 which led me to read Anne Rice and so on.

In recent months I have read all the of the Twilight Saga (J calls them Twishite) and all of the current Sookie Stackhouse books and I know they are not erudite or profound by I loved them. And even though I'm not really into cinema or TV that much I have watched Trublood and seen the Twilight films - I have also watched Vampire Diaries (season 1 & as much of season 2 as they've shown so far) and I have loved all of these also. When ITV2 announced another Vampire Diary TV break I decided to give the books a ago, with some trepidation, as I had read review that they were very much more aimed at a teen audience than others but they were quite cheap on my Kindle so I downloaded 1 and 2 as I  thought 2 books would give me a good  taste.

I will not be downloading the rest. Sorry but me no likee. The book characters are not much like the TV ones and they didn't draw me in at.....not even Damon. I decided book Elena was stupid and couldn't engage with her personality and book Stefan needs a kick up the arse. They weren't scary, thrilling or even that romantic. In fact one word sums it up and that word is 'pants'.

Wednesday Madhouse - Teachers.

Interesting subject from my perspective because I am not only the parent but am also the teacher. Not a teacher who works a class full of kidlets but a parent who chooses to educate otherwise or home educate her child.

This duel role can make for some challenging issues at times but it is also one of the most rewarding things I have ever undertaken. It is also one of the scariest too - especially now as we start to approach the age of exams and thinking about the future. There is no-one to shoulder this for us - we have to step up to the mark and make choices.

The positives of home educating and the dual role of parent and teacher are the same as all parents experience before their children enter the education system - it just lasts longer in a home ed situation. I see first hand everyday J's triumphs and his disasters - in fact these are both shared. If he fails, then it means I fail too etc. Over the years we have shared some amazing things amongst these are the most brilliant moments of all, the moments of distraction when a question or a comment sends us off on a tangent and we can be distracted by something  new that neither of us knew about before.

I have learnt so much. I have learnt new ways of doing and learning, I have learnt to be more accepting, patient and open minded, I have learnt to say "Damn it, it's not working, lets do something different." And most importantly, for me, I have been there seeing J learn.

He isn't a genius, he's an average teen boy. But he has an enquiring mind and has learnt at his speed using things that interest him - we have both learnt together.

The pros of my dual role definitely outweigh the cons.

52 Books - 9, 10 and 11

Book 9 - King Arthur - Dragons Child by M K Hume.

I came across this book after reading Wibbo's review of it for her 52 books in 2010 (Wibbo's book blog here). It sounded like my sort of read so right at the beginning of the year I ventured into Brighton city centre and managed to find a copy in Waterstones. I am so glad I did. I read it in 2 days and I loved every page.

It is the legend of the Arthur but with a twist - Arthur is raised by a Roman family - this gives the book a whole different feel from the more traditionally told versions, but the difference really works, it actually makes it feel more real.

This is quite a dark and violent book in places and there some disturbing areas, however, it is part of the story and doesn't seem gratuitous. I like a book and that can shock within a good story without detracting from the tale and this book definitely does that.

I have the second book downloaded onto to my Kindle - but am saving it for when I need a really good, absorbing read and I also have time to loose myself for a  couple of days.

Book 10 - The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet.

Loved the TV series decided to read the book or should that be tome. It is a long book and not good for travelling, hence it took me a little longer to wade through. I did enjoy it though. There are subtle differences from the TV version but it was close enough. The details are there and didn't detract from the story telling - the feel of characters worked well, though, I did picture the actors as I read which I didn't like so much but can live with....who wouldn't mind picturing Rufus Sewell?

Not sure I'd bother with the follow up though. I liked book because of the series but am not so sure that Mr Follets style of writing is one I'd be too eager to revisit - that is just a personal thing though.

Book 11 - Sign of the Four - Arthur Conan Doyle.

This was another Holmes book that got missed from 2010's marathon. I downloaded this as a free audio book from LibriVox for knitting time. I loved it. It has to be one of the most intriguing and exciting Holmes stories I've read - I got an awful lot of knitting done as I was engrossed in the story. It seemed the word pictures of London and the River Thames were more vivid than in other longer Sherlock Holmes stories - perhaps Conan Doyle needed to pad out his word count - but for whatever reason it worked for me.

That's me all caught up with my books. I am happy that at week 9 - I have managed to post about 11 books and still have 4 in hand.

I am reading 3 books and listening to 1 at the moment. It's all looking OK to make 52 in a year so far.

Wednesday Madhouse - 2 for the price of 1.

I missed last week so I am attempting to play catch up this week.

23rd February - Insomnia.

I am a sporadic insomniac. Most of the time I sleep quite well, but when something is bothering me than it can, and often does, effect my sleep pattern. I find I have the personality type that has a night time brain; by this I mean that once awake, say for a bathroom trip, then if I am worried about something, my brain will suddenly ping into awake mode right in the middle of the night, quite often with no warning. I am a born worrier but during the day I can bury things or distract myself  but at night even the smallest worry becomes magnified and sleep becomes a distant friend. M is good, he always tells me to wake him - but it's like waking an Oak tree in the dead of winter, he does try, but sleeping is his natural state!

I have strategies for these periods when I become sleepless. Sometimes I let my brain do its thang and wear itself out, but this can take hours. Sometimes I use meditation techniques and try and rebuild in the finest detail a favourite beach in Cyprus and sometimes I just wipe it out by building mental castles in the sky. These work about 60/40. On the the nights they don't I toss and turn, complain and give up and read a book knowing that tomorrow will see me wrecked and bad tempered (shhhh everyone who said "normal then ?").

I don't know how proper insomniacs manage - a couple of nights with bad sleep ruins about 10 days for me. I hope that I never get beyond the sporadic attacks that I get now.

2nd March - Fire

M is an amateur pyromaniac (something he had in common with my Dad), a love of burning stuff - bonfires, chiminea fire, bbq's - you name it and M loves it. If he had his way we'd have bonfires every night. I think then, it is a very good thing that he discovered Raku.

Raku is an ancient Japanese way of decorating biscuit fired pottery it involves (my technical knowledge is a little sketchy - I am not a potter) glazing the pot, heating it with a gas burner fired into a Raku kiln, lifting it out, glowing hot, very carefully with big, big tongs and then stuffing it into a reduction chamber - filled with all manner of combustible material - and shutting it in there to see what effects you get. If this works then this should link you to one of my favourite pieces of M's Raku - I love the rainbow flashes within the copper matt wash. If not this link goes to his blog and there are Raku, Naku and smoked fired pieces scattered about in there - all of the above use fire.

I've not tried Raku, me and pottery don't get on, but if you ever get the chance to see Raku taking place - grab it. The glowing hot fired pottery and then the burst of flame as it enters the reduction chamber is enough to stir the amateur pyromaniac in us all.

Last bit of Bathy time fun.

 We went to the Jane Austin Centre linky here on Tuesday. I was really looking forward to this, as on every previous visit I'd wanted to go but had J with me and it's not his thing (understandably). I was, I'm sad to say, disappointed. It cost £15, with a £1 guide pamphlet, you were left in a little room to await a talk, which was no more than about 15 minutes, it was informative but done in a flat tone with an odd sing song note. I didn't learn anything new really. The downstairs exhibits were OK but rather small and we really needed to all start going "Bahhhhh" as it felt more like sheep herding than a museum visit. Shop was OK, gave the tearoom a miss though - felt like I'd given them enough ££ by then.

 We wandered up the hill and found The Circus (above and previous photo). It made up for the Jane Austen 'underwhelming' Centre.

 We then continued exploring and finally stumbled upon Royal Crescent - fan-bloomin-tastic. Really just blows you away. I also had a good mooch about some of lovely little shops all around this area - found some lovely earrings - a pair for Mum (little thank you for dog and brat sitting) and a pair of me. Had a minor heart attack at the price of a weeny little bag with Scotties on.......£165.00....the mini change style purse was £45 (both with a 10% discount).

 Took a lovely stroll around Victoria Park and found the monument - the daylight was really getting grey so we couldn't get a clearer shot - this is best of the bunch.

This little street here is where I found the earrings and the bag (which I didn't buy). You see the yellow building? That is where we had lunch and it was totally fab! Here's a a link to their FB page. M had the scallops on kaffa (sp?) lime leaves - which he reckoned was the best scallop dish he'd ever tasted, with a side of bread and olives, I had a fresh tomato and basil sauce over pasta with a fruity glass of Merlot followed by a fresh, strong and piping hot black coffee. It truly was a delicious lunch  and very good value too. The place is small with an intimate feel and the service is very good. When we go back (and we will) we will be going there for lunch and or dinner as their menu just calls for more sampling. It made a great day together even better. I had a nose at what the guy next to us ordered including his polenta cake pudding and it looked awesome.

We headed back to the hotel, after a visit to the Hawkins Bazaar shop to find a gift a for J, and rested our aching feet in the bar.

As a side note, I need to say that the Travelodge (Waterside) at Bath is brill. More hotel than most Travelodge with a lovely lounge area bar and waterside restaurant. The room was spotless, the staff were very helpful and friendly and the buffet brekkie was a winner with us both.

Sunday suitable post

 Those of you who know me IRL know that I don't do religion in any shape or form but I do 'do' churches. I love the windows, the architecture, the history and find their communities - past and present - interesting.

Bath Abbey is wonderful and well worth a visit. The windows are beautiful and the height of the ceilings is awe inspiring.

 It makes you wonder about the people that created such a ceiling - even more so after reading and watching The Pillars of the Earth.

It was very busy when we visited and although M would have loved to have taken a tower tour I did my patented chicken dance, so we gave it a miss.

The carvings, sculpture and memorials were more than enough to interest me.

Detail of the big main door - what a skillful piece of carving.

The entry to the Abbey was a suggested £2.50 per person - though we were informed what ever we could afford would be acceptable. I think the Tower Tour was £5.00 per person.

Well worth the pennies - it is beautifully kept and the volunteers are unobtrusive and knowledgeable.

A Bath-time story - The lock of doom.

 This first picture shows the 1st lock in a flight that goes from the river Avon up onto the Kennet Avon Canal proper. The gates you can see are fairly average and lead onto a winding hole next to that beautiful Weeping Willow.

This is the winding hole and that glass front is the bar/eating area of the Travelodge we stayed in. Now for the story......a long time ago (J was just coming up for 3) we had a canal boat holiday on the Kennet Avon. It was a total nightmare - the boat was on its last legs (and it wasn't cheap!) and everything that could go wrong did.
I remember seeing this Willow and the hotel and envying those sensible people who had avoided boats - it seemed like an oasis of calm after a day and a bit and two nights actually on the River Avon (which going from Bristol to Bath isn't very nice).

 This is the 2nd lock in the flight. It is one of the deepest locks in England. Those gates at the end are massive. When we went up this flight, J and I stayed on the boat whilst M worked the lock. It was terrifying, I kept it under control as I didn't want to spook J but I was bricking it. The lock ends are massive solid blocks and the boat was hard to keep still, being the only boat in the lock, and I had read about boat ends getting caught on the blocks and getting capsized. Our little barge bucked about - and the rope round the white poles (you can see them set in the side of the lock) was woefully inadequate. But we made it through.

Due to other stuff we cut our holiday short by one day and decided to flee back to dry land. We stayed over night in Bath and planned to get up very early, do the flight and get back to Bristol and head for home - what had taken us almost two days - done in one. M and I swapped roles. He stayed with boat, I worked the locks. Including what I now call 'the lock of doom'. All the others where fine, it was pissing with rain, I was drenched to the skin, but I did all the locks and then we reached this one. We had to drain it to go down a level, then open these huge gates. To this day I do not know how I opened these gates on my own. They would not budge. I put my whole bulk against them and kind of bounced and sent a plea to the universe and slowly they started to move. Momentum did the rest. I pulled virtually every muscle in my upper torso and was on painkillers for weeks. We, with a few more adventures and mishaps, got to Bristol by 4.00pm, it was still raining and we drove in a storm straight back to Brighton. I was never so happy to see the hills of home!

We went, for the first time since then, and had a proper look at this lock, it still 10+ years on, gives me the heebie-jeebies. I don't like it at all. But I felt that I needed to go and see and lay this demon to rest and I think I did.

On a positive note - I did enjoy our time in Bath and Bathampton on that canal holiday and have since been back quite a few times. I did enjoy this time being the sensible person in the hotel looking out at the locks - shame we saw no boats using them. The canal water levels seem really high and the locks are undergoing repairs. I still like walking along the towpaths - but this time with a sense of relief that I am headed back to a proper bed, toilet and shower that do not move and cannot (in all probability) take on water and start to sink!

The yarny bit of Bath

 I like to visit the shop at Get Knitted (link in previous post) whenever I get the chance. It is a lovely yarn shop and fairly large. However, this time, for the first time, I was a little disappointed in their selection it isn't as varied as it used to be, they have a lot more generic stuff like Rowan etc. The Lorna's Laces selection was very small but I did snaffle up this little beauty. It's one of the new 100g skeins in the colourway Valentine.

 I was mainly looking for lace yarn and again the selection was OK not earth shattering but OK. I got two skeins of Manos laceweight in a natural cream - about 800m in total.

 They had a large selection of their in-house dyers yarn - Jillybean - Knot Another Granny Yarn! 'Granny's Gracious Me Wot Lace' - colourway Arden Forest. It's 70% JW Merino, 20% silk and 10% Cashmere and you get 1200m in a skein for just under £20. I looked at the all the colours available in the lace and sock yarn and have to say that this was the only colour I liked. It all comes down to personal taste and some of her colour choices jar me too much.

The next day however, I stumbled upon a gorgeous little gem of a shop in Bath itself called 'Wool'. It's a small place again with a lot of generic yarn but it has a few little gems, a good choice of needles, books and bits and bobs. The owner is welcoming and friendly, there is a comfy sofa and it really feels like a wool shop.
Although I had spent my budget I saw they had the Fyberspates Scrumptious lace weight yarn in a wide array of colours and I couldn' t resist the charcoal grey or the deep red. The skeins are about 1000m and cost between £14 to £15  - good value.

The only other yarn purchase were for Mum - she had picked out some yarn online at GK to make a 'Travelling Women' shawl for herself and M bought himself some sock yarn too but I'll let him post that.

Bathy time fun - part one.

 Easy journey, if a little wet. No traffic fuff-ups. The rain has eased by the time we arrived (after a detour to Get Knitted - yarn post will follow soon). We dumped our stuff enjoyed the view from our room (picture above) had a coffee and decided to head out and stretch our legs.

 We just had an hour or so wander about the centre of Bath, via the tow path. It bought back some memories of previous trips. I think the last time we walked that route J was in a push chair and I remember buying him an ice cream and him taking so long to eat it - he was wearing most of it by the time he'd finished.

M took the above shot of Bath Abbey from the tow path. He also took the following one of Pulteney Bridge and the weir.

We were amazed how many tourists were about at this time of year and even though it was late afternoon and really grey, it was very busy.

Back home from Bath.

But am too tired to blog much. Have an arty pig to tide you over.

In thru the birthday and out the other side.

Had a fab, really really fab birthday.

The yarn above is a gift from the talented Emma - it has a wonderful flow of colours through the red/pink spectrum. It was dyed in jar using food dyes. It is knitting up beautifully.

What else? Well goodies galore - cd's, books, dvds, smellies, yarn and best of all......a Kindle. I sat protesting at knitting Wednesday night that I didn't want/need one, not knowing M had bought me one and a lovely case for it too. Now I own one, I am a  complete convert. I love it. Have spent a lot of time the last few days browsing and downloading!

Had a brilliant manicure and pedicure from Kerry at B Beautiful (facebook link) she has a lovely warm and relaxing treatment room in Eastbourne which is well worth a visit. She is friendly with a nice relaxed manner perfect for a little pampering. My nails look fab too!

M made me a lovely meal at home (the most wonderful salad in the world ever!) and Friday we went to a concert. It was lovely.

I have been thoroughly spoilt.

Have knitting/books to post about but it will have to wait. Need to pack M and my case as we are off, just the two of us for a couple of days, Grandma is being left in charge....poor Grandma. Will blog when I get back.

Wednesday Madhouse - Family recipes.

I know a day early but I am busy tomorrow.

This one is tricky. There aren't really any family recipes that I use - especially as M does most of the cooking. The closest I have to it is a family owned cook book that is my bible. It is circa the 70's and is called 'The Dairy Book of Home Cooking'. It is about A5 size and it is my first port of call when I need to refresh my memory of how to cook something or to tackle something I have never cooked before. My scone, cake, crumble, rice pudding, biscuit, pastry and basic stew recipes have all come from there. I am, however, more of instinctive cook than a recipe follower, once I have the gist of how to make something then I tend to make it up as I go along, adding a pinch of this or a dollop of that.

I also have two 80's versions of this book but they are nowhere near as good.

The other thing that makes this tricky is that what we eat now as a family (M, J and I) is very different (most of the time) from what we ate growing up and also how it is prepared and what ingredients are used. Both M and I are from scratch cookers, neither of us like to use packets or prepared stuff. We also both like quite a lot of veggie food and these days 99.9% we eat and cook low fat.

So here is my take on a fav recipe (the original comes from a Sue Kreitzman low fat cook book);

2 or 3 crispy eating apples (washed)
8 floz orange juice
5 tablespoons of soft brown sugar
10 tablespoons of self raising flour
2 lightly beaten egg whites
A goodly sprinkle of allspice and cinnamon

Core apples, chop roughly (leave the skins on). Put apples into orange juice and leave to soak for at least an hour. Line a fairly deep cake tin with baking parchment and preheat oven to about 170c.
Mix all the dry ingredients, sifting the flour and sugar.
Add apples, orange juice and egg whites.
Mix together - it becomes gloopy batter like and sticky.
Splodge into the cake tin and bake for two hours.
Last 30 mins or so - cover top with foil so it doesn't over brown.

Yummy and very, very low fat. It goes well with custard for a pudding too.

Past the finishing post...but at the back of the field.

 In October I thought to myself...."I know, I'll knit Mum a shawl for Christmas'. She had mentioned seeing some Rowan KSH in a green (Jelly is the name of the colourway) that exactly matched her favourite, swirly, summer linen skirt. "Aha" thought I knowing I had recently purchased 3 skeins with a mind to knit the Melon Stitch Scarf or Shawl from 'Victorian Lace Today' by Jane Sowerby.

 I casually wafted the pattern around near her, she said "That is pretty!" "Bingo!" thought I and happily cast on.
Well I had read on line that the centre panel was challenging due to the boredom factor but oh boy I didn't realise it was that boring. End of November and I knew it wouldn't be done - I got distracted by other projects, so I fessed up and offered it as a Xmas/birthday gift which was acceptable ( I did knit mittens for her for the day and socks for her birthday) so she wasn't totally giftless.

The shawl was finished and blocked yesterday -phew. I was 1 day late for her birthday. I knit on this monogamously for 14 days prior to her birthday to try and get it done - I don't think one day late was too bad? And she does like it - result.

So how many projects on my needles now?
Two. Until later today. The gnome mitts which I've a got a little bored with and need to finish and a long term lace stole project for me.....NO socks.......yet.
I did have a lovely pair of socks (the breaking hearts by Cristi of Turtlegirl fame) but I really chose the wrong yarn and had to frog them - am waiting for the right yarn to find me so I can try again. I have a pair lined up and another lace project I want to try.....busy needles await me.

52 Books - book 8

Kim by Rudyard Kipling

I am not listing these books in the order I am reading them, I have a list of what I've read/listened to so far, which I peruse and then write about the one that I feel like.

This week it's another audio book. I use audio books a lot because I get to know some great books but can knit at the same time - win/win.

I am sure that I read Kim as a teen, I know I saw the film, but I am sure I read it but maybe I never finished it, because I was very dissatisfied with how it ends. It's a kind of nothing end - it builds up the spying nature of Kim's life and then fizzles out like a damp squib.The reading by Adrian Praetzellis was excellent, great characterisation again and there were portions of the book that I loved and was totally enthralled by. There were characters that I really enjoyed too - but the Llama drove me demented and IMHO way too much of the story was taken up with his speech and religious ideals. I understand it emphasised the whole 'enlightment' theme but there was just too much. You do get a great sense of time and place from the story telling and it has a wonderful alien feel to it but I just felt the story of Kim needed more depth and the whole book needed more Mahbub Ali and Lurgan Sahib.

Considering that Kipling spent time just down the road in Rottingdean and his name appears on quite a few local roads and the school just round the corner I haven't read that much of his. A few poems and The Just So Stories, which I loved from childhood to re-reading them more than once to J, I don't know if Kim is a good example of his longer works but it hasn't inspired to read more of his catalogue. Is that sacrilege?

Wednesday Madhouse - Sorry.

Sorry is such an over used word these days it no longer has much significance. People say "Sorry" instead of "Excuse me" or "Pardon". People say sorry for the slightest thing I am one of the worst offenders!

I seem to spend more than half my life apologising or I should say I did. Some good friend pointed it out to me (thank you Caroline) that I am always apologising for myself, my mistakes or existing - well she wasn't that harsh, it isn't in her nature, but if she had, she would have been right. Even M says "Stop saying sorry for everything" - the dogs play him up on a walk....I apologise, he can't find something ....I say I'm sorry I don't where it is....I could go on for ever with examples for my need to apologise to everyone about everything all the time.

I have decided that it must stop. Sorry and the ability to be able to use/say that word should only be kept for when it is really necessary and needed. I can no longer de-value the importance of the word by constant over use.

So I won't apologise for this being short. I won't apologise for needless things and I won't apologise if I don't post for a few days after this.

This weeks knitting.

Firstly the plain ole vanilla socks are all done (they were actually finished the end of last week).

I needed a quick off the needles jobby this week. So, may I present the 'Star Crossed Slouchy Beret' . The pattern is by Natalie Larson and is a free one on Ravelry. The yarn is Fyberspates Scrumptious DK - lovely to look at but a little splitty to knit. The needles were 6mm and 6.5mm and it took an afternoon. It has blocked beautifully and  at the moment is my favourite slouch hat to date.

I shall wear it today.

52 Books - number 7

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.

Just an audio book this week. I have memories of my older sister reading this to me when I was little and  I also remember reading this to myself as an older child, in fact I still have my copy, very battered, from childhood and that's the one I read to J.

I decided to try this as an audio book when I saw it listed on Librivox website here. I hadn't heard the narrator listed before but decided to jump in anyway. I am so glad I did!

The narrator is Adrian Praetzellis his homepage and he was a revelation. He read well, nice even pace and tone of voice, good rise and fall to the tone and.....a big AND he characterises Mole, Ratty, Toad and Badger beautifully.

I fell in love with the story all over again. It was like a warm blanket and a nice cuppa on a wet and miserable day. The lyrical countryside descriptions, the wonderful characters all complimenting each other and of course the irrepressible Mr Toad. I so enjoyed having the story told to me that I have saved it on to my iPod because I know I will want to listen to it again.

This book well deserves revisiting and lost none of charm to me at all.

Mr Praetzellis is now reading Kipling's Kim to me (review to follow) I think I will listen to all the books he has narrated.

Wednesday Madhouse - Keeping Secrets.

I think everyone has secrets, not other peoples secrets, but secrets that you personally own. I know I have and lots of them are from my childhood and lots of them are things I am none too proud of. It's amazing how they stay with you. It must mean that in one way or another they either haunted you or changed you. I can't remember what I had for dinner on my 12th birthday but I can remember things I've kept secret from that year.

There is only one other person who knows almost all of my secrets and the ones they don't know are the ones temporarily misfiled or forgotten until something unearths them, and that is M. Over the 28 years we've been together we have talked about everything and secrets on both sides have gradually all been uncovered. I think that is a healthy thing when the person you love best (not counting kidlets here) knows every facet of who are now and what made you that way. There is something so reassuring to be know you're accepted warts and all and there is something so comforting when having one of these discussions your other half says something like "Well if you think that's bad ....then listen to what I did."

I can recall quite often saying during one of our deep and meaningfuls "I've never told anyone this but..." and he has never judged or recoiled from me. It makes you realise that maybe the stuff you have in your past isn't quite as bad as you thought, and that, if you have learned from it, then it had a purpose and that by owning up to it to someone else you can move past it and bin it.

It always helps me to rationalise that the stuff that was bad at 12 or 13 is pretty small potatoes now and that holding stuff inside isn't always the best way, plus some of them seem so funny and bizarre when you finally say them out loud, that not speaking of them has internally demonized them beyond measure, letting them out is letting go.

Not all my secrets are trivial though and some of them belong to others and their behaviour around me or towards me. Some have maimed me internally and some I will have to carry forever as they shaped me. I realised that when I came to accept that I am agoraphobic and that that stems from some of my secrets. However, the realisation of this is also part of the treatment and maybe one day the cure. Those who have added to this burden, may gave burdened me, but I'll be damned if I'll ever let them beat me.

N.B. I picked 12 as just a random age - it was no worse or better than any other age for secrets but for one reason or another it is a year I remember clearly.

3 Years ago today....

ab3 009
Originally uploaded by loobles2002

Lottie moved in with us. We've not known a lot of peace since then but we love her to bits and wouldn't be without her.

Just love this

Amazing site, amazing images aerial pictures.

I nabbed this from another blog - which is also worth a look Walk slowly,Live Wildly

Sundays are for .............

 Long walks across the South Downs.

 Wool winding and other knitting pursuits.

Snoozing (this is an old pre hair-do Fergus piccie.)

Now just looking forward to some lovely haddock for my tea and watching Being Human.....perfick!

Wednesday Madhouse - Shoes.

A few years back one set of friends called me 'Imelda' with good reason. I had a staggering shoe collection that seemed to grow and grow. At that stage my feet had not grown since I was 12, I had remained a UK size 4, and still had shoes from my teens in my wardrobe. My shoes were so crowded in that opening the closet always set off a footwear avalanche! I even had shoes I had never worn and was 'saving' for best - how much of my 70's upbringing does that reveal?

I had trainers, sandals, fuck-me shoes, boots, loafers, comfortable shoes, killer shoes, flip-flops. I had black, brown, blue, red, pale green, pink, grey shoes. I had expensive designer shoes right down to a £1.50 pair of falling apart espadrilles.

So what changed?

Motherhood - pregnancy! My feet grew by 1/2 a size when pregnant and another almost 1/2 a size after J was born. Nowadays I have awkward feet; a 4 kills me, a 4.5 can be a bit like hens teeth and if found a little tight and 5's quite often flop off as I walk....there is no such size as 4.75!

This has curbed my shoe buying and that has curbed my desire to buy shoes.

I still have between 15 and 20 pairs - of which I wear 2 or 3 regularly - I won't buy new walking boots for example because I love my tatty faded (yet still waterproof) old ones - I haven't bought a pair of shoes in 2 years. I don't even surf for shoes online these days.

I do still find shoe surprises in the bottom of wardrobe - you know- shoes I'd forgotten about - I put them back with the idea of wearing them again and promptly forget them again.

In fact the only part of my shoe mania that remains is my need to have my leather shoes properly polished before I leave the house!

I think I might be cured.

52 books - numbers 5 and 6.

Bookie wook number 5 is 'No one Noticed the Cat' by Anne McCaffrey

This book has been missing for a while - I found it in J's book case. It has been an awful long time since I read it (it was published in 1996). Like a lot of McCaffrey's books it is set in another land and has strange beasts and a fairytale feel to it. The two main characters, a young King and his extraordinary feline, are well rounded for a fairly short book.The only thing is that if I say to much about the storyline then it would ruin it for anyone who fancied giving it a look.  I like the story, it definitely isn't a taxing read but is enthralling enough to keep the pages turning. For me it is a sit and read in one session book being only 127 pages. A jolly entertaining way to pass a winters evening when there was nothing on TV.

Bookie wook number 5 'A Study in Scarlet' by Arthur Conan Doyle.

After my mammoth Sherlock Holmes binge last winter, I thought enough time had passed to revisit Holmes and Watson. I downloaded this as free audio book via Libravox and was lucky to find it a really good version with just one narrator (who had very few pronunciation issues). I had never read this one before so although episode 1 of the recent TV series was based loosely on it, the majority of it was quite new to me. I enjoyed the growth of the relationship between Holmes and Watson - though not knowing this hadn't ruined the other SH books  that I read and the plot was complex enough to intrigue. I have a feeling I may have read a shortened version somewhere that missed out the whole centre section that takes place in Utah - I had never come across that before and at first thought my recording had gone wrong and I had part of another book. It made the whole story have a greater depth and explained the reasoning behind the murders very well.
I do love Holmes so am biased  in the pleasure I get from this sort of audio book and it passed a good few hours knitting time for very quickly indeed.

I think Librovox on the whole have a really good choice of titles and once you find a few good narrators then it is a service that also being free is wonderful. I have the app in my iPod Touch and it downloads quickly and plays really clearly. Brilliant.

Sunset Socks

 Off the needles (finally) this weekend are the sunset colour socks that I've been knitting as a little giftie for my Mum. She is a knitter but her hands have been playing her up and she's not been knitting because of this and is always in need of new sockies....how could I not?

The pattern in the Embossed Leaf one by Mona Schmidt from the book 'Favourite Socks'; the yarn is Superba Poem (or something like that) and the pattern was knit over 64 stitches on 2.75mm circular needles.

I made an extra pattern repeat on the leg as she likes her socks a little longer than I normally do them and a little longer in the toe for her slimline tootsies. They fit fine.

Also off the needles sock 1 of a plain pair in Regia World Circus sock yarn. Shorter leg for spring and an after thought heel. Sock number two has the rib done and a few rows of the leg.

I need to get stuff moving off the needles this week - so I have the plan to finish (g)nomeo mitt number two, make another headband and move this sock on a bit.....best laid plans etc *insert crazy laughter here*.

Just perfect for cold ears

 This is a great quick project from the archives of Knitty - the pattern is called Nakiska and it is basically a knitted cable headband and I knit this in a few hours yesterday evening. The cables aren't too challenging just enough to keep you occupied.

Quite often when we are out with the dogs I get way too hot with a hat but then end up with cold ears, especially if it's windy (and with my sinus issues this can lead to ear ache too) this little knit is perfect for those days.

I used a 3.75mm 12" circular needle (love the mix of  metric and imperial that inhabits my world of knitting) and the remains of a ball of Handmaiden Casbah sock yarn which is very soft being a blend of merino, cashmere and nylon. I can't recall the name of the colour but it is mix of black, brown and purple so will really go with most things.

The picture below is my previous one of these - made from Louisa Harding angora yarn - it has seen better days and it is all stretched out - I still wear it and love it.

Amanda Palmer - "I Want You, But I Don't Need You" - Live at The Music Box

I love this and can't get it out off my head!

Wednesday Madhouse - Ugly

This kind of says it all.

52 Books - book 4

Moon Watchers Companion by Donna Henes
'Everything you ever wanted to know about the moon'

And it does exactly what is says on the tin.

An interesting little book - from global folklore and poetry about the moon to the phases of the moon this book has the lot. It is a pick up and put down sort of read as opposed to a cover to cover one. But there is something for everyone. I like the 'Encyclopedia of Lunar Technology' which explains everything from the original meaning of honeymoon to what a moondogger is.

The format is easy to read with some lovely black and white illustrations. You come away from reading it with a deeper insight to the our lunar neighbour and it does make moon watching (something I love to do) a lot more interesting.

Well worth having a look at. It will be a good one to refer back to as well.

Off and on the needles

 I finished my fishy mitts on Saturday. Had a brief tussle with the right hand thumb,due mainly to lack of concentration on my part. I am still fuzzy headed from this never ending cold (2 weeks today and counting). I love these mitts. Spillyjane (link in a previous post) writes really good patterns with nice clear charts that are fun to knit.
I have another one of hers lined up for the off.

Current (non plain) sock project. Photo does not do colours justice at all. Yarn is Ricco Poems, it is a little splitty for a single ply but I just adore the color progression. Pattern is a slight adapted version of  the Embossed Leaves Socks.

I have other projects underway our awaiting attention - just not enough hours in my days at the moment.

Wet, foggy and windy

The weather that is.

I can't see the house that backs onto our garden or the road that our close is on.

I can't get Lottie-bo-bo to do wee-wees.

I can't  keep the floors clean due to Scottie and kitty paw prints.

I can't be asked to go out in this - unless I really have to. The damp plays havoc with my sinus anyway.

I can't remember what sky looks likes.

I can't see the sea or the downs.

I can't believe that it's been like this almost all week.

I can't think of anything else to add to this.

Books 2 and 3.

Book 2 is 'Coraline' by Neil Gaiman. I bought this for J for Christmas as he had seen and loved the film and wanted to read the book. He read it in a day and I managed it in an afternoon over the New Year break. The fact that it is a quick read isn't in anyway detrimental to it. I love Gaiman's storytelling, whether for child or adult, and I found this book entrancing. It differs to the film (which I also love) on some levels but the base of the storyline is the same. It was a lovely way to spend a lazy afternoon and I'm really glad I got around to reading it finally.

Book 3 is an audio book of 'Fragile Things' by Neil Gaiman - going for a theme here.

I often use audio books to revisit old favourites and this is the case with this book. I love the fact that it is read by the author and it gives more meaning to the explanations of how each story and poem came in to being. I find this so interesting that I wish more authors did it.
There is nothing better than a comfy chair, some knitting and a good audio book especially on a winter evening. Mr Gaiman transports you to all sorts of places and ideas and I adore the fact that this book revisits Shadow from 'American Gods' and Mr Clare from another short story in a novella.

I have a thing for short story books - especially by favourite authors - it is nice to dip in and out of their worlds now and then without the commitment of a whole novel.

Wednesday Madhouse - Sexy.

According to The Oxford English Dictionary - sexy - sexually attractive or stimulating.

The thing that gets me with this word is the when it is used in relation to an object. I have heard it used in relation to "Oooo sexy shoes". Does this mean that the look of the shoes makes you fancy them or that they actually turn you on? That a pair of shoes gives you that little frisson in all the right places. Now, I like shoes, but to be honest they just don't do 'it' for me.

Another example of this I've come across is in cookery shows on TV -"a sexy little pudding". I've yet to see a pudding that makes me want to whip off my knickers and jump into bed with it! I've eaten puddings that give me pleasure, that have that wonderful melt in the mouth "ooooooo" moment but I can say, hand on heart, I've yet to find one that has made me orgasmic.

I think that the word 'sexy' should be reserved for proper usage and no longer used for items that cannot turn you on (unless you are a little kinky), otherwise where will it end? "Look at the sexy washing up brush?" or maybe "That is one sexy tin of beans!" or my personal favourite "I can't wait to wear those sexy socks."

Let us resolve to use the word sexy for the right things (imho) - that look that almost turns you inside out, the curve of a well formed buttock or breast, the voice that sends a shiver up your spine and the touch or kiss that melts you the second it connects - those are my idea of sexy.

Even when I'm ill.....

 I can get a little distracted by things.........hence the above obsession that I've been in throes of since Saturday.

The pattern is Swedish Fish by spillyjane (also on Ravelry). It is knit on 2mm dpns and I am using stash yarn. I've altered the top so my fingers aren't enclosed and the thumb likewise (the pattern is a traditional mitten shape). It is a brilliantly written pattern with a lovely clear chart. The thumb was a tad fiddly but apart from that it was an interesting knit that wasn't too taxing.

Mitt number two is cast on and ready to go - once the light improves - navy yarn + electric light = brain ache.

p.s Blame the yarn harlot for this one - I saw the link on her blog - saw the gnomes, the strawberries and the fishies and I was lost.....I have a feeling the gnomes might be next on my very long 'to do' list.

Looking good.

shampoo and set 007
Originally uploaded by loobles2002

While the illness hampers my creative thought processes (lol) I thought I'd post this picture of a newly groomed Fergus.

We took him and HRH to the groomers on Friday. We keep his body fur short, no long Scottie skirts, as his fur matts - even though I groom him everyday. The groomer did a great job and kept the Scottie face shaping, which we love.

His coat is very soft like velvet and we're amazed how much brindle colouring he has on his back.

He now has nice tidy paws and claws and neatly trimmed bits and bobs and he even smells nice too.

Not much to report.

We've all had really, really bad colds. J is over the worst of his. I am still in the throes of mine and M is catching up at the back. Stuffy heads, snotty noses, hacking coughs and disturbed sleep make for a boring week.

I am so very tired.

I've read - a bit. I've knit  - a bit. I've sat staring at the wall like a zombie - a lot.

Back to regular service when I feel a bit more human. x

A Christmas Mystery - Jostein Gaarder (book 1).

I've decided to attempt the '52 books in a year' for 2011. There is a group for this on Ravelry which has some interesting posts etc and is worth a look at. But I think I will fly solo and just blog each book I read here. I'm am including books that I am revisiting and audio books in my list.

My first book is 'A Christmas Mystery' by Jostein Gaarder - which I did start at Christmas 2010 but finished on January 1st 2011 so I'll include it.

I have read this book before but not since J was a weeny baby. I only remembered the bare bones of it so it was nice to visit it again and it is perfect seasonal reading.

Set in Norway it tells the tale of little boy and his magical Advent Calender - this is the outlying story but there is a story within the story within the story. You also get a nativity story - but with a twist - a mystery of a missing girl. All interlock and unravel together with a very clever narration, the stories have good pace and they translate well. It is the kind of book that, although it isn't a compulsive page turner, left me feeling satisfied when I finished it.

I've read other books by this author and so far they have never failed to intrigue, interest and entertain me.

Wednesday Madhouse - Expectations

This almost totally slipped my mind....blame a heavy head cold for that.

I have unreasonable expectations of everything - but most particularly of me.

I expect that as most things I have attempted in life have come quite easily to me and in a way I want, that everything I attempt will be the same.

Life likes to throw you a curve ball now and then though.

I expected to fall in love, get married and have a family. I expected to be expecting within 6 months to a year of starting to try. My expectations were very, very misguided.

I could get pregnant but I couldn't stay pregnant - one early miscarriage followed another - in fact I've lost count and over time I think this is my minds way of dealing with it all. Nine years it took and finally I was expecting. Not that it was plain sailing, either being pregnant or giving birth.

I expected after having one, big healthy baby that number two would be a doddle - pah to expectations - I never fell pregnant again - and after a further 6 years of trying called it a day. I had my reasons for not going the IVF route - all of which are personal and still valid.

But I had the family that I had had expectations of.....at last.

I expected to find being a Mum fairly easy and that I'd be quite good at it. Another mistaken expectation. Being a Mum is the hardest thing I have done and TBH I don't think I'm that good at it, it just doesn't come easily or naturally - I have to work hard at it and practice a lot. I have got good at apologising though - so it is also a learning process.

My expectation of being a Mum were that I would (with ease) inspire, teach and be patient with my child. I expected that my maternal love for him would change me from an impatient, short tempered being to a calm, chilled out and cool parent.

You see I expect to be good at everything all the time. I think I may be a little deluded. I am learning not have impossible expectations of others (it isn't easy - ask M) now I just have to learn to cut myself a little slack.

p.s. As I was typing this J asked me what I was writing, so I read it to him - he disputes that I am not a good Mum and told me I was the best.......wonder what he's expecting?

Bollux

So, it is 6.11 am Tuesday 4th January 2011 and I have been awake since 2.30 am. At 4.30 am I gave up on bed and got up. It is not my cold that woke me up and kept me awake, it is a crippling pain in my shoulder and collar bone. I don't know how it happened as it occurred in my sleep. Tiger balm, soluble strong pain killers and a wheat bag have not eased it...much. The pain pulses to a stabbing intensity every 15 seconds then every 5 and that isn't long enough between bouts to allow me to doze off. Right now, I am very, very fed up.

I have read, drunk tea and now have put the laptop on to try and take my mind from the pain.

Nothing is working.

I hate hearing the sounds of others sleep when I can't.

Lottie's new year celebration.

 "Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"

"Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"

Nuff said.

Off to a good start.

 The lovely flowers that M bought for me yesterday. I love flowers and these are a gorgeous mix of colour and texture.

 First FO of the year! Ishbel by Ysolda Teague pattern can be found here. I've wanted to make this for ages and finally got around to downloading the pattern the week before Christmas.

This is the smaller size. It took 68g on a 3.75mm circular needle. The yarn is The Knittery sock yarn in colourway Moses Fire. It has a percentage of cashmere so is lovely and soft. The only downside is it's a little splitting to knit with, but the colours (not done justice in the pictures) are lovely.