Feeling the pinch.....

As I'm sure many others also experiencing we're noticing that things are getting more & more expensive here in England. The media are talking the country into a recession & everything is affected. I work in sales & have definitely noticed a reduction in market confidence in the past 6 months. Equally prices of almost everything have risen by a ridiculous rate mostly driven by the rise in fuel costs but wages aren't increasing :( Luckily my new job is just over a mile away from our home & for the first time since my operation I took my bike today rather than the car. DH travels to work on the bus & his fares have increased recently citing increased fuel costs as the cause.

Luckily we capped our energy prices just in time to escape the massive price increases from British Gas although we keep getting letters from them asking us to reconsider! I bought a Clothes airer last November & have already saved 2 1/2 times the purchase price in fuel bills so at least we can dry our clothes for free & utilise the otherwise wasted warm air from the central heating (when it's on). We're using Eco Balls & a Magno Ball as we're in a hardwater area & our machine was getting built up with limescale & kept spitting bits out all over the washing (hopefully this will keep it going a bit longer). A few hot washes with white vinegar has sorted out the smell from a build up detergent & the clothes are clean without detergent. I've also moved over to a Mooncup for both environmental & cost issues & am getting used to it. It's definitely more flexible than traditional methods, a lot cleaner & I'm no longer plagued with guilt regarding sanitary towels in landfill. A Wireless Electricity Monitor has led to loads of plugs being turned off & I've totally reassessed where I do our shopping & have got a lot cleverer about what I buy but then again I've never been one to waste food or throw money away.

Now the challenge is for DH to finish the small extension that he's been working hard on so that he can install a new efficient central heating boiler that doesn't leak or drop pressure so that our house is warmer, install new windows in our bedroom so we don't freeze this winter & for me to earn enough in commission to pay for it all. At least I have a decent yarn stash so that my 'habit' won't be curtailed


Long term we'd like a Solid fuel stove to warm the house & heat the water, re-insulate the loft as it's been badly done & new windows throughout but can't afford to have them all done at once.

Has anybody got any other tips?

ETA:

We're keen Freecyclers, shop at the local Farmers Market & I'm planning to start growing a few vegetables next year when I've cleared some space in the garden. Plus a water meter is going to be installed when the extension is finished. All our lightbulbs are low energy & we're trying to teach DD not to leave lights/PC's/TV on when she leaves the room.

'Dales do Dalby

We're on holiday & I'm starting to walk them again. I'm a bit slow & can't yet do the 4 miles that I normally do but I managed 2 this morning. I think the fact that I've lost nearly 4 stone in the past 11 months & am a lot fitter than I used to be has helped a lot. Thanks for all the emails, texts & comments. I'm knitting again & have two new wip's but more on those soon.....

Sore....

I was rushed to hospital on Thursday night with intense pain & it turned out to be a ruptured ovarian cyst & appendix problems so both were removed. I'm glad to be home as hospitals aren't a good place to rest & recover but at least the pain relief is good. I was so pleased to have the morphine!

Luckily DH is around so he's looking after me, the dogs & DD when she surfaces from her pit/bed.

So I won't be starting my new job tomorrow after all!

Ahh

I've now got just over two weeks off before I start my new job. So lots of walking the 'dales, spending time with DD
(who has been a lot better recently), gardening & of course knitting. Now all I need is some sunshine!

Ongoing stuff & a lesson learned

My life has been a bit complicated in the past few months & it's all starting to get a bit much. However I have resolved one 'drain' on my energy & found myself a new job
I now have just one week left in my current employment & then two weeks off before I start my new role. I have been unhappy for at least the past two years but as my job was so flexible around DD & very close to home it was hard to find another with the same 'flexibility'. I've done that now & after 4 hours of interviews in one day (phew!) left with a job offer & a big smile on my face.

I've told the 'big boss' exactly why I was leaving & the person concerned has had a 'talking to'. It's sad that he's continuing to make other people unhappy but at least the MD is aware of what's going on now.

DD has also been giving us grief but that's part of the territory with a teenager (or pre-teen as she doesn't turn 13 until October). We've been attending parent courses to learn how to deal with her behaviour but that has had the unpleasant side effect of dragging up all the 'crap' I endured as a child in the hands of my mother. DH has likened it to a deep festering wound long buried so I'm trying to bury it again maybe slightly healed if that can happen.

So this brings me onto the lesson learned:

Don't, whatever you do, start a sock (or pair of socks) when you're feeling down & depressed. My judgment must have been clouded as I had already swatched in ss & cast on the number of stitches accordingly but of course the socks weren't to be knit in ss!


Uptown Boot socks in KPPM: to be frogged :(

Pattern: Uptown Boot Socks
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM 044949
Needles: 2x 60cm 2.25mm Knitpicks circulars

Verdict: I adore the pattern & enjoyed learning how to cable without a cable needle. Equally the yarn is gorgeous but the two together don't work with my feet.


Uptown Boot pattern close up

The cabling pulled the fabric in too tight & if I increase the stitches to the required amount it doesn't work with the pattern. Ho hum....

So I think found another pattern for this yarn & will be casting on very soon. However I'll going to do a round of purl on the knitting I've already done & swatch the new pattern before I frog & cast on again.

Handspun Scarf

Handspun Scarf

Pattern: Yarn Harlot's Handspun Scarf
Yarn: 386 yards (3.9 skeins) of Noro Cash Iroha
Needles: 5mm
Time Taken: October 2007 - April 27th 2008 with a few big gaps in between knitting.


Handspun Scarf

This scarf had been intended as a Christmas present for my Dad & was nearly finished in time. However he then went abroad just before Christmas for a few months so it sat in a corner unfinished. He's now back in the country & loves his scarf.


Handspun Scarf

The yarn was ideal for this pattern as it's single ply really suited the stitch pattern & was so soft after washing.

More soon

There is a lot going on here; mostly good but definitely stressful. I'll be able to reveal more soon but in the meantime here's my latest knitting project:


Baby Ribbons Blanket in King Cole Smooth DK

A friend of mine is due to have her baby in five weeks & doesn't want to know the gender so I have chosen a combination of colours which are neutral but hopefully still attractive.

I had planned to cast on another pair of socks for July but have now changed my mind & instead will concentrate on various WIP's in the hope of finishing some....