Summertime

I could moan about the heat (I dislike summer as is well documented) but why cover old ground? No, today I shall moan about nothing at all and try to make a positive summer time post, just to mix things up a bit.

In the summer I like..............................................................................nothing.

Finally

I have decluttered my bits of our bedroom and got a place for my favourite Anthony Trollope books (along with a couple of other authors) and my elephants. I love collecting this little old books, with their thin pages and small print. They fill me with the happy. They are a joy to read too.

I purchased 3 large storage boxes today and 90% of the bear collection and my Blythes have been stored away now in two of them. The other one helped me organise my over flowing yarn/fibre stash. It so needed doing.

Two posts in one day....I am spoiling you all (lol) with my waffling - but the declutter felt like such a relief.

Time flies

Just realised that in a couple of months time this little blog will be 10 years old. Where did that go?
J was just 7 when I started, he's 17 later this month, he shaves, has a very deep voice and very hairy legs and is taller than me. Lou-Lou, Buster and Petley were still with us and Conkers, Lottie and Fergus have joined us - along with assorted rats, a rabbit, guinea pig and spiders - some here still, most gone.

The two main constants are my love of knitting, reading and crafts and my marriage to M. They have remained  unchanged.

I have gone through weight gains and losses. Had long hair, short hair and multitude of colours. Until now I am grey and nearer 50 then 40.

We have had family losses too and health scares - mainly all M. We have home educated throughout that time and now J is preparing to embark on a life at college.

And through all of the above. I have tried to blog - with the odd break.

The question now is; do I carry on or has this little blog filled its purpose? I'm not sure of the answer yet.

Work takes up more time right now and I have less time or inclination to knit etc - often just too damn tired. I am going to mull it over for now. Will continue to post until we reach the actual anniversary, may even do a give away. But is there anyone to give away to? Not even sure if anyone even reads blogs anymore?

So my last question - to help me mull it over......Is there anybody out there?

I love my view

I took this out of my lounge window this morning, before 9am. For the first time this week I was at home (working) but home. It has been a frantic week, busy at work, busy at home and gearing up for J's last IGCSE today -it went well, I am informed.

It was nice this morning to stand with my coffee and just look out of the window. Everyone was out, the dogs were asleep, and all I could hear was bird song and the wind rustling the leaves. It was one of those moments. I took a break from what I was doing and just stood. Lovely.

I never get bored with the view. It entertains me all year round as the seasons change. I love watching the ships on the horizon  line, the white sails of yachts closer to shore. I revel in the life cycle  of the trees that abound in local gardens and the lives of the birds that inhabit them. I watch  the horses on the downs loose their coloured coats as spring progresses and most of all I enjoy the vastness of the sky and its changing moods. I love the warmer blues of summer, the cold ones of winter, I even like the blankets of sea mist and fog. Our view is a daily blessing and one I never take for granted.

The Luddite is dying

I have finally given in and decided to fully embrace modern technology. I don't find adapting to new things easy. My poor little brain sees something new and different and launches into hedgehog mode, curling into a tight ball and hoping the scary stuff goes away!

But today, after just over a year of wrestling with Windows 8 and hating every second of it, I decided enough was enough. The swearing that was required just to complete a simple task, after what seemed  like a life time of waiting for anything to load/work, just got to me one time too many. I put on my big girl pants and went to visit those nice people in the Apple Store.

A very helpful bloke answered all my Luddite questions for example....."will this work with my hotmail account?" And other assorted idiot mutterings. He refrained from any signs of impatience at my total ignorance (even though I have occasionally used the Bosses Mac at work - I still knew nothing) and then he sold me a lovely, sleek, shiny new Macbook Air.....t'was love at first click.

He even helped me set it up, right there in the store and got me organised enough that I felt confident that I wouldn't need my L plates long.

Have spent a good part of the afternoon fiddling about and finding stuff. Still got a couple of creases that need ironing but I have to say, compared to the lumbering of Windows 8 and IE it is a dream.

I am impressed with the machine, I am impressed with the shop/staff and I am impressed that it even seems fairly Luddite proof. The only thing I am not impressed with is why did I wait so long?

How now brown cow?

I do like cow noses. In fact I like cows.

I also like gulls. Not sure if this is Squeak or Squawk. But this will be the 3rd year they have adopted me.

I like ducklings too and am also partial  to........

sheep and .........

windmills.

Pretty delicious

Bought a little treat for me and the boys today.

Almost too pretty to eat....almost.

Ukulele

His n hers. I have had Uke envy since Mike got his. So I've been learning on his (making sure I like it - and I do) so today went and purchased a little soprano Uke of my own. Can't stop playing it. It makes me smile.

Raffle Prize

A while back a FB friend asked me to crochet them a raffle prize for our favourite doggy charity. She runs an online raffle and a real life (at a spring meet up) every year to raise funds. I couldn't refuse.

Today it is all finished, washed, blocked and lovely.

The yarn used is Regia 4 ply sock yarn - so it's all washable and I used a 2.5mm hook. The patterns and design comes from this amazing book by Jan Eaton. I cannot praise this book enough. Anyone who loves crochet would adore this book, it is well written with great photos, clear instructions and wonderful colour palette ideas.

I hope whoever wins this. Loves it.

p.s if you want to purchase a ticket - comment and I'll point you in the right direction. They go on sale in early March.

Flash fiction - A Dish Served Cold.

Slowly the tight band around her chest squeezed and squeezed until she thought her heart might implode. She stood up slowly, the room swooped and dipped as she grabbed the back of the chair in front of her, she wanted to remain upright and maintain her dignity in the crowded restaurant. She would not collapse, she wouldn't give him the pleasure of witnessing the physical manifestation of the hurt he had inflicted. She took a long breath and opened her eyes. He'd gone. The chair opposite from her own was empty. He'd not even stayed to see if she was OK. She felt the sweat start to bead on her forehead, the panic was building. Her heart thumped alarmingly.

She moved forward, staggered slightly. She needed a bolt hole now. She spied the ladies room and headed that way. There was only one cubicle, it was empty. She knew her face was flushed and sweaty but still tinged with the grey-green of shock, she just needed time now. Time to put her plan into action. Sitting on the closed lid of the toilet, she pulled her bag onto her lap and started to rummage.

She'd seen this coming a while back, still it was a shock. The missed meals, the long calls on his mobile in the garden, the increase in dry cleaning bills for his shirts. She'd decided on a plan of action should today ever come to pass. It wasn't just the shock that affected her, it was fear and adrenalin. In his horror at her reaction she was sure he hadn't noticed her slip her glass off the table, the glass he'd held as her poured her wine. Both their fingerprints were on it as well as her lipstick. She was also sure that lots of diners had witnessed their interactions and her staggering walk to the ladies.

 Standing up she took the vial from her bag, her hands were shaking. She tipped a few drops from the vial onto some tissue and smeared it around the inside base of the glass, the remaining liquid she gulped down. She wrapped the small plastic vial in the tissue and dropped it into the toilet bowl. Round and around it sped in the following flush and then it was gone. She felt so sick and dizzy, they'd told her she would, it would be quick too, already she felt numb in her feet. Fumbling for her mobile, she found the photo of him, smiling across a table in this restaurant, taken three weeks ago. Her sight blurred and her fingers felt numb. Knees buckling, she sank down on the floor. Her last conscious thought was, if I can't have him, no-one will.

Spider - blast from the past.

Doris who turned out to be Boris. Martinique Pink Toe. Such glorious colours - 95% of the time hidden away in her web!

Day at home

So far I have faddled around. Faffed about. Done some chores (yawn) and played with my camera. I am such a productive person.

Walking on your doorstep

I think that when you see something everyday. Drive past it. You forget exactly what is under your nose.

Five minutes from our front door and you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere.

It really is quite lovely.

Letting my tinsel shine through

Still a few specks of blonde. Not sure how long I'll live with it. But it is pretty grey now! Scary!

What a week.

One of those that if any thing could fuckup, it did. From household disasters and stress to personal stuff. This week has felt like lurching from one disaster to another and all in 48 hours. But this isn't a whine-a-lot post this is a post about affirmation. Because through all that has occurred one thing remains constant, and that is the love and I get from a little a red dog.

She doesn't mind if I get upset or grumpy or go all silent because I am too drained to talk. She is a constant source of joy, happiness and living her life to the full. She can make me smile at my lowest ebb.

She also shows me, that I have to smile through it, move on and get over it. Clever wee beastie she is.

Roll on winter

I don't do 'hot'. I dislike summer. I hate hot and humid nights. And I really dsilike the sensation of damp underwear after a long hot day. Sticky tits are the pits!

My thinking is; it is easier to get warm from being cold. Layers of clothes, hot drinks, a warming fire, hot water bottle, and extra blankets....or even a cuddle. You go from cold to cosy. Hot to cool is harder. I don't want to be touched, let alone cuddled when I'm hot. Heat does NOT equate to amorous, in my book, it equates with, 'touch me and I will rip your hands from your wrists and beat you to death with soggy ends'. A cooling drink soon wears off, a fan moves the hot air about and a shower makes the air more humid. Lucky for me, I invested, a couple of years back, in a bloody good air con unit, this week it has been a life saver at night.

My temper remains unpredictable with a bent towards volatile with extreme grump thrown in. This has been proved against Ma, M and J this week. This situation will remain all the while this awful weather continues. I therefore suggest that those who cross my path, stop and think, before telling me it is glorious and they hope it lasts for weeks.....I may not be responsible for my response or actions.

Went away, back now.

M and I went off for a few days, down to Dartmoor and the above is the view from our window. We stayed in a fab pub on the edge of moor called The Tradesman's Arms. Good ales, great rooms, warm welcome and good food too. They are dog friendly too.

We met up with lots of friends and M climbed the old lighthouse in Plymouth. I am sitting on one of the benches below waiting for him.

We went on the moor and found a lamb at Hound Tor. We explored and laughed and came home feeling much better for a break.

And when we got home we celebrated J's 16th birthday. Had a fabulous day. Am so proud of him. He has grown into a loving, funny, clever and articulate young man. Must have being doing something right. We all went to see Despicable Me 2 - on Friday (in 3D) - so funny - worth going to see.

Last bit  - cameo by Lottie Bo-Bo - she got a pressie from a friend we met up with on holiday. A Kong squeaky tennis ball - apt for Wimbledon - she loves it and has yet to let it out of her sight. The Boggart gave his a hair cut, desqueaked it and now ignores it.

A local Sunday - part two

Rottingdean Windmill across from the church yard. We quite often walk the dogs up there.

Gorgeous local church. Sadly the door was locked.

The local pond and one of the local pubs - most of which are really good.

Interesting street names.

Rock guitar legend resting.

He is still attracting those who loved him.

And finally a very different type of entertainer - you can find out about him on Wikipedia.

A local Sunday (part one)

We have a neighbour who cuts all their grass with a petrol driven strimmer. It takes them all day and their favourite day for this activity is a Sunday. Normally on the kind of Sunday where you want to be out in your garden, feet up, bit of knitting and listening to local kids and the birds singing. Yesterday looked exactly like the above. In fact it was so bad, it drove us out of the house. Even J, who needed a revision break, couldn't stand it anymore. We upped sticks and headed 5 minutes down the road to Rottingdean.

We had a stroll along the under cliff. It wasn't too busy really and the warmth was just right.

We showed J where our wedding reception was held (this used to be an hotel).

We wandered around the pond and war memorial and ended up .......

here, for a wander among the graves. So peaceful, full of bird song and much bigger than we had realised.

Bad Dobby-blogger.

No excuses. No nothing really. Just that life is puttering quietly away and I just don't have the time or inclination to write my blog as much - meh.

I will play a little bit of catch up now;

Crafts and knitting - well I am knitting but my mojo is a bit lacking. I am distracted by other things all the time and have no sticking power at the moment. On the needles are plain sock for M, a cardi for me (which is close to being finished) and that is it. Though I am planning a lace project start up later today (if I get around to it). I have one crochet project which is half way done and no sewing or weaving. I have been doing a little spinning over the last week - finally - it has taken so long for my toe to stop hurting when I spin, after breaking it last autumn.

I have been painting and drawing again and also writing, but only bits of flash fiction really.

Family - we are good. J is in the middle of exams, M is working and potting. Pets are adorable. I am my normal grumpy slightly acerbic self. Got real sinus issues and a painful hip but nothing you die of.

The only other thing is reading etc. So catch on books too.

Audio Books;
Anthony Trollope - He Knew He was Right, Rachel Ray, Miss Mackenzie and the The Warden.

All free librivox ones. All enjoyable. The only one I hadn't read was Miss Mackenzie and I really enjoyed finding a new favourite Trollope after all the these years.

Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice - Librivox

I had to. It is this books bicentennial, so it had to be done.

Stephanie Meyer - Twilight - audible.

I had never tried on these as an audio book. I wanted a break from Trollope but nothing to tax my brain and that is what it was. Good reading.

Books;

Charlane Harris - Dead Ever After - Sookie Stackhouse
Format - Kindle

Last ever book in this series I had to read it to find out if I was right about who Sookie would end up with. No spoilers but I was. I enjoyed the final book it wrapped it up nicely.

Laini Taylor - Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Format - Kindle

Loved this. Clever, different and entertaining (am reading the second one now). It is one of those fantasy/real world crossover books that works but is hard to explain It was different and didn't have me rolling my eyes like so many of this style of books does normally. Well worth a read.

L H Cosway - Tegan's Blood
Format - Kindle

Didn't think I was going to like this (more vampire fiction - I am a well known addict of this type of fiction) I was wrong. Fast paced and clever. Quirky main character and for me an easy read but a page turner. I read this in an evening. Am reading the second one - started yesterday and am already 50% through it. It is keeping me guessing and entertaining me too. Nice work.

Poetry Books - Format Kindle.

I don't really take a lunch break at work - just the time to eat a packed lunch - so I can't really get into my book. I downloaded a load of free poetry books to have something good to engage my mind during these little breaks. So far I finished 'Lyrical Ballads with other poems, 1800, Vol 1' by William Wordsworth and 'Complete Tales and Poems' Edgar Allan Poe (which strangely did not include The Raven). I have really enjoyed reading both of these. I have downloaded a few others to entertain my sandwich munching minutes - all freebies. I love reading poetry but often neglect it so this is a perfect solution for me.

All caught up now. Good Dobby.