A late update – with photos

Somehow during the course of today, I have managed to do a load of housework, cook dinner, walk to the supermarket and back (at least 45 mins each way) and still complete the tiny baby hat I was knitting to go with the tiny cardigan. 

If I have time, after making a bear, I’ll make a magic bunny to go with them as a gift from me.  The yarn for the cardi and hat is Snuggly 4ply from Sirdar, and it’s amazingly soft.  It was a close run thing though as I had just one 50g ball to work with and I ended up with less than 6 inches of it left! 

The walk to Sainsbury’s was nice, as we took the scenic route through the River Ray Parkway and even detoured down the bridle path for a short way.  We were glad we did, as we heard and then saw a buzzard ‘pew’-ing and soaring over the treetops before diving down out of sight.  They make such a delicate noise for such a big bird of prey.  Then we spotted a cormorant flying over head, circling round and eventually meeting up with a second cormorant.  The two of them continued circling, really close together and occasionally even touching.  I don’t have a clue what they were doing, but it was still interesting to watch.

It turned out though, that I’m not as well healed as I thought…I’ve had pain running from the surgery scars right through to the old pain sites ever since the walk home.  Oh well, I guess it just takes time.

A quick Saturday catch-up

I don’t have much time today, so this will be even briefer than usual.  I have a thousand and one household chores to do, plus 2 very short deadline knitting projects to get on with. 

I’m back at work full-time now, kind of enjoying it, but frustrated at how little time there seems to be by the time I’ve been at work all day, endured rush-hour traffic on the drive home, cooked and eaten dinner and then washed up afterwards.  It didn’t help that this week we’ve been round to see A’s Mum twice (helping her to install a new phone) and my Mum once (it was her birthday yesterday).  Being able to drive in the evening can be a burden as well as a bonus!  At least once this week we didn’t even get out for a walk. 

Anyway, on to the good stuff…although it’s not that good…there hasn’t really been much knitting time either, and I’ve been too tired to do anything complicated.  I’ve only done a round or two on the shawl in the last couple of weeks.  Maybe I’ll take it on holiday with me and make some progress then.  A’s cardi is coming along.  It now has nearly-sleeves, just coming up to the point where the sleeves join the body.  Sadly, it’s back on hold again. 

I finished these little pretties:

They will be in the post to New Zealand as soon as we get our act together. 

I had just returned to the cardi, when I was approached by a friend at work for help with premature baby cardigans.  Her granddaughter was born 11 weeks early, and has already survived 7 weeks in an incubator.  Marriella is now doing so well that she is allowed short cuddles out of the incubator, provided she is wrapped up warmly enough.  Enter Grandma’s plan for tiny little cardigans.  Marriella is only 4lbs at this point and measures just 10 inches around her chest.  I can’t even imagine a baby that tiny, it’s amazing she can survive, let alone thrive as she is so far.  So I’m starting this:

Avril supplied both yarn and pattern, and I started last night.  It’s so small, it should knit up really fast. 

I was satisfied that I’d be back to A’s jacket really quickly, until we were at my Mum’s last night and I spotted a row of tiny teddies on the mantelpiece.  I remembered with a sinking feeling that I’d made them for my step-dad’s last two birthdays, and promised another bear and the rest of the picnic set (blanket, crockery, food etc) for this year.  His birthday is 2 weeks today.  Aaaarrrgghh! 

Oh well, as usual I’ll just get on with it and hope I have time for everything.  A really wants his jacket to take on holiday, but it looks like he’ll just have to wait!

Photo Saturday

So, back to work it is.  Or rather, I am.  After clearing e-mails on Weds, I went in to the office Thursday and Friday mornings.  And it was seriously hard, really tiring.  Maybe I’m not as completely recovered as I thought!  The good news is, my laptop is back and seems to be working this time.  This means I can start my new working pattern this coming week, working in the office three full days a week, and at home for two days.  The boss-man is coming to catch up on Monday, but apart from that it should be a quiet week (touch wood, cross fingers, insert other superstition here).

Boring work out of the way, on to knitting.  I haven’t done much since Wednesday’s update except start on these tiny pretties:

They are ‘Baby Monkeys’, for our friends Tim and Jenny’s new baby boy.  Montague (Monty) was born on Weds, so I started these Thursday…they’ll have a matching garter-square bunny, and will be sent off to New Zealand asap. 

For now, that means all other knitting is on hold.  I can give a quick update on A’s jacket though:

That’s the main body, folded in half, ready for sleeves.  The sleeves are on their way. 

Also, the photo I promised of my recovery socks:

I wore them for work on Thursday, and they were really comfortable.  Since washing, they have become even softer still – I’m really impressed with this yarn, especially as there is loads left! 

As of this week, I am pleased to announce that I have lost half a stone, since joining the ‘Knit not eat’ group on Ravelry and making an effort to eat better.  It helped that I lost 4 lbs over the 2 weeks of surgery and recovery, but I expected to put most of that back on so didn’t really count it.  I have only regained 1 lb though, so I’m doin’ a little happy dance.  It’s a good start and I’m determined to do even better.

I think that’s all the news for now.  I have washing and jam-making to get on with!

Photo Saturday returns!

Wow, there’s lots to tell this week…knitting, garden and surgery news.  It has been a hard week though, lots of pain, only two mornings in the office, no attempt to go to knitting in the library.  There has been a shocker of a letter from the hospital, a big disappointment from family and seemingly endless rain.  Still, it’s Saturday now, it’s sunny and even though I’m tired I don’t feel too bad. 

So, starting with knitting…I sent the baby socks and bunny to David in Bristol, for his new baby Anna.  He got them on his return to work on Weds and by Friday I already had a thank you card!  He seemed impressed by the bunny – once he’d worked out which way up it should go…and what it was! 

I’ve been plodding away at my entrelac scarf for what seems like months, and I suppose is months in reality.  It ahs finally made it to a length I’m happy with, with about 3/4 of a ball of yarn left.   I think I’m going to break off the yarn but leave the scarf stitches live, then make a hat and gloves to match.  I don’t expect there’ll be enough yarn left for both hat and gloves, and it’s a bit garish anyway, so I’m thinking of matching it to another ball of sock yarn, of a similar weight and creating something that uses both.  Maybe a stripe of the Apple Hill craziness?  Even a stripe of entrelac squares…who knows, I’ll get creative and see what happens. 

Anyway, here is the scarf in all it’s lovely longness (bear in mind it isn’t blocked):

Bright, huh?

I’ve also been working on the cobweb shawl I started and restarted last week.  It’s lovely, so delicate, but does take a lot of concentration.  This makes it slow going, especially as I have to put it away as soon as I get too tired, or something on the television catches my attention.  This photo doesn’t show it off very well – it’s really hard to stretch out to show the pattern, and the colours don’t quite look right either.  Still, I’m pleased so far:

The shiny white threads are dental floss lifelines, there to ensure I don’t have to start again if I do lose concentration. 

The final knitting news is that I finally got the buttons for my stripy cardigan:

I’ve worn it so much already, because it’s so comfy and warm.  It’s a surprisingly good fit, too, and it’s only because it isn’t black that A hasn’t stolen it as yet.  Guess what my next big project will be?!

Now, on to the garden.  Lots of growth, a few pretty flowers, herbs everywhere and an apricot tree! 

First, a pot of dill and a window box of parsley, chives and basil:

 

Next, lavender and pots of flowers:

 

Crazy teasels – there are three pots of these:

And finally, my pride and joy…an apricot tree:

Okay, so not so much a tree as an almost-not-there-seedling.  But it’s so cool, I grew it myself, from a stone!  The other two planted at the same time didn’t come to anything, but we really don’t have space for one apricot tree, never mind three! 

Apart from all of that flourishment, my Dad came round with a miniature sunflower, which I’ve discovered is very very attractive to snails.  The leaves are systematically being stripped bare, but the brave little thing continues to flower anyway.  The birds are constantly now in the garden, pigeons mainly, but still some other visitors from time to time.  One day last week, I got home from work at lunchtime and spotted a juvenile blackbird and a cheeky sparrow sat on the fence watching me.  As soon as I got out of the car they scarpered, but it was fantastic to see them there.  The pigeons have now got very brave, flapping down to the feeder even when we are in the garden! 

And…so exciting…while I was sat out in the garden last weekend, I saw a leaf-cutter bee!  It was cutting leaves!  Of course it was, that’s why they’re named that, right?  But in a garden that I thought was devoid of life not so long ago, to see something so interesting is such a reward for the work we’ve been putting in this year, and more than repays our insistence on not using chemicals as fertiliser, weedkiller or pesticide.  Slugs and snails we have aplenty, but I’ll live with that for the sake of the leaf-cutter bees

On to slightly less happy stuff, I got a letter from the hospital this week.  As requested by me (?!), I have been taken off the surgery waiting list!  I phoned them immediately and for once got a reply.  The end result is that the admissions officer is trying to squeeze me in to the August surgery list, and I should get a letter over the next few days.  Apparently I’m a difficult case to fit in because I need a two hour slot and an assistant as well as a surgeon.  As far as I’m concerned that should be their problem, not mine, and it’s wrong that I’m left to suffer for it.  I’m seriously approaching the point of complaining. 

Right, I think that’s enough for today.  In the coming week there’s work as usual.  Apart from a big meeting on Tuesday morning and a trip to Plymouth later in the week. That includes a serious, potentially difficult meeting, but also a chance to catch up with Theresa over lunch and potentially dinner.  And of course, there’s that letter from the hospital to look forward to

Now I’d better go get some washing done, before the rain starts again.

Another week gone?

I can’t believe it’s Saturday again already.  I’ve had a much better week, getting in to the office 3 times, working all day every day and even going to the library to knit for the first time in weeks. 

It was lovely to get to the library and catch up, I’ve missed it.  Knitting has really been happening this week in fact.  I finished a pair of tiny baby socks and a little bunny for my colleague’s new baby girl:

The socks are baby ‘Monkeys’ – a massively popular Cookie A pattern, converted to baby size by another talented Raveler.  The bunny is made from a single square of knitted fabric, ingeniously sewn up in the right places to make the cutest little rabbit ever (apart from my bunny-dog of course).  I tucked a tiny bell into the bunny’s head before I sewed it up, so he very faintly jingles.  Soooo cute.

I’ve been working away at my entrelac scarf too, as it’s good mindless knitting now I’ve got the hang of it.  I’ve almost finished the first of two balls of yarn and I’m thinking I won’t need all of it…maybe a hat or gloves to match if there’s enough left?

Finally, in knitting news anyway, I’ve started a shawl.  I have a recurring need to knit a shawl.  I did it once loved the end result, but have only used it once.  That was a reasonably thick w00l, which made a lovely warm shawl.  The one in my head more recently is much lighter, lacier, fancier.  I’ve got some cobweb weight wool from Violet Green, which should be perfect…if a bit scarily delicate.  I chose a pattern, spent two evenings (!) winding the yarn into centre-pull balls, cast on and hated it. 

I have given the pattern more thought and have settled on a circular shawl this time.  I started it, got to about the 24th round, then realised I had dropped a stitch and had a big hole.  So last night I restarted again.  There isn’t much of anything to take pictures of as yet, but as soon as there is…I’ll post again.

Other than knitting, I don’t think there’s much news.  Still no surgery date.  No garden news.  No weight loss (or gain). 

Next week it’s just work as usual.  Except Friday is payday…and we’re getting a bonus .  It’s already allocated to various bills and other commitments, but we do get to book our holiday for October with it.

No-photo Saturday

This week I have no photosto show.  I haven’t finished any knitting, haven’t bought anything new, haven’t even really done anything. 

So why am I writing?  Ah, you know, habit. 

I have been knitting of course.  I’ve got just 1.5 fingers to do to finish my pretty purple gloves.  I would have got there last night if I hadn’t had to stop and wind the 3rd skein of laceweight…which…took…forever!  Perhaps at some point I should invest in a ball winder. 

I haven’t started on my Mum’s second pink sock yet, as I want to finish the gloves first. 

Then I thought I’d make a hat. 

Only I should make a wedding sampler for my friend’s daughter first.  But I want to make a hat.  And some more socks. 

Actually it might be a good idea to take a break from the knitting anyway.  The wedding sampler shouldn’t take more than a couple of weeks, even with designing it myself, as Ali is looking for something small, probably about A5 size.  Then I can return to knitting full of new enthusiasm and fresh ideas.  Cos that’s what I need, right?  New ideas?  More enthusiasm?  Cos there are enough hours in the day to knit everything I want as it is. 

Anyway, I promised to make the wedding sampler, and if I just get on with it, it will be done the quicker.  I might even re-discover my cross-stitch mojo. 

In other news, our friends from New Zealand turned up out of the blue last weekend.  Jenny is bridesmaid at her friend’s wedding today, and was planning to come over on her own.  Tim managed to tag along in the end, bringing with them the good news that they are having a baby! 

In book news, I finished the James Bond book by Sebastian Faulks, which I started a few days ago.  I can’t say I really enjoyed it, and there were definitely times where I was looking forward to the end.  I think I need to read one of the original Bond books to see how different it really is.  It might be that Faulks has captured the style exactly, and I just wouldn’t have enjoyed the originals either.  I’ll reserve judgement for now. 

This morning I have re-read Red Dog by Louis de Bernieres.  It’s a little, short book, but so lovely.  It made me cry, as it did when I first read it 6 years ago (almost to the day).  I think I might re-read some other de Bernieres books now, starting with The War of Don Emmanuel’s Nether Parts. 

That’s enough for today, I want to get back to those gloves.

The weekend

Hoorah!  It’s the weekend.

Hoorah!  My friend Rachel had a baby boy yesterday morning.  Congratulations Rachel and Andrew, and a hug to Thomas. 

Hoorah!  Dunno what that one was for, just sort of got in the habit. 

So, a whole weekend with nothing planned.  I’ve got until 1.30 today on my own, which is nice.  Then we’ll have time for walking, chilling out, whatever we feel like.  Although it feels kind of weird not having anything we have to do.  No stag do, no wedding, no meeting friends for lunch or drinks, no social commitments at all.  I think it’s the first time that has happened in over a month, and to tell the truth we’re both a bit unsure of how to handle it. 

Of course, the snooker season has just started .  I love me some snooker.  The NI Trophy is well underway (I’m shocked to report we both forgot until yesterday), with semi-finals today and finals tomorrow.  That should eat up a part of our time.  Especially if there’s also football to distract A.  

In knitting news, I’ve finished A’s scaly-look socks, and they look good.  He wasn’t over-enthusiastic though.  I have started (and almost finished the first one) a pair of tiny little socks for Rachel’s new baby boy.  They are the sweetest little socks, and I’ll send them to her asap.  Oh, and I’m still plodding at that net curtain, which I’m now sure I’ll be plodding away at for years to come.  By which time we’ll have bought and worn out at least two replacements.  Never mind, it’s my own fault for using crochet cotton, which is so ridiculously fine. 

On facebook I have now added a lot of cousins and an aunt and an uncle.  It’s a bit dull today.  I shouldn’t wait for someone to send me a message, but you know, I’m the shy one and never make the first move. 

In the coming week, I’ve got all that work stuff blah blah blah.  Then another weekend.  It’s still 5 weeks until our next holiday, but that one is Westward Ho! so worth the wait.

Photo Saturday

Morning.  Not only did I make it into the office for every one of the five working days in this week (and on time or early I might add), but I also got up before 9am today!  And it’s not even a knitting thing!  To be honest it’s more to do with the heat here at the moment.  It is so hot I’m not sure I can stand it.  Obviously, feeling heat is a subjective thing…it’s not desert hot of course…but it’s a lot warmer than it has been here for a while.  And the tablets don’t help, with the hot flushes (yesterday I almost fainted three times) and bouts of serious perspiration. 

Anyway, today won’t be a wordy one, as I’m finally on the home computer with time to spare, and have all those photos I’ve been promising to hand.  Okay, when I say ‘all’ the photos, I obviously mean the few I’ve managed to take…which came out okay. 

So…boat things first:

My pretty shawl, finished just in time, and worn several times including ‘formal night’.

The view from our window.  Did I mention the free upgrade to a room with a window? 

A pretends he can read a map.

At the formal dinner.

Next, a few knitting bits:

My first ever complete pair of socks!  Modelled by A, who they are for.  Note the hairy legs…I may be lazy about shaving them sometimes, but my legs just aren’t that hairy!

Lovely new yarn from Denmark.  Oh, what to make, what to make?

The little tiny poncho I made for one of the latest arrivals (Lili).

My newest project – socks for me.  The pattern doesn’t show up too well in the pictures, but it’s a combination of cabling and lace and looks good.  I can’t decide at the moment whether I’ve made it big enough, but can’t quite make up my mind to frog it and start again…just a few more rows and I’ll decide.

And finally…my lovely new project bag:

It’s sturdy and strong, small enough to carry comfortably without feeling like I’ve got my life with me at all times, good handles for carrying on the shoulder or by hand, and big enough to carry one or two projects and anything else I need such as purse, keys etc.  The only further thing I might wish for is a smaller pocket inside.  Apart from that, I love it!

Okay, after that picture overload, I’d better get on with the weekend’s housework.

What do you mean…make my own dinner?

Seriously, the service on this boat has really deteriorated over the last two days.  I was thoroughly enjoying the 24 hour room service, 6 course dinners in the restaurant, cabin-dude who cleaned up after us, promenade deck for strolling around, cocktails in the bar…and a whole lot more luxury.  And yet now I find that I have to do everything for myself again.  That’s so disappointing!

Honestly though, we have just had the loveliest holiday ever.  It was so totally relaxing, I think the subject of work only came up once the entire time, and that was just a quick moan about having to return. 

I’ve only got a few photos to show for it, being predictably rubbish with the camera, and I can’t even put those up now as they are on my home PC and I’m currently on the work laptop.  They will follow though, promise.

What is there to tell?  Here is a list of all the things which were lovely:

• the boat
• the food
• the cocktails
• the places we visited
• the promenade deck
• the fun of dressing up for formal night
• having a cabin-dude to keep the room tidy and clean
• watching the boat-rope-dudes unhooking (technical term) the ropes from the dock
• the organised walk around the deck to raise money for a breast cancer charity
• the room service
• sleeping in the afternoon

And lots more, of course.

I’ll keep some details to include in future posts, let’s just say it was lovely.

On the knitting front, I wore my finished shawl on formal night, over my pretty dress and it was lovely and warm, plus comfortable and pretty.  I also got a lot of knitting done on A’s socks, which I finally finished last night. 

The best news of all was that I found not one, but two yarn shops on the same side-street in Copenhagen!  That was not a cheap shopping trip!  Again, I have photos of all of this, but they will have to follow.

So, today it was back to work.  Nothing new or interesting to report at home.  The bunny-dog missed us, still hasn’t got over our desertion and is clinging to our heels all the time.  My great-aunt died last week, so Mum has been up to Yorkshire for her funeral.  My friend’s dog had a tumour removed but will not need any further treatment.

Tomorrow and Weds my friend and colleague from the Devon & Cornwall office is visiting me here, so it’ll be nice to have some company from my won team.  It’s always fun to catch up with T, we have a laugh.  And some work might get done as well. 

The boss-man is also visiting on Weds, to talk to both of us about various things, then Mum has two hospital appointments in the afternoon. 

It’s our step-niece’s birthday this week too, so it’ll be a busy one.

More baby news – my brother’s ex-wife (and my friend) had her third baby last weekend, a little girl called Lili Lorna.  We popped in with gifts yesterday, and she is so pretty, just like her sister Madi. 

Anyway, back to work…the more money I earn, the more we can save, and the sooner we can get back on that boat!

Where did the weekend go?

Why does Monday always take me by surprise?  I know it’s on its way from the minute I finish work on Friday, to the moment I drop off to sleep on Sunday night.  But still, the alarm on Monday morning is shocking.  Truly frightening. 

That said, as Mondays go this isn’t a bad one.  I’m working at home for a start.  The software issues I had on Friday have been resolved so I can get on with my list of things to do.  There was a whole Toblerone in the drawer, which I’d forgotten about.  In fact, there were two, so I don’t even have to save any for A or suffer the guilt attack if I eat more than my share.  Not that I’ve eaten it all, you understand, it’s just the luxury of knowing that it’s there, and it’s all mine. 

So, what’s coming up this week?

• 1:1 with the boss-man first thing Tuesday morning.  In my office, at least I don’t have to travel;
• Phone calls to the hospital to resolve appointment issues for my Mum, who is on holiday;
• Veg box and fruit box as always – I’m down to two apples so I’m looking forward to it;
• Packing for our cruise!

I can’t quite get my head around the idea that we’re actually going on a big boat…on SATURDAY!  It’s exciting and scary and really, really soon.  We’ve arranged a bunny-and-house-sitter, and planned to deliver the cockatiel to A’s Mum.  We’ve dragged the wheelie suitcases down from the attic.  Yesterday we went through the clothes we are planning to take and I ironed those that needed it .  I still have to contact my big bro and arrange to meet up with him, as he lives in Southampton, where the boat starts from and ends up.  We could see him for lunch, then he can help us get our baggage to the docks . 

Another reason for today being a good one, as Mondays go – I heard from my friend from Uni that she had a baby boy last week.  Hoorah!  Congratulations J&G!  I must dig out one of the pretty things I’ve knitted for occasions like this, post it to her.  Sadly, they are living oop north at the moment, and very soon moving to New York for a year, so I doubt if I’ll get chance to meet Baby any time soon. 

Anyway, enough babble, back to work.