Such a perfect day....

In all the hustle, bustle and crap of daily life it is easy to forget just how lovely living by the coast can be.

The first two photos show what the sea does to chalk on the beach. I love the texture and colour of these two shots.
They were taken looking down onto the beach from the undercliff walk heading toward Saltdean.
This is the undercliff - with my bonce in the foreground. We walked from Rottingdean to where the undercliff walk runs out just around Telscombe - the furthest cliff in the distance in the above photo.

Looking back toward Rottingdean, Ovingdean and Brighton. The sun was warm, the sea mellow and the breeze light but enough to keep you cool as you walked. We saw a myriad of birds, including gulls and pigeons but also Kestrel, Shags, Wagtails, Oyster Catchers, Jackdaws and a couple we couldn't name.

We walked out on the groynes, skimmed pebbles and sat for a while just enjoying the calm, warm afternoon......bliss.

Slightly backwards here - but this morning we went to Shoreham Farmers Market - lovely little market - friendly, interesting with good live music. We met up with, quite by chance, a couple of J's cousins and their parents and ambled quite happily tasting and buying as we went. I visited the LYS got the black wool DK I need for an afghan that I'm slowly crocheting and some Reggia Kaffe Fasset sock yarn......likely to be an Xmas giftie for Ma - just can't decide whether to knit her socks or write her a pattern and give her the yarn to knit herself.....I shall give it some thought.

At the market we bought - some Huss for dinner - strange the other night we were saying how rare it is to get Huss in the Fish-n-Chippy, but as kids it was a common choice - we also got some fresh lavender oil from a local grower, goats cheese with garlic, wheaten/soda bread and some wonderful Venison sausages from a local farm (which we ate with the bread for lunch). J splurged out on some of his favourite local produced crystallized ginger - which he kindly shared with us.

Now back home, feeling a happy tired kind of invigoration - looking forward to what tomorrow might hold!

That was the week that was

Kyla handwarmers/mittens completed. Nice pattern - knits up well. This picture actually gives a truer colour representation.
One of the best Conkers McBonkers pictures ever. I was making the bean bag rustle out of sight - this is his intent but too idle to pounce face.

Other stuff.

Both J and I have had colds, his is streaming with a bark like a hound in pain, mine is a head cold. I feel a bit better today and J is OK in himself except for the 'snot-n-woof' that remains. Due to this we've had a really quiet week - no swimming, no walks etc but J has read loads and built with Lego etc. He was too ill for anything else so all my weeks HE plans have been carried over to next week. It now looks like M is coming down with this for the weekend - poor bloke - he's on call too.

I've done loads of indoor stuff -interspersed with huge bouts of sleeping - lots of spinning, catching up on podcasts (though EscapePod still needs some attention) and some knitting. We've made homemade bread, including J's fav ....cinnamon and raisin. We made huge pans of homemade soup. So although we've been poorly and indoors - it still feels as if it's been a really full week.

Today I have a mountainous pile of ironing, quite a bit of housework (before the weekend laziness sets in), knitting that I am desperate to spend time with and a new book that is calling me.........

Tomorrow, if we are all well, is our favourite local farmers market (right in front of my LYS - whee) so something to look forward after a week in seclusion.

Aren't I a pretty girl?

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

Boo!

Suffering from da lurgy!

Heading back to bed - feel like a bag of shite.

Hate colds!!!!!!

G'night!

Musings.

I have all these things in my head I want to say and it's all a jumble of thoughts with little cohesion. Today is one of those days when I find it hard to gather my thoughts at all.

It's strange how people mouth platitudes, normally because they find themselves unsure of what to say. I myself am guilty of this.

It is also strange that with the benefit of time passing and hindsight you come to realise that the reason these comments/sayings survive is that they are often true.

Take for instance - 'time heals' or 'grief lessens with time' - the common element here is time.

It is 16 years today that I lost my Dad to leukaemia. Lot's of time has passed and my feelings about him and his death have changed so many times - I see the person he was clearer now than I ever did when he was living - I see so much of him (the good and bad) in myself - I hear his words spring from my mouth - I realise the pedestal I kept him on for so many years is now back in the cupboard, because from this distance I finally see him warts an all. I think this makes both him and I better humans.

I do still grieve. But it is different, muted is the best way I can describe it. Time has made this change - time to reflect and allow my idol to stand on his own two feet of clay.

My Dad was an arsehole, big, bad tempered, over opinionated, a tough guy - but he was also strong, honest, loyal and a good Dad to me.

I regret he never got to see either of his two Grandsons - I think he would have adored and spoiled the pair of them - as well as been so proud of them both!

I miss hearing the sound of his voice and his own personal -pipe baccie - smell.

I miss sparing with him - verbally - he never really realised just how funny he was.

He was my Dad and I still love him - warts an all - but I don't 'really' grieve for him any more - but feel grateful for the life lessons my time of grief taught me.

Tonight we will let off (as always) a big fat firework for him, we'll light a bonfire (he adored a bonfire) and we will raise a glass or four to him. He'd like that.

Just too scary!

Last night I found myself shouting at the TV!!!! Boy, I never thought that I'd do that. But *steps-onto-soapbox.....briefly* I would like to point out to the idiots at the BBC - particularly the local South/East broadcasters that Bonfire night is the 5th November - always has been. The rhyme never went 'Remember, remember the 3rd of November' - did it? Bunch of moronic fuckwits!!!

The plastic female presenter stated that the weather was perfect/lovely for Bonfire night and then wished everyone a safe Bonfire night....tonight! WTF - when did it change? Just because a percentage of the population for social events and ease let off their fireworks on the 3rd - does not make it Bonfire night.

I hereby categorically remind all fuckwits - moronic or otherwise - November 5th is Bonfire Night!!!

*climbs down off of soapbox, clears throat, straightens hair and goes off to eat breakfast*

With all these posts Monsieur....

you are really spoiling us. *sighs* sometimes I wonder if my sad attempts of wit on this blog are pearls before swine ;-)

Here are some works in progress (wip's). First up, Natural Dye Studio Alpaca (gifted last year from Helen at http://purlpower.blogspot.com/) I made socks from just one skein and have been waiting for a project to present itself for skein 2. Inspired by http://picperfics.blogspot.com/
and her post of 01/11, I cast on for Kyla handwarmers (these are a gift knit). I must admit to having yet another brain fart episode as it took 3, yes 3, cast on's before I was happy with it. This wonderful pattern is free and can be found here http://yarnloopie.blogspot.com/2007/10/i-call-them-kyla.html

They are very, very pretty and will make the perfect gift for the person I have in mind.

Wip numero 2. The two skeins of contrasting SeaSilk is knitting into a stole/wrap of my own design - tres purty!
Numbers 3 & 4 - dunahhhhhhh socksies. The pale pastel ones are lace of own design and are knitting up in Opal dye your own from a batch I did last year - again these are labelled to be gifties the others are Socks that Rock in Storm (gained from a swap on Ravelry) and are a 'lozenge rib made up pattern as I go along' design for M - cos the colours are perfect for him.

So now - yarn stuff and wip's are all up to date - except for some crochet. I still have two large wip's (the rib cardi & Sahara) that are under construction and a scarfy type beaded thingy from some handspun - but that's it. All other o/s works are now complete or frogged.....hurrah!

Off now to get some black yarn for the crochet, some claw clippers for the Dalmatian and then back to dig over the veggie patch and bury pots in it for M's pit firing ala Bonfire night next Monday.

PR0n of Yarn

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

OOOOoooo do you want it? Suit you!

Koigu colour P913 - beautiful!

Yarn Pr0n

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock blue tone is Devon and mauvey tone Wisteria.

Handspun

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

This is the plied yarn from the fibre I bought last Friday at the Lewes show and have shown previously as fibre and on the wheel. I chain plied this because I wanted a tweed style yarn and the barber poling really laid itself open to it.
The picture really doesn't do justice to all the subtle colours that run through this. It is soft and the perfect weight for socksies.

Now just have to get out proverbial finger and spin the rest of it!!

Just sometimes....

we fight. Not often but when we do it's more than little heated. The other night culminated in such a fight, over goodness knows what really. I was in a nit picking mood and M was defensive and it escalated until neither of us knew what had started it. It was all resolved before we went to sleep - but it was unpleasant, uncomfortable and not a good way to end the day. Even the following morning I felt discombobulated (yay my most favourite word ever).
M came in from work with these wonderful flowers - they are not an apology - nor do they need to be because he had nothing to apologise for - it was a one those type of fights. But it was the kindness of the thought and the gesture itself that cheered me up and really means a lot to me.
They are beautiful flowers, great mix of blooms and colours and every time I've looked at them I've smiled - over the silliness of a late night bickering match and spirit of love that they were given in. I never ever cease to feel lucky that I married a guy who gives a little thought and takes a little time to make me happy so often.

Ok - slush fest over - it's safe - put the bucket away!

Brain farts and botty burps.

Cos that's just what sort of a week it's been so far!

Here is our spooky carved.........wait for it................wait a bit more........melon!!

Because Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury and our local farm shop had ALL sold out of pumpkins. But it worked. It was much easier and quicker to carve, we ate some the scooped out flesh as a starter and used the rest in our smoothie this morning. We had a smaller Halloween celebration this year mainly due to the fact that I'm going through a 'can't be asked' phase, J is a bit older and wasn't as psyched by it all and both M and I are having a shitty week so our enthusiasm was muted.

M did buy me a bit of dressing up (although my heart just wasn't in it) but looksie, stick on black nails with skulls on. I don't know why he thinks I like skulls!! *rolls eyes* just joking. I did wear my wig and devil horns for a while and we decorated the kitchen with many spooky bits n bobs. M cooked a creepy meal of craniums, maggots in distilled yak pee, fingers and brain mash with bogeys or in non-halloween-ese (large Yorkshire puddings filled with onion gravy, sausages, mashed tatties with fresh thyme and peas). Dinner time chit-chat comprised of us trying gross the others out - good clean fun.
The fibre I bought last week in process of being spun. Tis lush and spins like a dream - so pretty!

This time of year is a difficult one - made harder this year by the loss of M's Mum (which I still don't feel either of us have come close to coming to terms with and all sorts of weird shit is still going on), this time of year also marks the anniversary of both of us loosing our Dads too. M's is only a few a years ago, mine is a lot longer, but harder to forget because every year as the fireworks start being let off it refreshes the memory that he died on Bonfire night (also the day before his and Ma's 34th wedding anniversary!). So I'm in a bit of a fug and have lost about 80% of my tolerance level - local fuckwits beware - you may get your head bitten off it you say the wrong thing in the next few days.

Also we have some difficult decisions to make - hmmm if the NTS ever actually make a decision - what should have been clear cut is now more muddied by recent developments - when is life ever going to be simple eh?

Anyhoo, enough of the blah, blah - I just thought I'd explain the lack of enthusiasm before some well meaning anon commenter accused me of ruining my child's life with my psychosis again!

"Happy Halloween, Ladies."

The Hag - Robert Herrick - 1591-1674.

The Hag is astride,
This night for to ride;
The Devill and shee together;
Through thick, and through thin,
Now out, and then in,
Though ne'er so foule be the weather.

A Thorn or a Burr She takes for a Spurre:
With a lash of a Bramble She rides now,
Through Brakes and through Bryars, O're Ditches, and Mires,
She followes the Spirit that guides now.

No Beast, for his food, Dares now range the wood;
But husht in his laire He lies lurking:
While mischeifs, by these, On Land and on Seas,
At noone of Night are a working.

The storme will arise, And trouble the skies;
This night and more for the wonder,
The ghost from the Tomb Affrighted shall come,
Cal'd out by the clap of the Thunder.

Fireskull bag.

People who know me, know that I have a 'little' thing about skulls. Well, a while ago in a fit of knitting ADD I cast on for this, knit like mad, hurt my hand, abandoned it and forgot it *whoops*. On Friday wondering where all my Denise cords/needles were and having a hunt in the big knitting bag beside the sofa.... I found it again. Today I finished it. (Picture has battery for size comparison).
Close up of the Fireskulls. I adapted the chart from 'Hello Yarns' - 'We Call them Pirates' to make them a bit more evil looking, I also took out the cross bones and adapted the size and closeness to fit my stitch count.
After felting at a 40c wash with two pairs of M's Jeans (see the battery is back so you can how much it shrunk).
Close up of shrunken skulls - which I think now look very menacing!

Knitted on 6.5 mm needles the yarn is Lambs Pride Bulky in Black Cherry - courtesy of the lovely Kathrows - it took two skeins. The skulls are two different shades of Cascade 220 worked together to give a flame effect which is much clearer in real live. The button is courtesy of a raid on Ma's button box and comes off an old coat of hers - I love button boxes!!

For a pattern that I made up as I went along I quite chuffed with it and pleased it is ready in time for Halloween :-D

Grouch level - dissipating!

Grouchiness abounds.

1) Stop fucking with the time - it is pointless and messes with my head!

2) How can 1 child be so annoying and make so much mess in such a short space of time and always on a Sunday morning...... I ask you.... loose a slipper in the house so that it's disappeared into a slipper eating time warp!.

3) Weather!!! Need I say more? Murphy's law - got all the chores done yesterday so today we could go somewhere specific and spend all day out of doors and it rains.

4) I hate being the grumpy - it's almost at its zenith - give it a few more hours and it'll peak. I don't even have pmt as an excuse.

5) People who leave lights on *arghhhhhhhhhhhh*.

Crappola pictures!

Of lovely goodies. Just my luck that as I get stuff to post as fibre/yarn pR0n the camera runs out of battery power *sigh* so hence crappola pictures. Anyhoo, I digress, today I went to the textile show in Lewes of the East Sussex of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers and I spent some of my Saturday pennies. Above you can drool over...... I mean admire two skeins of Handmaiden Sea Silk - smells funny but feels wonderful.
A wool and silk blend from P & M Woolcraft about 200g - the picture does not do it justice. I can't wait to spin it.
A brown bag of lovely Alpaca - soft and fluffy!
Close up of the Sea Silk - more itchy fingers. I have so many plans for this whizzing around in my head - that I'm dizzy.

The show itself was very good - lots of stalls and examples of the Guilds work - which all of us enjoyed - M was very interested in the natural dying from plants and lichens. Met up with old and new friends which made for a really nice afternoon. I spent 90% of what I had in my purse and actually could have spent more.

A slog in the desert.

I love the pattern but hate the knitting.

Sahara....finished the body last night, still not sure I like it on me but I'll persevere. But all that plain knit in the round with just the odd inc/dec for light relief...........so boring.....zzzzzzz!

Now I have to face the long sleeves - more of the same. It might be spending some time in the abandoned pile whilst I find a little project to give me a break.

But I must add that it's not the patterns fault, that I find plain knit a drag. The pattern is wonderfully written with really clear concise instructions - Wendy really does know her onions. I wouldn't hesitate to knit another pattern by her - such good construction! I must be a weirdo - love to knit but hate plain knitting - I need something to hold my attention - I can get through big projects when I know that in 8 rounds/rows that something different is coming up and I'll need to focus.

I have got knitting ADD at the moment. I still can't really settle to anything - other than wasting time on Facebook - ahhhhhh it's too addictive!

Round like a circle in a spiral...

like a wheel within a wheel.
Never ending or beginning on an ever spinning wheel.

Well that's what spinning this fibre felt like....never ending that is.

This is the rest of the over dyed BFL that I started spinning on my Haldane Lewis and finished off on the Traveller (both lots were plied on the Traveller and you can't tell between them). I normally love BFL but the over dying somehow made this a bit of a pig to spin evenly. I'm happy with it now it's done - but by Friday I was so pissed of with it! I chain plied it yesterday, it's bathed and almost dry. I much prefer the new colour and it will get used - though in the end I only got about 98g in total - but hats, gloves etc - it's perfect for.

On to the next one...... :-D

Candle holder was made for me by my ever loving M - it's a favourite piece - and is much used.

Incey wincey spider.....

went climbing up his/her tank. Or perhaps.........
fangs for the memory? No? Tiny went exploring the side of his glass tank this morning and it was too good an opportunity to miss. Not a mouth made for kissing!
As for Humbug - you can see his size next to half a coconut shell. See his two shorter front legs? The club like shape at the bottom is what I mean about the pedipalps becoming club like when they are male. This is probably the best picture we've managed to get of them.

Happy Sunday.....tis time for eggs and baccie :-D

Tonights sunset.

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

Stunning!!!

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

View from our bedroom window.

The mystery of the missing mojo.

*Poof* and it was gone! My knitting mojo that is. The last months output has been abysmal. The above which was my Fair Isle travel project.....finished this morning - a month almost on a pair of plain ole vanilla socks. My 'Green socks - no ham' 2nd sock, a 2nd pair of fingerless mittens and a binky hat - both in Reggia Crazy Colour 6 ply - so quick knits.....and that's it. To say "uninspired" would be a clear case of utter understatement that it would be beyond English nature to comprehend. My knitting get up and go has got up and gone. I think it is due to the overwhelming tiredness I've been a suffering of since going oop north. Now I have a few quieter weeks planned, lets hope my equilibrium will be restored and knitting normality will resume. I did cast on for some more complicated socks yesterday....I fucked them up and had to frog 10 rows of the pattern and re-knit, solely due to a brain fart and nothing to do with the pattern, did I call myself some ripe ole names - talk about a dumbass moment!

Now as I have an at home day, until this evening, I'm going to make some soup for lunch, then after that I'll spin, listen to the latest Fibercult podcast and maybe somewhere along the way my missing mojo will reappear. Should anyone find it, cold and shivering in a dark corner of their stash please return to me asap..... I miss it!

P.S - Frankie Boyle....was non pc, rude as anything and as funny as fuck - the man truly rocks. I cried with laughter at least twice - it was more than worth the price of the ticket - to listen to the misguided pc part of the crowd (obviously at the wrong performance) gasp here and there with shock at this mans comic honesty.....so refreshing!

Back again.

Great holiday! Not as relaxing as normal but that's the difference between going with 1 kid and going with 3 I think. Very little knitting but lots of walking, saunas, swimming and a lovely massage. On the 1st morning I sat on the patio with my cuppa - it was around 7.00am - peaceful - a little Roe deer appeared out of the mist and we looked at each other carefully - the deer put its head down and munched and I thoughtfully sipped my tea (yay for a Hazel O'Connor vibe). Then a bold little grey squirrel came onto to the patio and ran around my slippered feet as bold as you like. I love those moments best of all!

The picture is of a little baby common lizard M found by our patio on holiday - he so liked the warmth of M's hand he fell asleep and sat there for ages.....isn't it lovely. I've never seen one in the wild before.

I am glad to be home though and need some recovery time, two trips so close together (and I never sleep well when I'm away) have rather drained me. I intend to spend this week catching up - though we're out tonight - got tickets to see Frankie Boyle (Mock the Week panelist) and I'm out again 1 or 2 evenings this week - tis all go!

The animals were pleased to see us back, Conkers even got on M's lap 3 times!!!! Unheard of kitty cuddles from the Bonkmeister.

*************Spider Content*************

Had to post this of Doris - look at her amazing red fluff offsetting the green. Doris is what is often called a 'New World' tarantula, this means she has two lines of defense in the form of urticating hairs (aforementioned red fluff) as well as a nasty bite. They flick the hairs using their back legs, you can see a bald patch on her bum where she has done this. If startled they flick the hairs - which itch like crazy, if that doesn't work they rear up in a threat posture and if all that fails then they bite you! Tarantulas labelled 'Old World' are held are more aggressive because they go straight to threat and bite.
This is Coleman's - who earlier this year was too small to photograph. Now a fully matured male, he moulted the night before we left on our holiday. He's a Chacco Mustard Brown Tarantula and is about a 7" span when fully stretched out. Aren't his yellow striped stockings groovy though?
The most recent picture of Tiny - who along with Doris is my favourite spider - he (or maybe she - still a baby - at about 5") is very naughty in a spider way - I never thought a tarantula would be so bold or nosey - he's always at the front of his tank. I hope that Tiny turns out to be a girlie as we seem to be blessed with too many males at the moment.

Am off now to play catch up with the laundry, it's almost all done. Then just maybe if I'm really lucky I might get some time with the needles - knitting has been almost non existent recently.

Have a restful Sunday.

Away and off with the

fairies.

We're off on our hols for a few days from Monday. The packing lists are written, the mammoth laundry monster is in the process of being tamed, knitting and books are being sorted through and the ipod is on to charge.

I am so looking forward to a complete break with limited travelling. Fair Isle was wonderful the amount of travelling was tiring and had an effect that was longer reaching than I anticipated.

It will be nice to reach our destination and know that we are set put for a good few days - relying on feet and bikes to get us around..........no fucking ferries - I'm not even going on a piddling pedalo, they can keep the canoes and windsurfers!!!! I've kinda had enough of water (other than jacuzzi stylie) for a while.

I fully intend to walk, eat, knit, read, relax, imbibe of red falling down water, knit some more, sauna lots, knit even more......you get where I'm going with this?

So I bid you adieu.....see you in a week, be good, no goofing off etc.

Green Socks - the sequel.

Another stunning design from the house of 'Dogwomandon't Socks' The recipe follows.......
The vine stem continues down into the heel flap.

Green-socks - no ham!

A lace sock pattern with a wavy travelling vine that extends down the heel flap. Top down construction with traditional heel flap.
Yarn - 100g sock weight - plain yarn.
2.5mm dpns (circs).
Stitch markers - optional.
Stitch holder.

Cast on 60 sts across either 3 or 4 dpns - divide with 15sts across set of 4 needles or 15, 30, 15 across 3. If using the latter mark the centre of needle 2 (30 sts) with a marker.
Work in twisted rib for approx 12 rows. K1tbl, P1.

Knit 1 plain row.

Commence with lace pattern - with using chart or as below.
1) k3, yo, k1, yo, k1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1, p2 - repeat 4 times in total.
2) all alt rows across all needles - k13, p2.
3) k3, yo, k3, yo, k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1, p2 - rep x4
5) k3, yo, k5, yo, k1, sl 1 k2tog psso, k1, p2.
7) k1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, yo, k3, p2.
9) k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1, yo, k3, yo, k3, p2.
11)k1, k3tog, k1, yo, k5, yo, k3, p2.
Continue until leg is required length.

Heel flap.
Worked across 30 sts. (Place remaining 30 sts on a holder or spare needle).
1) K15, turn.
2) sl1, p14, k2, p13
3) sl1, k13, p2, k14
Repeat for 24 rows in total.

Heel shape.
1) sl1, p16, p2tog, p1 turn.
2) sl1, k5, ssk, k1 turn.
3) sl1, p6, p2tog, p1 turn.
4) sl1, k7, ssk, k1 turn.
Continue increasing one stitch until all sts are used up - 18 remain.

Gusset
Pick up and knit 14 sts down the side of the heel flap.
Knit row 1 of lace pattern (2 repeats) across held sts.
Pick up and knit 14 sts up other side of heel flap - then k9 sts from heel.
So you should have 2 x 23 sts plus 30 = 73sts.
Next row - k9, k11 ktbl - to last 3 sts, k3tog, k1.
Pattern instep - work row 2 of chart.
k1, ssk, k 11 tbl, k9.
Next row - k gusset stitches.
pattern row 3 instep.
k gusset sts.
Next row - k gusset sts - to last 3 sts - k2tog, k1.
pattern row 4 instep
k1, ssk, k to end.
Rep last two rows until you are back to 60sts.

Foot
Cont with plain knitting for sole and pattern for instep until you have the required length.

Toe
Knit needle 1
Instep sts - p across to make a single ridhe.
Knit needle 3.
Decrease for toe
Row 1 - Needle 1 - k to last 3 sts, k3tog, k1.
Needle 2 (3) - k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Needle 3 (4) - k1, ssk k to end.
Cont until 16 sts remain.

Graft toe sts using kitchener st.

Copyright PWL designs. (lace pattern adapted from Barbara G Walker - 2nd Treasury of knitting patterns.)

Feel free to use this pattern - I have double checked it and had it test knitted - but please yell out if you find problems/errors etc.

BFL handspun.

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

My Haldane Lewis wheel will soon be off to a new home. I had a little of this yarn spun on to it. So I finished it off - the balance I will spin on my Traveller. This is hand-dyed with Koolaid - overdying an experiment that didn't work *sigh* - I think in the end there will be about 100g - chain plied.

Scarlet

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

50g hand spun - chain plied. Merino and silk mix.......mmmmmm!

Fair Isle

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

From the plane as we flew back to Aberdeen.

Lerwick harbour

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

A rather impressive ship - we could see the sailors way up in the rigging as we walked passed.

Lerwick

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

View from our B&B window.

An early start.

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

The start of our journey home via the ferry.....again! Twice in four days - I deserve a bravery award.

A local!

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

This little Fair Isle kitty was asleep amongst some fleece in a cattle byre - hence the slightly disgruntled look!

Show me the way to go home.

Blogger has piccie hiccups - I'll post them later via flicker.

We left Fair Isle (via the ferry *gulp*) a day earlier than planned. Not cos we were unhappy, quite the contrary in fact, but we had flights to Aberdeen booked, M had to get back to work and to go on call and we were both missing J! We got the 7.30 ferry - not as rough - but still no picnic - I hunkered down on the back bench under a blanket and slept.

People are so kind up that way - one of the locals showed us the bus stop from the pier, on route another local offered a lift to the stop at the airport so we could warm up with a brew whilst waiting for a bus to Lerwick - in fact the whole time we were north of the border we met with nothing but warmth and kindness - after living down south it came as a shock!!!

We found a B & B - clean, warm and welcoming, spent a day exploring Lerwick - they have the best museum - really well put together and fascinating. Caught an earlier flight and drove all the way down the country back to Brighton in about 10 and half hours!

Now we wait...............and talk it all through.....no matter what the forum or NTS decide we have to be 100% sure that moving to Fair Isle is the right thing for all of us - Me, M, J, the animals - and also what the effect of us going will have on our wider family that we will leave behind. We are talking a lot!

Next week we're away on the family holiday to CentreParcs - distance away from home will I think help us weigh up what it best for us all. It is all a muddle in my head at the moment - a relaxing week of saunas should calm down the whirring turmoil :-D