Jam and Cat (or cat in a jam?)

I`ve been off a whole week now (I`m so happy I work term time only) and the time has just whizzed by. The garden is tidier, the house is cleaner, I`m more relaxed and I`m enjoying being domestic.


I`ve made jam , and prepared 2 carrier bags of runner beans and what seems like 100`s of pounds of french beans for the freezer, all courtesy of my Dad. He has an allotment, and conveniently, I live part way between it and his house, so I regularly find fruit or veg on my doorstep - a bit like the organic box schemes but so much cheaper!

On the crafty front, I have been doing some more lace (yes, the horseshoe in my last post is bobbin lace) and also a bit of crocheting. I have knitting plans but I am waiting for the yarn and needles to be delivered, how dare the post office have another strike when I`m waiting for a squishy parcel - some thing which is pretty rare for me, buying decent yarn instead of making do with acrylic, or charity shop finds.

And while I was out in the garden yesterday I kept hearing Dudley`s meow, but I just couldn`t see him at first, but after a while of persistant mewing, I spotted him

Up here!

but I am pleased to say that he found his way back down again and spent the rest of the day

snoozing

Bond...the new swear word

Many years ago, I bought a Bond knitting machine (didn`t we all?) I used it a bit, but it has sat in the back of my wardrobe for the last 12 years. Recently, I had the great idea of getting it out to `quickly` make a baby blanket for the next Baby pack.


Time makes you forget the bad bits, and though it was a fiddle to get going again, and there was one latch that steadfastly refused to knit a stitch and had to be done by hand each row, it wasn`t until the carriage jammed, suddenly moved and all the knitting (including the weights) landed on my feet I remembered just why it had been put away.

Eventually, I succeeded, and a square of knitting was produced, but it was neither quick nor satisfying, but having crocheted an edging around it, it will pass and keep some wee one warm.

I probably won`t use the Bond until 2019, when I will have forgotten all about it`s awkward habits again, so watch out for the bad language again then!

My FO this week is lace, but not the knitted kind

Little cousin is getting married in a few weeks, and being a crafty young lady I`m hoping she will appreciate this. It was a lovely design to make, and though it doesn`t show up too well in the photo, it is ivory (to match her dress) with gold fans and the little diamonds are actually beads. The bows on the top are lilac to match the bridesmaid.
LC had thought of asking DD to be a bridesmaid, but quickly realised that as she is under 5 foot and a size 14+, and DD is 5'8" and a size 10, it might look a tad odd - she still wanted DD to be involved so has asked her to do a reading instead.

First Pack

Just a quick post to show you the contents of the parcel that I`ve just wrapped to send off to The Baby Pack Project, I know I could have just sent bits I knitted but I thought it would be fun to assemble a complete pack. So with the help of good old eBay and the local charity shops, I managed to find everything on my list. I have to confess to not actually having knitted everything - the cardi was in the 50p basket in the charity shop and was obviously new!

A pair of pairs of booties

But, first of all, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has commented on my last few posts about Rene. I hadn`t thought I would feel upset at her passing, having not seen her in the later years, but I have been surprised at the emotions it has stirred, and the memories that have resurfaced. It has been lovely being able to share with you.
I have now finished most of the knitting that needed attention and it is packed and ready to post to Feed the Children and I hope she would approve.
The only exception is the pile of knitted squares which Mum asked to take care of. She has sewn them together and is currently knitting an edging to attach - all 144" of it. I`ll post a picture when it is done.

As for my own charity knitting - here are items 6 and 7 (of my target for the year) which were actually finished a while ago, but Rene`s posts were more important.

These will be off to the Baby pack project when I have some more bits to go with them.

Apart from Granny squares, a bag and the odd edging, I haven`t really done any crochet that requires the following of a pattern, so the booties were an interesting challenge - the first one was frogged twice, (the initial effort would have needed a very deformed foot to fit!) but now I am keen to do some more and I have requested Crochet in no time from the library to see if it contains the sort of patterns I would like to make. (I hate not having a book shop with a decent craft section round here, and I am too mean to take a chance and order it unseen over the internet!) It sounds good from the reviews so we`ll have to wait and see.

Piccys to share

I have been sorting through Rene`s photos, many of course meant nothing to me but there were some there that brought back a few memories, and some which I really wanted to share with you. The first two show just what a talented lady she was and how she combined her artistic and creative flairs, (and also how her fanciful ideas didn`t alway match reality). Seeing these photos reminded me that she had hoped to make a living from designing, knitting (herself) and selling these...

Aren`t they fantastic? But needless to say, there was no way she could sell them at a price that realistically represented the time (and talent) taken to produce them, so after this first sample batch, her idea fell by the wayside - I`ve no idea what became of the samples, more`s the pity.

Moving on, and away from knitting I found these next two.....

Me aged about 5

Living on a farm, each year either we, or one of our two neighbours would end up with a lamb who was either orphaned, or rejected by it`s mother - commercially, hand rearing a lamb was not a viable proposition so our neighbours were happy to pass on the burden and a concientious sheep mad child makes a reasonably good substitute mother, so not a year went by without me taking on the role, and getting up early for the morning feed, and dashing home from school to tend to my little charge. I`m sure Mum must had done the midday and late night feed too, but I felt so responsible and proud when my little lamb grew up, that I don`t remember that bit. Strangely enough though I cared for them I never grew so attached that I it came as a shock when they went to market in the autumn. Perhaps I always knew they were mine for a while to prepare for the big wide world - a bit like a parent really.

Christmas in the `70s with Rene back right and me front left

- don`t you just love my dress!

Being an only child, Mum used to let me have not only a birthday party, but a Christmas party too! We weren`t well off, so the parties weren`t grand, but they were always very popular and in the run up to the invites going out, the girls at school were always nice to me! I think the reason they were keen to come was the fact that they were very traditional, jelly and icecream type, and the brilliant party games were organised and run by Rene, while Mum did the food. Living on the farm, we played the games in our bungalow, while food was organised in Nan`s farm house and at the given time we all traipsed across the farmyard to eat, then back to ours for a final game of pass the parcel to settle down before home time. Living quite a way out, Mum acted as taxi, and we piled into the back of the van and sung songs at the top of our voices gradually quietening down as each child was dropped off until only Mum and I remained to sing our way back home.

Teenagers are so ungrateful!

In amongst Rene`s books, I came across this lovely old one - The Pictorial Guide to Modern Home Knitting - sadly without a date, but judging by the hair dos, everyone I have shown it to suggests the 1940`s.

As DD has been wanting a new bikini, I showed her this picture...

but strangely enough, she didn`t want me to knit her one - even though I offered to let her choose the colour, and though in need of some new under garments, she only laughed when I suggested making her this.....

Honestly, teenagers are so ungrateful these days :-)

A tribute to Rene

I have just had the unenviable task of clearing the nursing home room of an elderly family friend. Her room was up two flights of stairs, and it completely amazed me how much stuff one little old lady could fit in such a small room - it was touch and go if I would get it all (no furniture I hasten to add) into DH`s car. Thank goodness I took his and not mine! As I have had little contact with her over the past few years, it wasn`t as emotionally difficult as it could have been until I came across things that I had made her many years ago and letters I had sent, all of which she had kept. After all the packing and running up and down stairs, I was physically shattered by the time I had loaded the car, and then part way home it suddenly dawned on me that I had the whole of someones life in my car - and I had to pull over and compose myself.

She was a very talented artistic lady who loved painting, music and knitting. She was also rather eccentric and I often look back with fondness to a time when aged about 7 I found a dead mole (courtesy of my cat) and Rene (then 40+) and I decided to give it a burial - she dressed the part of the priest using a long white nightie from my dressing up box and we paraded through the house chanting prayers - much to the consternation of the builder working on our fireplace!

Amongst her possessions I came across bags and bags of knitted items and wool. I knew many years ago she used to knit for charity, and this was obviously what it was, after searching and sorting I now have

All of these little jumpers

ready to go

and these that just need

sewing up or the ends darning in

bottom right are 42 squares to turn into a blanket. I will finish them all off in due course and send them on their way. I don`t know which charity she intended them for, but I am sure she would be pleased to know that they will be benefiting children somewhere. I also have 4 carrier bags of yarn ( all acrylic) and a couple of unfinished sweaters to frog, plus sadly there were a few beyond redemption, but safe to say I will have no need to buy acrylic for my charity knits for a VERY long time.

And just to show you how talented an artist she was, here are a couple of her pictures, which she painted about 10 years ago

Scotney Castle

Lamberhurst, Kent

Sunset on Ditchling church,

Sussex

As if by magic

By the magic of blocking, I give you the transformation from

The scrunched up ugly duckling

to...

The beautiful swan

The Forest Canopy Shawl

in Opal Magic on 4mm needles

Well, something like that anyway - and to think I never even considered blocking for the first 30 years of my knitting life!

When it came off the needles it was a mere 27" across and 13" top to point - blocking made it grow to 43" wide by 21", which whilst not large by any means, is just what I wanted as it will be used as a glorified scarf rather than a shawl as such - though it can be pressed into action if they don`t soon get the &*££$%? air conditioning sorted at work.

I really enjoyed making it, and can imagine that this won`t be the last time the pattern is used. Knowing how well it works I may just invest in something rather more cheerful (and expensive) next time. I thought the tip for writing each row out on an index card and then punching holes in the top corner, joining them with metal ring binders so you can flip the card just used to the back of the stack as you complete each row, was just brilliant and definitely a trick to use again.

Right, off to wade through my stash and pattern hoard to see what is next ("ahem", whispers the conscience, "have you forgetten Thermal?") Erm, yes conveniently I do seem to have.

It`s nearly done,

I only have two more rows and the cast off to do on the Forest Canopy Shawl (I guess I ought to be knitting instead of writing this) so I will soon have something to show. I haven`t had much chance to knit lately, what with work, the garden, life in general and the fact that I have been preparing an index for the magazine that DH works for for the whole of last year. That has now been completed and I shall be treating myself to an iPod with part of the proceeds and I am now on the lookout for knitting podcasts. I really enjoy BritKnitCast and Lixie Knits It and would love to find some more english ones to enjoy (not that I have anything against american podcasts - it is just that I am happier when I know what they are talking about !)

Since I don`t have any knitting to show, I thought I would let you see this beauty in my back garden, but please don`t tell Dudley (cat) that there is a blackbird nesting in the middle of it - we are having far too many `presents` brought to us as it is, in fact DD has just been on a rescue mission. Dudley brought back an extremely cute and fluffly moorhen chick, which was totally unharmed but slightly bemused and ran round the garden in circles like a clockwork mouse. A plastic pudding basin was quickly popped over the poor little mite, and an old chopping board slid underneath to safely trap the little chap and then DD carried the whole lot up the footpath, and across the playing field to the pond in the hope of reuniting it with it`s family, desperately hoping she wouldn`t meet anyone she knew en route!

Thanks Auntie, but .....

Auntie has very kindly given me this book - the patterns in it are so fine, so intricate and so... well amazing - Henry VIII, in full regalia, Queen Elizabeth, an egyptian man, pilgrim fathers, I could spend ages just looking through it. Auntie bought it for herself when she retired, but has now decided she doesn`t have time to knit anything from it, so gave it to me, which was really nice of her, but.....

If she doesn`t have time and she is retired, why does she think I will be able to make better use of it, when I work full time????

I was warned....

Ok, so I admit it, I gave in to temptation and cast on for the Forest Canopy Shawl , I was feeling fed up and my resolve weakened when the yarn and pattern just kept calling to me, and they are right you know, once you start ....... here it is so far

I`m not entirely convinced that the colouring on the Opal Magic is the best thing to show the lace (somewhere I saw it made in Trekking XXL which looked brilliant and gave me the idea of using sock yarn) but the yarn is lovely to knit with and I think it is going to be nice and warm - it might improve with blocking anyway.

This is the first time I`ve used life lines - amazing what you discover on the internet, I had no idea they even existed until recently and I`ve been knitting on and off for 35 years , I was merrily sailing away, it is a lovely pattern and easy too, and just thinking I wouldn`t bother with using them any more as I do find the row right after inserting them can be a bit of a fiddle - when I spotted a mistake, Yes I know pride comes before a fall, so I think I shall carry on using them and not try to be a clever clogs.

Elsewhere in knitting, do you ever have those moments on eBay where you throw in a bid not expecting to win and not really caring either? Or is it just me? And why is it they are always the items you win, and the ones you were desperate for get away? Anyway, I threw in my bid the other day, went off to do something else and came back later to find I was the proud owner of

180g of Colinette Fandango - so there is nothing for it but I will just have to go and buy a pattern to make Horace . Don`t you just love the way he moves when you move your mouse (simple things.......)

Cards, boxes and bags

I`ve been playing with paper, card and glue lately, and been having great fun. DD and I went to another card day and learnt how to make these cards

The two outside cards are `waterfall cards` and though you can`t see it from the photo, when you pull the tab at the bottom, the top layer lifts to reveal a layer below and then a third, which
can each have a design or message on - not easy to describe so here is another photo that might help. They are rather unique, and so effective. The card in the middle is made from the instructions at Crafty Lou`s shop The Craft Corner . We were lucky enough to be able to see all the goodies she has for sale at the card day, and it was all very tempting, but DD and I were restrained and only came away with some cards, a punch and some gems - but I know where it all is and I will be back!

The previous week we had a workshop at the Tonbridge lacemakers making bags and boxes, which will be just great for prettying up little gifts for DD`s friends

These are just the basic ideas and can be decorated with all sorts of things, and having seen all her stock on saturday - I know just the place to go.

Coals to Newcastle

It`s a friends birthday today, and I wanted to make her a card, the difficult thing was knowing what to do to be different - She loves pansies, so the subject wasn`t hard but...... she teaches lace (mine wouldn`t be a patch on hers) she does the most beautiful cross stitch - some of her stuff is so fine you have to study it close up to check it isn`t a photo, and she hosts the card days which DD and I so enjoy.

Ah-ha, but she doesn`t crochet

Simple, but hopefully she will like it.

Sorry! You are knitting a what???!!!

Yep, that`s right!

Those of you who have seen the latest Simply Knitting may have noticed the request from lcgb for people to knit these as they are used to help teach new mums to feed, and being in need of a quick to complete project to get me going again, I cast on.

My non-knitting friends and family, however, are now totally convinced I have lost it, and are probably calling the men in white coats as I type, and booking my bed by the window!

I can`t imagine I will be knitting anything more unusual in the foreseable future - but anyway it`s charity knit 5 under my belt, and was strangely satisfying - wish mine were as perky!!!

I wish knitting shows were like this

DD and I went to the Vitality show at the weekend, for a girly day out - I had been warned to take a strong bag ...

and here is why - all free samples!

I was surprised to see people with shopping trolleys (bags on wheels type not supermarket) waiting in the queue to get in, and I can see the logic - this lot was heavy to carry back on the train - never mind anything we bought. We could have had more (including a loaf of Nimble) but being a bit of a reserved type, I happily settled for what was readily handed out and didn`t go in for the `jumble sale` approach. But wouldn`t it be great if we went to knitting and stitching shows and came away with free samples from there?

It was a bit overwhelming to start with, but we had a good day, I had a makeover much to DD`s amusement (though will have to consider extending the mortgage if I want to buy the products used!) and * proud mother moment* DD was approached by a modelling agency scout and asked to submit some photo`s :-) I`ve always told her she is beautiful (and as she also has lovely hair, is 5`8" and a size 10 - if she wasn`t my daughter, I think I`d hate her!)

I don`t have much to show knitting wise, Thermal is growing s-l-o-w-l-y, but so far I am resisting temptation to cast on anything else (though I am not sure for how much longer). I may have to do another quick charity knit to get myself going again, as I find though part of my mind is willing, the bit that controls the hands just doesn`t seem to be picking thermal up when it should. I have also been a bit more absorbed with reading lately. MIL gave DD this book for Christmas (Noughts and Crosses in case the title is as invisible on your monitor as it is on mine)

and DD wasn`t interested - I on the other hand picked it up the other day and read 100+ pages straight off, which is unusual for me this side of my teenage years. It has been a very long time since a book has drawn me to sneak off and read a few pages when I should be doing something else, and invariably led to meals being late, or finally falling asleep in the wee small hours when my eyes could no longer focus.

It follows the relationship between Sephy (a cross ) and Callum (a nought - a second class citizen), who start as childhood friends, unwilling to conform to the views of the segregated society that they live in as they grow up. Though written for ages 11 upwards, I would whole heartedly recommend it to anyone, and when I have been forgiven for the late meals I will be buying the next book in the trilogy!

It`s going to take forever!

I won the yarn on eBay, and I`ve started Thermal

but it feels like it is going to take forever. The yarn is a 50% cotton, 50% Acrylic mix in 4ply, and to achieve tension I am having to knit on 2.75mm needles! A whole jumper on diddy needles! what was I thinking. Actually, it is quite nice to work, lovely and light on the hands, and I am enjoying using the Boyes Needlemaster circs, nice and pointy and smooth, except the join where I am having to gently coax the stitches passed, but even that isn`t too much of a trial. I keep checking the joins as I have heard some stories of them coming unscrewed and I don`t fancy having to pick up 240 sts, but so far so good. The colour is actually greener than this photo - I had hoped it would be as it seems, but though it is called Peacock, I would realistically describe it as nearer jade when you see it in real life, Oh well, guess that is what happens when you rely on monitors and the internet and get a bargain, I mean, I can`t really complain about winning the yarn for a whole jumper for £6.65 including postage, now can I?

My other recent purchase was the Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl Pattern . Those naughty folk on the Angel Yarns Forum have driven me to it! They had a Knitalong and I have seen so many lovely shawls that eventually I had to give in. Well, I do have a ball of Opal Sock Yarn that will never become socks (because I don`t like knitting socks, but please don`t tell anyone because I feel very much like the odd one out) so it seemed like the perfect excuse to buy the pattern so I can use up some of my stash. I was really impressed with how easy it was to buy and download the pattern - never done that before. I must press on with Thermal first though, and get a fair way into that before I cast on for something else, but that yarn and pattern do keep calling to me!

Where have I been?

Just a quick post this time and not even knitting related, as the throw has been throgged sorry frogged, as it just wasn`t working, though I have since thought the pattern would make a nice baby blanket done in pastel colours of DK. (but no bubs to knit for and lots else to do, so that is a `maybe one day` project)

I have started Thermal from Knitty, but there is not enough to show yet.

I did find this interesting though

create your own visited countries map

and it was fun to see where I`ve been, even if I couldn`t find the Canary Islands. Mind you, half of the places I have only been to for the day as part of a cruise.

Charity Knit IV - and DD`s birthday but I get a pressie!

What on earth???

Oh, I think I see....

Yep, I was right!

Well, since it was me who was knitting it, I guess I should have been right! This little chap is for the Baby Pack Project using their pattern, and I have to say I was a little unsure of how he would turn out when I first started knitting, but I am very pleased with the end result and it`s lovely to think some little tot (possibly with nothing else to play with) may get pleasure and comfort from him. Oh and the yarn was the free ball from `The Art of Knitting` which I picked up for 10p in a charity shop!

And for those of you observant people, the first two photos are taken on a car seat! With DH still not being allowed to drive (you have to wait for a month after a stroke before they will let you back behind the wheel) I have been taking him to the Model Flying club on Saturday afternoons, and in fact it has been quite pleasant sitting in the car in the sunshine, listening to the radio, with my flask and my knitting for a couple of hours, while he joined his friends to play with fly his aeroplane - I doubt I would have knitted had I been at home.

And yes, the title was right, It is DD`s birthday but these lovely tulips are a present to me. It is a tradition my Dad started when she was little. Each year, on her birthday DD gives me a plant, or some flowers to say thank you for being her Mummy (as if being her mummy wasn`t reward enough). Initially Dad bought the gift himself, then as she got a little older he took her to choose and now at the age of 14 she has taken over the role herself. She used to get as excited about giving me my plant as she did about getting her own birthday presents - bless. And I can recall one year having a polyanthus shoved under my sleeping nose at 5.30am!, and another year a small heather (which dad had carefully made a protective cardboard box for) being presented enthusiastically upside down - it survived, though a little battered.

Look what my Daddy made me...

I have been coveting a swift for ages, but knowing I wouldn`t use it a great deal (sorry to confess but a lot of my knitting is in acrylic especially as much of it is still using my ancient stash, and/or for charity) I couldn`t justify the cost - then it suddenly dawned on me - my Dad is a dab hand with wood, tends to be a little on the industrial scale mind, having learnt all he knows when he worked on the farm and everything had to withstand the rigours of the outdoors or the animals. So armed with a picture I went to smile sweetly. Now with my Dad you always underestimate, for example if he asks what you want from his allotment and you say a few beans for lunch, he will turn up with a carrier bag full, bless him, so I scaled my request accordingly and hey presto - it`s perfect! Having been a human swift for many hours himself as a child he thought it was a brilliant idea and set to immediately. And best of all it didn`t cost me a penny - he is such a hoarder (is there such thing as a stash of wood?) The main bits were once upon a time a table, the dowel is from a cot (probably not mine though I wouldn`t put it past him to still have some of it and I`m in my forties!) and the washers are freebie CD`s.

I think he is a clever old stick and I am very lucky to have him.

In case you are wondering what the yarn is, it is Colinette Giotto, ready for my throw, which I have now started but there isn`t enough otn to make it worth a piccy yet. I have discovered however that it is not very portable which sounds like an excellent excuse to start something else - I have Thermal from Knitty in mind and will be hovering over the computer and eBay this afternoon hoping to win that yarn I have fallen in love with. (but then you already know how much I love a bargain so I`m sure this won`t surprise you at all)

I have also been busy reading, I came across this book on my trip to London a few weeks back and couldn`t resist It`s my party and I`ll knit if I want to! by Sharon Aris and although the book is based in Australia I found it very interesting and was surprised how many names and companies I had heard of. The synopsis ......

`Knitting as the new feminism? You bet. This is a lighthearted, philosophical look at why knitting is back in fashion and the fabulous women (and men!) embracing the lost arts of their grandmothers. Knitting is in a major revival. Knitters have been spotted in parliament, in pubs, at the cricket. And they're not just over 50. They're young, sassy, professional women. What is going on here? This is third-wave feminism in action. The previous generation made the workplace the centre for action; now it's the home front. This is a feminism that enjoys a career but doesn't think that a career alone is enough. Answering questions such as: Is it okay to knit in public?; Is it okay to share needles?; and natural versus synthetic?, Sharon Aris tells you how to knit yourself to happiness and truly embrace the world of your grandmother`

...says it all really. It was a great read, I enjoyed her excepts from her knitting diary, and found lots of things throughout the book that I could identify with.

Thank you ... and Charity Knit III

First of all I want to say thank you to everyone who has commented on my previous post. The week continued with DH being admitted to hospital for a couple of days for observation and tests (thank goodness for the private health insurance through my work - it was more like a stay in a hotel, 3 course meals, en suite and TV in the room - he even borrowed DD`s laptop to carry on working!) Once `released` he had more tests, in fact it seems as though he has had every diagnostic test known to man, and given enough blood samples to single handedly maintain the blood bank for the entire South East! But I am glad to say everything (except cholesterol) has come back normal, so we are now left to pick up the pieces and try to overcome the incredible tiredness we are both feeling, and move onwards.

I am eternally grateful that he has changed his job and is thoroughly enjoying the new one despite the set back (well how many people work whilst in hospital - that in itself says something).

And now for charity knit III,

I needed something which required no thought or concentration, so this Easy Hooded Wrap from the Baby pack project fitted the bill perfectly, all in garter stitch, using some more of my unidentified (but lovely and soft, pretty coloured varigated) yarn. I followed their pattern, to the exact measurements, but it does seem rather small for a wrap to me - but if that is what they want, then fine. (BTW - the edge isn`t as bad as the photo suggests IRL)

And just because it amuses me - look at this little tyke -

now I know who stole the half coconut full of bird cake (in its entirety I hasn`t to add)

Strange couple of weeks (self indulgent post - sorry)

I didn`t really know what else to call this post, and it certainly has been a strange couple of weeks. As I sit here typing, I`m not entirely sure how this post is going to develop, but here goes, and I do hope you will forgive me.

DH came back from his Toy Fair, eventually. He was due to catch the Eurostar in Brussels arriving at Ashford at 9.30pm, but around 8pm I got a frantic phone call asking me to try and sort things out. However when I phoned Eurostar, strangely enough, there didn`t seem to be an option

"if your husband`s travelling companion has insisted it isn`t this Brussels station they need, and they are currently hurtling towards Paris non- stop - Please press 6"

Eventually after much phoning around, at one point on the landline in one hand, DH on my mobile in the other, whilst also trying to find info on the computer, with my nose I think it must have been at that point - with no way across the channel at that time of day, we finally gave up and the party booked into a Paris hotel and came home the next day instead.

Having reached `new levels of tiredness` as he put it, DH was glad of the relaxation for a few days, before he was due to start his new job. Then we had a very enjoyable day out in London on Friday, browsing round Foyles , and Borders opposite which are both amazing bookshops - plus the British Museum - what an impressive ceiling, before returning home when the bomb hit -

DH had a mini stroke! It seems incredible that this should happen to a fit(ish) 43 year old non-smoker, just about to start a new career which he was so looking forward to. We spent the entire night in A & E (not a place I`d recommend for a friday evening out!) and I`m very pleased to say that physically there are no lasting effects, but naturally we are on tenderhooks and feel quite stressed and worried should it happen again - I will be so glad when he has seen the specialist and had CT scans (schelduled for this weekend) so hopefully we can get some answers.

After research we decided we have two choices - sit worrying and waiting for something that may never happen again, or get on with life. With this in mind, and being that his new boss is in fact his brother, (so some one `in the know` would be looking out for him) he decided to start his new job as planned. Unfortunately he has been told not to drive for a week, fortunately it`s half term so I`m not working and am playing taxi, (an hours round trip) but it`s worth it - he is loving every minute of his new job.

Sorry to bore you all, just sometimes it is good to get these things out of the system.

And now a lovely picture (well I think it is) to lighten the mood, why do crocus turning their heads to the sun make me want to smile.

Not such a bad shop after all!

I`ve been hunting the internet in vain for some beads to finish off the Glitzy scarf from Knitting that has been otn for quite a while now (`add some sparkle in no time ` it said, huh, I ought to have them up under the trades description act, their idea of no time is obviously a lot different to mine) and though those helpful ladies on the forum came up with some great links (which have been bookmarked) DD suggested a trip to Hobbycraft.
Now, I`ve been to Hobbycraft a few times before, but I have never been impressed - until today that is. Not only did I find my beads, but I also came away with

6 balls of Rowan R2 rag print for .....49p a ball!!!!! plus some pretend mohair that has 270m on the ball for just £1.49, both are destined for a project which is based on the Colinette Perugino throw but being me, it will be the cheapskate version, using some bits from stash and some Giotto and Tagliatelli from eBay, and todays bargains.

Now I guess I should really have had my suspicions at DD`s eagerness to go to Hobbycraft, and following on from our `Card day ` last saturday, these items seemed to land in the basket too but I`m not complaining in the slightest, as I said before, I`m all for encouraging anything crafty, so I`m pleased she is taking an interest. She is currently downstairs experimenting with her (or rather my) purchases, with the occasional trip up here to use the heat gun for the embossing, and to show her handiwork.

It seems a little strange in the Modelwidow household this weekend as DH is away on a business trip - at least that`s what he tells me, but since he is at the International Toy Fair in Nuremburg that sounds like far too much fun to be business. I know leaving his last job after 28 years was very hard (and many have said brave) but I am really hoping that he has indeed landed on his feet - I mean to say can you imagine how good it would be to be able to try out new stuff, visit exhibitions, write about and generally immerse yourself in your favourite hobby...and get paid for it! But, he has worked damned hard and put up with a lot of stress over the last few years so he deserves it.

Charity Knit II

Modelled by DD. This is Center Square Hat from the winter issue of Knitty, I know I don`t need it until next November when it will form part of the Love in a Box that I do each year through work, but I needed a break from my lace scarf (not difficult but I`m getting a bit bored) and just fancied trying this pattern. I used some DK from my stash and it worked out fine. I did wonder if I should have had some more cheerful colours, but by the time I thought that I was too far down the line to undo it and start again, and besides, having picked up a pair of black knitted gloves in Dorothy Perkins sale for £1 this will go nicely with them.

Yesterday DD and I went to a `Card day` held at a friends house. Louise has all the gadgets you could wish for in her chosen hobbies and generously thought it would be nice for a group of us to get together and have a play. We all know each other from Tonbridge Lacemakers (except DD who was made very welcome) and so the seven of us had a lovely day. I am not a cardmaker but it being the one craft that DD shows an interest in, I was more than happy to go along and encourage it, and anything crafty is worth spending some time on.
We each took a contribution for a buffet lunch with Louise providing the drinks and we had a great time, recycling last years Christmas cards and generally learning, playing and giving and receiving ideas and techniques.
My efforts are left, DD`s to the right.
I still don`t think it is something I will do a great deal of, but it was great fun to try.

Charity Knit I

Well I never said they would be big things did I? In fact this is absolutely diddy, but since it is destined for the special care baby unit no doubt there will be a wee head to fit it.

That`s the good thing about charity knitting - no tension squares, after all the recipient will be found to fit the item, rather than having to knit to fit. So this little hat was made with an unlabelled ball of something or other, little dpns that looked about the right size, and a pattern I had printed off the internet sometime ago from `I haven`t a clue where` - what a fine pedigree, still it`s cute and if it helps keep a prem babys head warm, that`s the main thing.

Yesterday was the Tonbridge Lacemakers meeting, and my turn on the tea rota. So off I went armed with my cakes (Paradise Slice) and rubber gloves (some washing up liquids make my hands itch so better safe than sorry) to do my duty with a couple of friends. I do volunteer every year, I feel it is only fair to take a turn, but I can well see why others don`t....I`m so sorry, but I really can`t make tea the the perfect strength for each and every one of the 70 odd of you - I do my best, you can even add your specific amount of milk yourself if you like (though even that isn`t right for some of you since the milk of course should be put in the cup first..grrrrr) but at the end of the day I am only human! And how about those that moan the most volunteering first next year, huh?

Anyway, rant over.
I was so taken with the poem in the back of our newsletter (not lace or knitting related though), that I thought I would share it with you. I can`t give credit to the author as they are unknown.

Grandma and the Computer

The computer swallowed Grandma.

Yes, honestly it`s true.

She pressed `control` and `enter`

And disappeared from view.

It devoured her completely,

The thought just makes me squirm.

She must have caught a virus

Or been eaten by a worm.

I`ve searched through the recycle bin

And file of every kind,

I`ve even used the Internet

But nothing did I find.

In desperation I asked Jeeves

My searches to refine.

The reply from him was negative,

Not a thing was found`online`.

So, if inside your `Inbox`,

My Grandma you should see,

Please `Copy`,`Scan` and `Paste` her

And send her back to me.

Better late than never

HAPPY NEW YEAR



I know, it`s already the 7th and I haven`t updated the blog yet this year. My excuse, poor one though it is, is that I have now started working full time, for the first time in 14 years. I thought it would be really tough, but actually (so far) it has been good, and I feel less harrassed than I did working part time. No longer am I clock watching to make sure I finish dead on time to meet my friend to walk back to the car, and I don`t need to rush to beat DD home, and if a call goes into my break it isn`t so bad as my break is longer and I can afford to lose a little time where as with quarter of an hour break every minute counted.
Long may it continue - and I still have the school holidays to look forward to.


We had a lovely New Years Eve as expected, and didn`t get home til 2am. DD was a tired bunny so on New Years day she curled up in front of a DVD wrapped in her favourite crochet blanket made by Nan. It wasn`t long before she fell asleep, and quite some time later woke to find she was unable to move and couldn`t work out what was wrong - I could though

Some one had made themselves very comfy and was pinning the blanket down!

Well, I suppose it is traditional to make resolutions at this time of year - often I don`t but for 2007 I have decided on just two, one knitting, one not :-

........By the end of the year I want to have 10 knits for charity

.........And I want to have got a bit fitter, as I`m beginning to feel as if I`m slowing down and being in my early 40`s that is just not good enough!

Shouldn`t be too hard to succeed, she says, watch this space and I will keep you posted.