Tuesday, February 28, 2006

A belated thank you

My SP sent me this very cute pressie last week but I'm really late in showing it off. My only excuse is that we were both still recovering from the Black Eyed Flu last week & hit the sack as early as we could. So without further ado look what arrived with a cute note via Taj Yarns



Addi Crochet hook
Addi Crochet hook


My SP got a bit of a tip from a certain sneaky toad as I'd rung him to see if he could get me the above hook at the Brighton show for DD's hat. Loads of cryptic comments & a few emails from Toady the hook hit the door mat. Those with a good memory will have noticed that it matches the 9mm hook that I bought at the The Knitting & Stitching show in November.

Thanks very much SP!

Monday, February 27, 2006

I'm back & thank you

Firstly thanks to everyone for your lovely comments. I deliberated about posting the last post but I suppose it was a way of getting it out of my system. The date has now past & I've now lived away from my mother longer than I have 'with' her. 'With' is a bit dubious as I actually spent a fair amount of my childhood with other people but that's another story which may or not be told.

I had a great time at Skip North & will be posting pics soon. Unfortunately I was useless & forgot to use the camera I took with me but DH has promised to take some pics of my purchases soon.

Many thanks to Lixie & Nickerjac for organising it all & ensuring that we all had fun. More on this soon......

Thursday, February 23, 2006

looking back & to the future

Tomorrow is a significant date for me - 24th February 1989 was the day I was made homeless by my mother aged 17 years old and it was 17 years ago (yes I'm 34 now) plus it was also a Friday. I left her flat with a few things in a bag and my two dogs: Tess (x breed was about 5 years old) & Libby my first Airedale was 13 weeks old. I had no idea where I was going to sleep that night & was still at school studying my 'A' levels.

I was scared & totally freaked out. I had endured so much sh*t from her all my life that in one way I was relieved that I didn't have to pretend anymore that she was a good mum & that she might change. However I had hardly any money, nowhere to sleep & two dogs to care for - they kept me going. It was also very cold being February.

I ended up staying with dog loving friends for the weekend, then my grandparents for a couple of weeks & then moved in with another friend so that I could finish school. My grandparents kept Tess (& I never got her back ) & Libby stayed with me. I initally left my cats with my mother but took them back when I found them living in awful conditions when I returned a few months later to collect my stuff. So Tia is my last link with my childhood.

It was very hard but I got through it & came out the otherside a stronger person. I totally messed up my exams 4 months later but that's not surprising really.

I think this prehaps explains why I love animals. As a child my dog gave me unconditional love, didn't shout at me or let me down & was always pleased to see me. It's just as well DH is an animal lover too as I could never get rid of them.

So I'm really pleased that on this 'special' anniversary that I've got something good to look forward to. Tomorrow morning I'm heading over to West Yorkshire & Skip North. I've met quite a few of the attendees before & am looking forward to a fun filled, relaxing weekend which is a HUGE improvement on 17 years ago

Monday, February 20, 2006

Back in the world of the living...

I'm back & don't know where the last week has gone. I definately don't feel as if I've just had nearly a week off work. I went back today & was exhausted by the time I got the office. What is it about having a shower & washing your hair that is so tiring if you've been ill? I resorted to a can of a famous energy drink with wings by mid day as I desperately needed to put my head on the desk & have a quick snooze but that wouldn't have gone down well.

Hardly any knitting happened last week as my head was a bowl of sludgy porridge. I did however manage a couple of little things (albeit very slowly) & will posts pics in the next day or two.

Vince has settled into her mamouth cage & is very happy to be handled. I know DD would have prefered a playful kitten but both DH & I put our foot down at any more 'big pets' as we don't want more 'long living' responsibility. I also think that the cats (particulary Tia who will be 19 years old in May) are too old to accept a kitten & would be extremely put out. DD seems to get upset that the hamster is constantly trying to escape from her cage & won't just sit on her knee for a cuddle. However she has at least she's given up on the idea of her hamster learning to adapt to human ways & staying awake during the day so that a certain devoted girl can play with her.

The last week has also taught us that it's really hard if you're both sick with a child in the house. We'd been luckly previously & have never done a flu double act before. It's bloody hard work surviving 'Black Eyed Flu' (as DH has taken to calling it) when neither of you has the energy or will to do anything and there's a (constantly demanding) child in the house who needs transporting to & from school, feeding, entertaining, providing with clean clothes/dishes/read *whatever* constantly. At one point she shouted at us that we were BORING as all we did was lie in bed/sofa/*anywhere comfortable & horizontal*. The one good thing was that we aren't both ill this week as she's now off school for a week. At least we had a few hours peace whilst she was at school & were thereby able to rest in an attempt to get better.

She definately isn't nurse material and has no concept of lowering her volume (be it voice, feet on uncarperted stairs, audio books on her stereo, TV etc etc) in consideration for others. In addition, my so far half hearted attempts at teaching her to cook have been unsuccessful, as she point blank refused to take us up on the offer of providing a meal for the family. It's hard to cook (even cooking the now totally depleted store of freshly prepared & home cooked freezer meals) when you really don't want to eat & can barely stand.

I was lucky that until Thursday another parent was able to do the school run for us. Her child has however left the school now, as they're moving to Scotland shortly, so on Friday I had to do it. Again that awful combination - a shower & leaving the house, left me totally knackered. Add to the mix driving to collect the much coverted hamster (read total melt down if I postphoned the collection of said hamster) & a trip to the Supermarket as the cupboards were nearly bare - all of which resulted in my going back to bed for an hour before the return journey to school.

As an added bonus said child was climbing the walls as she hadn't been swimming (she normally trains 8 hours a week) so had loads of energy, as had two very large dogs who didn't go further than the garden Fred suggested harnessing them to a Go-Kart in order to keep my New Years Resolutions (see side bar) but I declined that one.

Can you imagine it - two hyper, bouncing Airedales dragging a black eyed, wild haired, weak & feable woman down the street & half way up a tree as they chase our neighbours kitten who insists on taunting them from the top of our garden wall! - NO THANKS......

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Meet Vince (female)

Vince
Vince



Vince
Vince



Vince
Vince & DD

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

as I'm too ill to concentrate on knitting....

Your Heart Is Red

You're a passionate lover - you always have a huge fire in your heart.
Too bad it's hard for you to be passionate about just one person!

Your flirting style: Outgoing and sexy

Your lucky first date: Drinks and dancing

Your dream lover: Is both stable and intense

What you bring to relationships: Honesty

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Monday, February 13, 2006

We've passed!

The RSPCA Inspector was very happy & has passed us with flying colours. I think she wanted to move in herself when she saw our new bathroom & the dogs were chuffed to get a cuddle. The Rotastak cage is in pieces as DD has been playing & working out the best combination of tubes & rooms.

I tried my best to pretend that the Inspector had found fault with something when DD came home from school but couldn't keep a straight face. I love winding her up but am a useless liar.

DH is currently on the sofa dying of manflu & Tia is abusing him & making the most of a boiling hot body that isn't moving. The central heating is on & still he's freezing. Thank god he fixed the boiler on Saturday morning as otherwise he'd really be suffering.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Busy weekend

As usual in the blueadt house we've been really busy. The loft is now practically empty with a few things up there that are there to stay plus my yarn stash That will be coming down again in a couple of weeks when I've got some new storage boxes & will thereafter live in the spare room where I can get access to it easily.

DH & DD were up & down the ladder yesterday to the loft & I own up to only going up once just to see how empty it was as I'm petrified of heights. I was kept busy trying to get rid of all our unwanted junk on Freecycle - just over half has gone now including the bigger items & the rest will end up at a charity shop by the end of the week if nobody else wants it.

DD (who is currently grounded for a week due to being a little brat so no swimming - read Monday & Tuesday nights at home for me - Yay!!! ) is on cloud 9 as the RSPCA rang this morning to say that they have a hamster available. She's wanted one for the past 5 years ever since Charlie died & we asked her to wait until the extension was finished & it'll join my stash in the spare room - (but not to bed down in - I'll make sure of that). I didn't want the cage to go in her room in case it keeps her awake at night & daren't have it downstairs as the dogs would love to 'hunt hamster'. An Inspector is coming tomorrow afternoon to see if we're suitable & hopefully I'll be able to collect it on Friday. Apparently it was found in a park as some dimwit had released it 'into the wild'.

DD has now gone to bed armed with plently of reading material to learn how to look after it. I know that the majority of care will fall to me but I like hamsters so don't mind. We were offered two beautiful gerbils when we went to the RSPCA but I can't stand rodent tails so had to refuse. She's is also debating what name to give it - gender isn't known yet but so far it's a toss up between Ron & Ginny - I suggested Harry but that met utter distain.

No knitting but instead I've been crocheting. Hello Mango helped me with a pattern on Friday night at knitting group & I'm now on row 6 of a beanie hat for DD. The yarn is Jaeger Matchmaker Merino Aran in red. Photos soon.

We nearly had a very miserable & cold weekend. When he got up yesterday morning DH realised that the central heating boiler (housed in the garage) had died - upon hearing this news I snuggled down under the duvet again & didn't venture out into the bedroom. Within an hour he had removed the broken part, bought a new part which was expensive & replaced it so the house is nice & warm again.

Don't you just love practical guys!

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Loft clearance

DH has finally nearly finished the house & before he relays the cream stair carpet & same in the spare room we had to empty the loft.

Oh my god - I can't believe we've kept so much stuff. The vast majority of it has been offered on Freecycle & I'm now waiting for emails from people who want it. Our living room floor is totally covered (no pics as it's a TOTAL mess) so I hope we get some offers soon. Plus loads of empty boxes which will have to sit in the garage until we can fit them in the bin over the next few weeks.

The one thing that I'm pleased to uncover is my old knitting basket. Lots of UFO's including a baby jumper which just needs one more sleeve in cream & terricota dk cotton. Other UFO's I don't want will be frogged & the needles freed.

Update - just had an enquiry for the smallest item I hope the rest goes soon.

Sunday, February 05, 2006

Jaywalker poll






Opal Rainforest Parrot
Opal Rainforest Parrot


Lorna's Laces
Lorna's Laces


Socka Color
Socka Color

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Thanks Secret Pal

I came home on Thursday to a jiffy bag lying on the door mat. I hadn't bought anything from ebay & neither did I know the man whose name was written on the back of the package. Opening it I found these:

SP 7 gifts
SP 7 gifts


And one of the most beautiful cards that I've ever seen:

SP 7 card
SP 7 card


All are from Australia so I initially thought that my pal was an Aussie living in England. But then last night remembered that she had just returned from a holiday. So now to search the Secret Pal 7 Participants list if I ever have time. I've only been through the first couple so far so probably won't ever get to the end.

Thank you SP - it was a nice surprise to come home to.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Thumbs Up!

Ok I'm back on track. The upload problem was similar to my recent comment problem - changes to the settings - nice & simple once you identify what you've done.

Finally the very long awaited first Tiger Opal Rainforest Jaywalker

Tiger Jaywalker
Tiger Jaywalker


The above photo shows the bit where the black pooled a bit but I don't mind it. The heel managed to have a perfect orange & black stripey bit which I like alot but I doubt I'll manage to get the second one to do the same:

Tiger Jaywalker heel
Tiger Jaywalker heel


And finally something which really saved me time & hassle - a life line

Tiger Jaywalker life line
Tiger Jaywalker life line


This proved to be worth it as I went wrong on the toe & had to frog it. Not a problem with an extra bit of yarn threaded through the stitches before the toe shaping started but a total disaster without it.

And finally.....

my friends baby in Canada gives her approval to her Herringbone Bootees knitted in Debbie Bliss's Baby Cashmerino.

Herringbone Bootees
Thumbs Up!

Progress but no photos

I've finished my first Tiger Opal Rainforest Jaywalker & will be casting on the second very soon. I had a few problems with the pattern - all mine I hasten to add. The latest mishap was that I'd gone wrong on the toe. Susoolu was on hand & quickly identified where I'd gone wrong. Sometimes you can look at something too much - well I can anyway

Nearly finished is the Boat Neck Sweater in Jaeger Matchmaker Merino Aran which has been blocked and just needs one more arm to be sewn on.

Plus a parcel from my SP! But I can't posts pictures at the moment so can't reveal anything yet

DH will be attempting to sort out the glitch with his server - hopefully pics will be up soon.