The Mermaid Sanctuary

Celebrating with a glass of wine ...

2012-01-22T19:02:00.000Z

Well I've been such a busy bee this weekend, I haven't finished one pair but TWO pairs of socks! The first pair were Zokni socks by Pepperknit. I loved knitting these and they look so much complex than they really were, but don't tell anyone that, K?!

They are perfect for pup walking as they are hardwearing yarn and won't wear holes in the heels. (I've lost two pairs in a week because of using "delicate" yarn for walking in all weathers.

I've been taking part in a "Mystery" yarn pattern. The final clue was today and I enjoyed making them so much, I couldn't wait to get them finished...

These are by Irishgirlieknits. This is not the first pattern I've knit by her and I'm absolutely certain they won't be the last.

What do you think?

Dog Quote of the Day

2012-01-12T07:45:00.001Z

The amount of time it takes for a dog to "do its business" is directly proportional to outside temperature + suitability of owner's outerwear. ~Betsy Cañas Garmon. Now isnt' that true?!

Thanks for your comments yesterday. Karen - Sorry to hear Trooper is as loopy as ever! I sympathise! Rosie - he has long walks and is all muscle but I'll bear the treats in mind! Lesleyanne - he's absolutely fine (ask me again when he sees the vet on Sunday :wink:!)

Maximus Mentalus ...

2012-01-11T20:24:00.001Z

Max has been growing up and filling out, but also has decided that he's the man of the house by showing his boisterous behaviour. We decided that now was the time to have him castrated in a bid to calm him down a bit as he's, well, mental...

I took him to the vets last Thursday and when I left him, I could still hear him chattering/screeching as I approached the exit. Embarrassing. When I picked him up he just looked, well, stoned is the only word I can describe for it. To be fair he was probably still woozy from the anaesthetic. He has his stitches out next Sunday.

Do you think we can pick up Sky TV with this?

Clue 2!

2012-01-11T20:16:00.001Z

Well here I am again. I ripped back both socks as I said in my last post so here's the second clue of the first sock:

Not the best of pics, admittedly but I'm sure you'll get the feel of what I'm trying to achieve. Apparently, there's a wicked heel coming up. Can't wait!

New Year, Fresh Start

2012-01-08T19:26:00.000Z

This year I'm going to blog more. No, really, I am.

At the beginning of the year, I decided I was going to join a month long Mystery Sock Knitalong. This is the pattern Blathnat and I've no idea what it will look like until the end of the month.

This is the colour I've picked ...

and I've completed Clue 1 ... twice! I decided for some unbeknown reason to knit the small size, my mother took one look at it and gently mentioned that I'd have a hell of a job getting it over my foot. Hmmm... So I ripped the lot back and have knit it back. The picture isn't exactly the best, but my daughter is the photographer of the family, not me.

I promise there'll be a better picture soon. Hopefully of Clue 2 all completed. I have to say though, I'm thoroughly enjoying.

TTFN!

Sunrise

2011-10-16T20:35:00.001Z

I love to take Max for early morning walks at the weekend (not as early as 6 a.m., that's for the weekdays when I have no choice. It's dark and I don't like it. No, the weekends are for around 8 o'clock, when the sun is just rising and there's dew on the grass. A bit like this ...

The picture just doesn't capture the beauty of the morning, but I'm sure with a little imagination, you'll understand what I mean.

We met up with other dog walkers who asked if we'd like to join them (no pic I'm afraid) but Max had a brilliant time, I'm so glad that he's a sociable pup, he'll hook up with any dog that'll play and run around with him, and of course, it teaches him to play nicely so its all good.

He loves to chase sticks, but even I had to stop him trying to get this one home ...

We're so gonna be banned from the park at this rate...

Sabrina!

2011-08-27T10:08:00.010Z

Well here she is after week 1. Now don't go getting excited, I've been on leave for a week so I could pick it up in the early morning whilst Max napped on my lap ... (who needs an alarm clock when you have a pup?)

Obviously the holes are where the beads are going but I'm not doing it yet as she's still on the Q Snap and I'm afraid they'll crush.

I don't know how I'm gonna type when Max is bigger, this is really hard as he's sitting on my lap and there's not a lot of room ...

Talking of Max, we compromised this morning. We did both a walk and a wander around the park before his vets appointment this afternoon. He's having a skin scrape which we hope will be clear. Fingers crossed.

He chased some crows and told a passing cat what for...

CONGRATULATIONS!

2011-08-26T16:54:00.010Z

Yesterday my daughter found out what her GCSE results were - everyone was extremely nervous so it was like walking on eggshells but we all knew in our heart of hearts that she would have done well. She worked hard and the "mock results" at Christmas were really promising, so unless something major went on, then we all knew she'd be ok (even if she didn't think so). And lets face it, it's not the end of the world, she could retake if the worst happens. It didn't. She got 11 all told, 6 "B" grades, 5 "C" grades and 1 "D" grade (for RE), she doesn't need it, no biggie.

The biggest surprise for her was a "B" grade for Welsh. She was totally convinced that she'd failed it and even said so straight after her oral exam. She told me that she honestly didn't think she'd pass as she hardly got anything back, but there it was. A "B". Brilliant. I'm chuffed!

I never did post pictures of her prom did I? We trawled around a few shops before going into some bridal shops which have obviously cottoned on to proms now and are starting to specialise in them too. I told her not to pick what she wanted and not to compromise. Well, she's the only one I've got, it's the only prom she's going to so why not?

All she knew was that she wanted a short dress and in red. That was it. Nothing else. She tried on quite a few and the shop assistant insisted that she tried on one long one, just in case, but to be honest, it didn't suit her and it just confirmed it.

Whilst she was changing into yet another one, I sat outside and looked around at all the lovely dresses hanging up and there was one that was just sticking out slightly, it was in lilac but the cut looked lovely. Very 50's and bang on trend. I pointed it out to her but she didn't really fancy it, but the more she looked at it, the more she liked it, then asked to try it on.

Perfect. But the wrong colour. She had it made ...

Weather was crap but she had a brilliant time and that was all that mattered.

College in September and it all starts again ...

A NICE WALK ....

2011-08-24T15:46:00.004Z

So Max and me went for a lovely, long walk this morning .... early. I decided we were going to walk along the road but Max decided we were going to the park. Guess who won:

He's not spoilt. He's ruined.

And another ...

2011-08-23T17:30:00.004Z

A few years ago I was in a SAL that only stitched a particular project on a bank holiday weekend - well after a while, that went for a ball of chalk and it was put to one side to languish (as most of my projects have been) in my stitchy box.

Well, I've slowly been trying to work my way through it and have at last finished "Mermaid Heart" by Just Nan ...

I don't know when or where I'm going to get it framed yet. To be honest, I'm not so impressed with my regular framer any more, she's not taking as much care as I'd like lately. I made her take Mediterranean Mermaid apart as she'd caught a load of "bits" in between the two mounts and hadn't even noticed it. I saw it the minute I laid eyes on it. To top it all, she didn't even bother wrapping it - I just had to walk out and carry it as it was. My daughter's Christmas Couriers don't even have the same colour mounts ... nope not impressed. Sorry, this has turned into a rant....

Anyway, I'm in no hurry to frame this one, I've only given it a quick press so far (not even washed it, how naughty am I?!)

I'm really enjoying stitching Sabrina though, I'm hoping to have the hair (yes, the hair!) and face done before I go back to work on Tuesday. (For those who know me, I hate stitching hair, I don't know why, but I do, so for those who do know me, pick yourselves up and brace yourself for a pic to prove it .... soon!!!)

LAMBORGHINI!

2011-08-22T19:15:00.007Z

For my daughter's birthday last year, we bought her a track experience day. She loves Lamborghini Gallardo and they happened to have two at the track. A convertible (Spyder) and a hard top. She had a go in the two! Lucky girl!

Unfortunately, the weather was against her, but they didn't stop driving just because of that. She thoroughly enjoyed her day and I'm sure she's now ready to take her test next year ...

Fast Lap

How about a couple of pics?

That's my gal!

INTRODUCING MAX!

2011-08-21T19:44:00.004Z

I said I wouldn't have another dog, but Gary and Becca caught me on an off moment and within 48 hours, I was driving up the motorway on my day off to fetch him...

MAX

Butter wouldn't melt would it?

Poor thing has had a bit of a rough start though. Within a couple of days of having him, Jasper, our cat took a well aimed swipe at him and caught his eye. I took him straight to the vet who gave him an anti-biotic jab plus a pain killer, then some drops to go away with. I had to take him back the following day in the hope that his eye would be ok and he wasn't blinded in it. Thankfully, it seemed ok and after two weeks of eye drops (not a happy puppy having them put in let me tell you) no infection set in and his scratch had healed to a little scar.

A couple of weeks ago, we noticed that his fur was starting to fall out, particularly on his head, poor boy, so back to the vets we went. He had a skin scrape and it turns out that he had microscopic mites that were burrowing into his fur and taking over his immune system. We now have to bath him weekly in this foul smelling lotion and he has to have skin scrapes every month until he has two clear ones.

Bec took him for me so he could have the first one and it was intended that they would give him a little "whiff" of anaesthetic just to calm him down (he's only 16 weeks old after all) and do the skin scrape and then I could collect him at lunch time. But no. He wasn't having any of that. Thankfully Bec hung around. The vet came out and asked if she was going home, yes, well could she possibly take Max home with her as he was wreaking havoc in the back as he was yelling the place down and upsetting the other patients ... lol! That's my boy! He hates being on his own and loves to cwtch in to you. Bless him.

(And just think, I couldn't take to him at all for the first couple of days, now I ask Bec to send me "pic of the day" as she's home all day!)

A new finish!

2011-08-21T19:29:00.002Z

Been quietly working away on Mirabilia's Mediterranean Mermaid for quite some time, but to be truthful only had about half an hours work left on her, but do you think I was in the mood? Nope, not on your Nelly! After much jousting from my daughter, Becca to "get her done already!" I finally finished her and swept her off to the framers before I left her languishing for another six months and here she is ...

Can't stop, off to stitch Mirabilia's Sabrina!

Some wips

2011-01-03T16:43:00.003Z

This month I intend to finish a pair of socks for my 12 pairs in 2011 challenge and Mediterranean Mermaid by Mirabilia.

Here's my socks ...

They are Lichen and Moss by Joanna Ryan knitted in DT Craft and Design's Mint Choc Chip.

Next up is Meddy (I'm not typing Mediterranean out again, lol!) as you can see, the hair is almost done - I can see some readers smiling now and for those not in the know - I always leave these beauties bald until the end, I just hate stitching hair. (I know, the picture is crap so I'll stitch some more and put a decent one up - it's January, the weather is crap, so I have to suck it up and take the best pic I can - and this is the best it's gonna get today...)

Don't you just love beads ...

And finally, every month I enter a pair of socks into one of the forums on Ravelry and this time, I won!!!! WHOO HOO!!!! How chuffed am I? I think it must be karma though, these particular socks were for my dear friend, Rosie in the US who has always wanted a pair of handmade socks but never asked in case I was too busy, but I offered and made them, then entered them into the draw. The prize was a skein of Socks That Rock (only my favourite brand) in Jasper or In The Navy, don't tell Jasper, but I've picked "In The Navy". Pic when I receive it!

New Year New Start

2011-01-01T22:20:00.003Z

Taken from "The Sunday Times" (17 August - has to be a good omen, right?)
The good, the bad and the tasty -

The fundamentals of Arthur De Vany’s diet: bin the carbs and packaged food, and delight in lean meat and at least two veg meals

Cook by colour and texture so that meals look beautiful. If busy, skip meals with little worry. You don’t have to have three square meals a day. Snack on nuts or celery. Drink plenty of water. Also drink tea, coffee and a little wine if you want.

Carbs
Avoid bread, muffins, bagels, pasta, rice, potatoes, cereals, vegetable oils, beans or anything in a package — empty, high-calorie foods with a high carbohydrate content.

Flavour
Spice up your food with fresh ingredients such as basil, garlic, parsley, rosemary, spring onions, avocados and nuts, and use various oils, such as olive oil, for flavour.

Celery adds texture.

Fruits
Fresh fruits of all sorts are good; focus on melon and red grapes. Fruit juice is out. Have one or two fruits with most breakfasts; now and then a piece with other meals.

Vegetables
Eat lots of fresh raw, steamed, sauteed or grilled vegetables. Never use frozen, canned or packaged vegetables.

Protein
Eat plenty of meat, such as ribs, steak, bacon, pork loin, turkey and chicken, but trim fat from the edges. Fish, seafood and eggs are also good choices.

Breakfast
I tend to eat last night’s leftovers: turkey with jarlsberg cheese and fruit, bacon with red grapes, omelettes with rosemary, olives and spring onions.

Lunches
Usually salads, with red cabbage, romaine lettuce, spring onions, garlic, kale, broccoli or cauliflower, with salmon, tuna, turkey, chicken, pork or steak.

Dinners
I sometimes eat a whole rack of ribs with salad and vegetables. Or a large steak, trimmed of fat. Almost always there is a beautiful salad and vegetables.

I'm going to try this and will post how I get on. I think the freshness of eating a lot more fruit and vegetables rather than processed foods and carbohydrates should help my Psoriasis too. Wish me luck!

2010-12-31T18:07:00.004Z

This year I decided to make 12 pairs of socks- 1 pair a month...

Looking foward to doing it all over again next year!

Stranger Things Have Happened ...

2010-08-30T06:02:00.004Z

On 16 August it was Gary’s late father’s birthday. The windows were open and as usual the car was parked outside the house with Gary’s van parked opposite. Bec and I heard a strange chirping noise and both looked outside to see a cockatiel sitting on his van! Now I don’t know if you know but his father was an avid bird lover and kept an aviary with lovebirds etc. Anyway, we went outside to get some pictures of it as it’s so unusual to see one of these outside flying free – it had obviously escaped from somewhere. As soon as it saw us it flew to our car – of all the cars in the street, it went for ours and Gary’s van. Gary said that we needed to get it inside as there is a huge hawk around and would have it for its supper without blinking. It flew from the car to the wall, to the car, to the van again. Then as soon as Gary stepped outside it went straight to his shoulder and was happily sitting there for ages whilst we wondered what to do – weird huh? Anyway, he just walked into the house with it on his shoulder and it flew and sat on one of the units and happily started preening. There was no way did I want it – Bec was actually in the kitchen... with my coat on... with the hood up ... too terrified to come out. Hmmm ...

Gary went out to look for anyone who looked like they had lost a bird and wandered off down the street. He asked a couple of neighbours who pointed him in the direction of someone who could help. In the meantime the bird had now flown onto Bec’s picture over the mantelpiece and was precariously perched there having another preen and screeching happily to himself. The man lent him a cage and a net and Gary just scooped him up, put him in the cage and walked back to the fella’s house. When he came back he said that if his father had been alive and had known about it, he would have been like “Secret Squirrel!” The blinds would have been closed and the bird would have been moved to his aviary in the dead of night! I don’t know if anyone has claimed it but I knew it went to someone who at least was well known in the area for having birds and knew how to look after it so at least that was a load off. Strange it was his birthday when it appeared though don’t you think?

Heh heh, caught you there!

2010-08-04T18:24:00.004Z

Yet another pair - these took me just a week to do! (I'm stunned as well ...)

These are Embossed Leaves from Favorite Socks knitted in The Yarn Yard's Clan, colourway Almost.

Off to knit a second sock for Bec now ... more details in the next post.

Socks, socks, socks!

2010-08-04T17:55:00.003Z

Been busy knitting socks!

They are called Tadpoles and the yarn is from Fyberspates (Dream Sock Yarn) Sock Club but sadly no longer available :-(

Bloody Hell!

2010-08-01T19:55:00.012Z

Has it been May since I last blogged? Well it must be. I really must pull my finger out and get blogging more regularly. Maybe I should set aside say a Wednesday and a Sunday to sit down and actually write something! What do you think?

So much has happened since May, I have moved to another department and the head of that department (not the director I hasten to add) is an absolute bastard. There are no other words to describe him unless, bully, tyrant or even Jeckyl/Hyde will suffice. Maybe all of them ... all I know is that you only have to say his name to me or I only have to see him walking towards me and I shake. I physically shake.

Right, enough said about that. This is my blog and I want it to be a pleasant place to write and for you to read so unless something major happens, I'm never going to write about it again. If something funny or good happens, then I will but not the bad things. I just don't want to write about it.

I've been to Turkey and had a wonderful time there. It was really hot though, far too hot for me. We usually go in May/June but Bec had external exams this year (she's taken some early, brainy kid) so we had to wait. No biggie as she could enjoy herself without worrying about exams when we got back.

We went here temperature was high 30's and touched 40 (centigrade) at lot of the time so I tended to dip in and out of the sun rather that just fry all day like some people. The sea was amazingly full of sealife. You couldn't swim far without a school, is it a school or shoal, of fish swimming by. At dusk Bec and me used to go for a walk along the seafront and peer into the water, we saw prawns, crabs and, get this, a STINGRAY!!! I've never, ever seen one before in my life and, I'm ashamed to say it, I had to ask Bec what it was (blush).

Water was flat calm and clear. (And 26 degrees C!)

The obligatory mermaids ...

That's 8:00 P.M.!!!!!

Our Cleaning Fairy - click on the link.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v644/GsdSheba/Turkey%20Cleaning%20Fairy/?action=view&current=4b760982.pbw

Mr Greenjeans

2010-05-03T10:37:00.003Z

Well I've been working on this cardigan on and off for quite some time now, all I really needed to do was sit down for an afternoon and actually finish it. That's all it took, around 4 hours and I was done. If only I'd realised, I could have been wearing this *weeks* ago!

So, here it is ...

Front

Back

Nearly there ...

2010-05-02T19:38:00.001Z

Watch this space ...

Mediterranian Mermaid - Week 3

2010-04-25T10:50:00.006Z

Anyway, I'm through that part now, the next part I can't stand doing is the hair - don't ask me why, I just can't stand it! Everyone who knows me through stitching knows that if I start at the head first, the poor things are bald until the end, so that's why Meddy is tail first, head last...!

What do you think? She's a bit washed out but that's my fault - she's much more sparkly in real life and I'll try and get her blingy next pic, promise.

Tea Set

2010-04-23T18:46:00.006Z

When my grandmother died, my mum and I had to clear her house which to be honest had to be one of the most traumatic things I've ever done - everyone who knows me knew that my grandmother was my two eyes, I absolutely adored her.

Anyway, she had three English Bone China Tea Sets and I had put them away in a cupboard where I would take them out once in a while, wash them and put them back. I was autumn cleaning the house last October (I do it every quarter) and was pulling them back out for their clean and thought to myself, why am I not displaying her china? It doesn't have much worth, but it's priceless to me because it was *hers*. I realised that not one set was complete and set about searching online and little china shops nearby to see if I could complete them. I know one is well over 60 years old so I thought I'd have little chance of finding anything. Guess what? After six months, I have finally managed to complete two out of the three sets (the third is extremely hard and haven't managed to find one thing for it yet).

So, although it might not seem a lot, I can't tell you how proud I am to display these two lovely tea sets ...

I the top one has had a teacup, sugar bowl, milk jug and cake plate, the lower three teacups, a saucer and two side plates. I looked *for ever* for a saucer then six showed up on ebay all at once!!! Now isn't that just typical! Either that or my grandmother felt my frustration and thought, "hurry up and finish this quest already!!!"

Update

2010-04-22T22:01:00.003Z

Yesterday, Gary had an appointment with a Consultant about his knee. This time last year he fell off a ladder in work and landed (like a cat) on his feet, but it did something to his knee which swelled up like a balloon. Now men being men, refused to go and see about it, just rested it up for a few days and gritted his teeth through the pain. Well since then, that knee has never been right. He was cleaning the car (not the new one) on New Years Eve and he said when he bent down to clean the wheels, he felt something "go". It put him off work for three weeks, it was that bad.

I offered to take him to the hospital there and then, but no, he wouldn't have it. The next day it snowed quite heavily so he buggered himself up and couldn't go even if he wanted to. He was in agony though, you know that pain that you just don't know where to put yourself because whatever you do, the pain just doesn't go away? Well, he was in that state.

Eventually he took himself to the hospital who x-rayed it and told him that they couldn't see anything wrong but to make an appointment to see his doctor and get referred back to them - yes, I know. It's frustrating. He waited four months for this appointment only to be told that he'd need a scan which will take four weeks to organise and after that another two weeks for the results. Sheesh.

In the interim though, he paid to see a physio therapist who advised him to try and keep the tendons from seizing up. Gary goes to the gym a lot, he's not ripped but he's solid. All muscle from using weights all the time. He was told to use light weights on his legs but with plenty of reps, which he's been doing and has really helped with the stiffness and pain management. I feel sorry for him because he likes to go for walks with Bec and me but can only manage a short one now before it starts to throb, bless him. We tend to park the car a lot closer to where we need to get to and not stay out for long. Aw, I really feel for him. Hope it's sorted out soon, he'll go demented if he can't go for walks when we're on holiday. He loves to go for long walks along the beach or promenades but I think that'll be out because I really can't see him taking his crutches ...

New Car!

2010-04-20T21:58:00.008Z

We decided last year that we were going to change our car for a newer one, after all we'd had it for seven years but it just seemed dated now and it was time to update. We hummed and hawed over what to get, eventually settling on a BMW or a Ford Focus ST. I wanted a BMW but himself wanted an ORANGE Focus. Never in a million years. Zip. Nada. No way was I driving around in something that you can see from half a mile away. Now don't get me wrong, I love my cars, always going for the sportier type than a bog standard run of the mill job - had to have extras on it, nice wheels, big engine, plenty of buttons inside, you get my drift, so a BMW seemed right up my street.

Every car showroom we went to, he headed for the ST's, I headed for the Beemer's. That is, til I actually sat in one, and I was sold on an ST, but couldn't be swayed on a bright orange one. I swear they glow in the dark.

After six months, we finally saw one in Cardiff. I test drove it as apparently, in Gary's words to the salesman (and I quote), "She needs to test it cos she doesn't know if she can drive (read "handle") it or not." You can imagine the salesman's face. Ok, it *is* very fast, responsive and in one of my friends words, "it's like shit off a stick" for which I don't apologise for writing because I thought it was too funny not to quote him, but I love it, and we bought it there and then.

By the time we got home - Gary drove - I was "G" forced up against the seat the whole way down the motorway - the turbo was in the whole way - I was a nervous wreck about driving it to work the next day. He told me so many things I had to remember, I think I was shaking by the time I drove it.

He said, "Don't drive fast onto the roundabout, or you'll end up in it." By the time I'd driven it a couple of days, I tried out his theory (guess what? You don't). He really wasn't impressed that his baby (the car, not me) had the turbo brought in by someone other than himself. Sheesh, it's so highly polished that I don't think any of the volcanic dust that we're experiencing here at the moment is able to stick to it.

This isn't my actual car, but it's close enough to what we have ...

So, what do you think?

(Just in case you didn't believe how "orange" it is - trust me, it's sodding bright.)

Yep!

2010-04-19T18:29:00.006Z

Yep, Jasper checks his emails too (and doesn't like it when you look over his shoulder, either ...)

Anyway, before he kicks me off, I've just got time to tell you what a lovely lunch break I had today. The weather was warm and sunny so I decided to go here ...

I sat on those steps behind the fountain. It was lovely! I "networked" OOOO hark at me!

Our Easter break was a bit fraught - my mother in law was rushed into intensive care with pneumonia, she has smoked for most of her life so her chest was weak to start with and we were told to expect the worst. I honestly was thinking about arranging her funeral, it was that grave. By Easter Monday she was sitting up in bed, drinking and eating! It was amazing how quickly she turned herself around. That woman is as strong as an ox, I swear! She came home on Friday! She's still quite weak but she's come an extremely long way considering she was on the brink. The nurse told Gary to try and wake her at one point as she was no longer sedated, just sleeping, when she shook her gently, her SATS (whatever they are) dropped to the floor and the alarms went off - I can laugh now when I think what Gary's face looked like, but at the time it was more than scary. His eyes went all wide and you could see he kakked it!

I'll tell you about my new car tomorrow ...

Has it really been that long?

2010-04-18T21:12:00.003Z

Well that scarf that was going to be done every day didn't last! I gave up after day 4 or 5 because I just didn't like how it was turning out, the yarn was extremely scratchy which isn't exactly the best thing to wear next to skin with psoriasis and last but not least, I had to rip back at least four times on day 4 and got fed up - yup that was the crux of it methinks (and anyone who knows me will be agreeing with me here, its okay, I'm in total agreement!)

So, what have I been doing with myself? Well, knitting mainly but I've also started another cross stitch ...

In the voice of dear old Rolf Harris ... can you tell what it is yet?!

I've had a major upheaval in work culminating in my department coming under a new directorship. I'm not happy about it at the moment as it's such a major change, but the worst part about it is that I am now working on the second floor and the major part of my work i.e. giving keys out to contractors and housing officers is still on the ground floor. I'm averaging going up and down those stairs 16 times a day ... everyone says how fit I'll be but to be honest it's not funny, I'm totally shattered and no-one seems to get how hard my job has now become.

Last week I paid for our holiday to Turkey. We didn't go anywhere last year so I'm really looking forward to it. The only fly in the ointment is will the air be clear enough for the plane to take off! That volcanic eruption doesn't seem to be stopping any time soon you know. It was strange looking up at the blue skies over the weekend and not see any vapour trails across the sky, apparently I live under one of the busiest routes for the US to the UK. It was very odd.

Gary has an appointment to see a Consultant on Wednesday about his knee - did I ever mention that? Well, I'll explain all about that once he's been, it'll make more sense.

More tomorrow. If not - poke me!

Calendar Scarf - Day 2

2009-12-07T19:01:00.006Z

See, I'm diligently still knitting ... (believe that I'm gonna be knitting this every day and you'll believe anything!)

Here's a close up ...

Today's task looks quite complicated so I'm giving myself time to try and get it right and putting a lifeline in, just in case. I've got to drop a stitch and let it run to the yo (yarn over), now *thats* what I call S-C-A-R-Y!!!

Karen - why don't you pick up your cross stitch and see if you can finish it this time? We can encourage each other, although I can tell you now, there won't be much done tomorrow night -Holby City and CSI Miami or Wednesday (Waterloo Road, Spooks and True Blood). Thursday is looking good so far but Friday is my works do so I can't see me doing any when I get home.

Who says my life is ruled by tv?? ;-)

Just gonna vent for a bit, so you can skip this if you want but here goes. We have a new contractor who has a serious attitude problem. He's the type that now he's "in" he thinks that he's entitled to get first dibs at every job that comes in and if he doesn't he thinks I'm out to "get" him. Now, any normal person would realise that I have had contractors going back over 20 years and if there is very little work around, I'm obviously going to give work to them over a newcomer, although I'm actually known for being very fair to everyone and do my best to keep everyone happy with a good amount of work and everyone ticking over. Not him. He's one of these people who is slimy, tries to be clever (he's not) and is very sarcastic ... Now I'm not a rude person but he really rubs me up the wrong way and I've been told (from a very reliable source) that "if I don't buck my ideas up and give him work he's gonna report me". I hope you can see me shaking in my boots because I haven't slept since I've heard this ... NOT!!! I've obviously skipped over the part of his contract where it says I *owe* him a living.

Ok, I'm done - he's not bothering me, but I just wanted to get it out of my system.

Since I've had this chest cold last week, my skin has really dried up and my psoriasis is playing the devil with me, right now I'm sitting in my satin pj's (they're the best thing against my skin), bandages from the tops of my arms to my wrists and bandages from my knees to my toes - how attractive ... warm though so no complaints there! It's going to be proper winter weather over the next few days so maybe it's a good thing!

The postie knocked the door last week and was greeted to a coughing fit. "Never mind," he said, "better it's this week than in a fortnight." Bless him, he says the nicest things ...

Christmas Calendar Scarf

2009-12-06T09:47:00.002Z

I've decided to knit a scarf. Now that doesn't seem unusual does it? Except that I have to download each section of the pattern every day until Christmas eve (and I'm already behind).

So without further ado, this is Day 1 (should be Day 6 but I told you I was behind ...)

This is a close up ...

It's knit with 4 ply sock wool so I think it will be nice and warm when it's done (just hope I have enough!). So what do you think so far? It's the most complex lace I've ever done, so I'm pretty thrilled...

I've been ill ... and busy ... and tired... and ...

2009-12-06T09:23:00.004Z

Thanks to Rosie and Karen for nudging me and asking if I'm ok. I am, full of a chesty cold but I'm still here, and thank you for thinking of me, I appreciate it. Life just gets in the way of taking time out and relaxing in front of the poot just to update my blog. Usually by the time I get home, it's gone 8 before I sit down and then it's Christmas knitting or just slumped in front of the box because I'm too tired to do anything else. Enough of my whingeing!

Bec took a flute exam last Saturday. She was full of a cold (which I think is now flu as she hasn't been to school in a week and has slept for most of it). She's the type that's really ill for a day or two and then as right as rain. Not this time. Hmm ... Anyway, to be fair to the examiner, he let her have a few goes when a coughing fit or a blocked nose got too much so we're keeping our fingers crossed for her. Probably be kept dangling until after Christmas though, sigh ...

After that we went to Cardiff to see Michael Flatley's "Lord of the Dance". We decided to go on the train thinking that by the time we left the exam we wouldn't be able to park in Cardiff and the train station is only a five minute walk away. What we didn't bank on was the rugby match between Wales and Austrailia - the train was packed! Thankfully Swansea is the first stop so we managed to get seats but it rammed the whole way - cracking atmosphere though, rugby fans are always friendly and happy. The show was incredible, I've always wanted to see it ever since watching it on t.v. over 10 years ago and as this is the final tour, it wasn't something I was going to miss.

I've been knitting socks for my mum - to be honest, I started making these for myself and foolishly took them up to show her when I'd just started them, she fell in love with them and suddenly they became her present - how did that happen?!

I really enjoyed making them though, first time reading properly from a chart and it suddenly made sense when everyone said that you learn to "read" your knitting when reading it from a chart - it was a total revelation to me!

Making the Tea

2009-09-25T10:04:00.002Z

We have a nightmare of a temporary Surveyor working with us at the moment, who likes everything just so - you can't deviate from anything or he'll just flip, he can't cope with anything that comes up or requires urgent attention, with this in mind, my boss just sent this email to me ...

Nicola please could you provide a plastic container, shaped like a plastic cup, choice of colour brown or white to be agreed after consultation with member of staff concerned. Tea bag to comply with international world treaty supply and to be preferably of a round perforated type that will express due amount of tea over a 2 minute period. A plastic stirrer of the white variety should be provided to carry out necessary stirring in a clockwise motion. Milk should be supplied from a plastic container, following checks with members of cleaning team to ensure risk assessment is carried out on freshness of milk in conjunction with local agricultural policy to prevent any ingress of mad cow disease through digestion of contaminated liquids. Sugar should be provided through a paper container with adequate risk being assessed to identify any possible hazards such as paper cuts.

Thanks Richard

He's asking for a slap ...

Central Park Un-Hoodie Completed (Front)

2009-09-06T14:44:00.002Z

Central Park Un-Hoodie Completed (Front)
Originally uploaded by gsdsheba

Well here it is! (I'll take a pic with me wearing it when I don't look a total fright like I do today!)

Anyway, Karen asked what I would call a hoodie that's not a hoodie, well, it can either be an "Un-hoodie" or a "Hoodless" Hoodie or a plain ole cardi. So it's up to you! You decide!

I was going to do a bigger collar but realised a few rows in that I should have picked up on the opposite side which would hide the seam but I'm happy to have it this way, the aran is stiff enough to stand up the way I wanted it to anyway.

I'm so thrilled with it though! Plus I have enough yarn over to make this Tudora (maybe two) it looks like a quick knit so I'm off to cast on!

Sorted!

2009-09-05T14:55:00.001Z

DSC00202
Originally uploaded by gsdsheba

Thanks to Paula and a lot of surfing last night, it finally made sense! I could see that I hadn't put enough stitches in so obviously it wasn't going to sit right, I'd stretched it to within an inch of it's life! Look at the difference now! I'm so happy!!!

Thanks must also go to Karen who has been giving me invaluable advice regarding my work situation, I'm quite short so I think a lot of people in work on Monday will be looking to see if I'm wearing heels, ha ha!!!

Central Park Hoodie

2009-09-04T21:57:00.002Z

DSC00200
Originally uploaded by gsdsheba

I'm having a nightmare! I've picked up and ribbed the button band, blocked it overnight and let it rest today but I still can't get the damn thing to line up and I've no idea what to do about it.

Thinking I'd be really clever, I decided to iron, yes, iron my pure new wool hoodie. The one thing you must never, ever do is iron straight on to pure wool ... it burns ... so anyway, there I was, unpicking the mess of melted wool ribbing off the other front and desperately trying to work out how to do it. Answers on a postcard would be very much appreciated please! Better still, if you know how to get it lined up I'd be ever so grateful to receive your advice. I'm thinking larger needles maybe and/or using the needles to pick up every "ladder" between the vertical rib. I think this will be visiting my mum's on Sunday ...

Thanks to everyone who has congratulated me on getting through the bullying - obviously I haven't said half as much as I could have done as it's an open blog but trust me, it has been hell and regular readers and friends, know I'm not one for exaggeration when it comes to this type of thing. It's hard getting through each day but I'm getting so much support in work from people I trust plus of course, outside of work that I know I can get through these last few weeks relatively unscathed if I let things just slide and go over my head. I caught some looks passing between her and another member of staff who is one of a small handful of her friends when I was trying to sort out a problem on the phone for her. It was the "rolling of the eyes" as if to say "how incompetent can you possibly be?" when in fact it was someone who shall remain nameless's job to sort in the first place - ooo, a Harry Potter moment! She crapped herself when I looked directly at her and caught her doing it though, if you are innocent, you don't blush to the roots of your hair now do you?

Got a weekend of knitting planned and catching up on some stuff I've taped, bliss ...

By the way, I have some excellent news. Bec took an external maths exam two years early and she had the result back today. 147 out of 160 and the highest possible grade of C. She'll now do another one next June which, if she passes will take it up to an A or B and then her third the year after which will take her to A or A* - by doing one a year, takes the pressure off having to do the three all at once. Not many get this opportunity so all I can say, is well done Bec, keep it up!

Sigh...

2009-09-03T18:27:00.002Z

Well I got into work yesterday to the brilliant news that the person who has made my life hell for the past year has handed her notice in - YIPPPPEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! She feels that her job is being taken away from her and she has no control over it anymore, oh yeah, and she's feeling bullied ... yeah? Well I'm glad. Glad because she's having a taste of what she put me through only I had support from some wonderful people who helped me through the bad times, who let me talk, cry and rant and then gave me the same advice over and over - she's not worth it.

Well, all I kept singing in my head yesterday was "Hey ho, the witch is dead!!!!" Couldn't help myself!

Things were a little awkward yesterday but I just let her carry on, all the work I've done has been totally undone by her in a week plus I've found out that she's stabbed me in the back today too (I found out after she'd left). I can't go into it or I'll be breaching confidentiality but I've put the people who matter in the picture and all is well my end, it just proves how vindictive she really is. I even bump started her car for her this morning when it would start too - see, I *am* nice, it's just that she gets my back up. I'm counting down those days until I'm free of her forever (and there are many others that are too ....)

Calm before the storm ...

2009-08-31T15:56:00.005Z

We've bought another poot - yeah, I know, we go a-wandering and then all hell breaks loose and we end up buying something that (I think) we don't need. It all started when Bec bought herself a netbook out of her birthday money, we needed to go wireless in order for her to be able to connect so it all went from there. In the end, bless her, my techie friend, Sue had to come over and set it up properly because I just didn't have a clue. In all fairness she said herself that Virgin wasn't the easiest of systems to set up so I didn't feel to incompetent. She had to phone the helpline a couple of times (pretending it was me), I had to laugh when she mentioned that it was "her husband's account" . It seemed to just trip off the tongue! Now I keep teasing her and Gary about "his other wife ..." goes down a storm, not. Anyway we now have Vista which I quite like although there's an awful lot of phaffing around that doesn't seem necessary with it but I'm sure I'll get used to it.

I went to the cinema with Bec and Sue last week. We fancied seeing "The Ugly Truth". I honestly thought it was mis-certificated as a 15 though, 18 was more like it. I squirmed through the entire thing as Bec sat next to me while Sue laughed her head off. So no, I won't be buying it when it comes out on dvd ... Aw, stop laughing. It was sex this, and innuendo that, blatent sexual references right though it all ... hmmm!!!

I've had some serious problems in work with the team I work for, or if I'm really honest, one particular person who is so highly strung that she will dictate what mood the office will be in for the day. She's one of the reasons the doctor put me on anti-depressants because I just couldn't cope with all the hysterical fits and foul language being continually screeched out all day. Anyway, she has been on long term sick and both myself and Sarah (who has recently just joined out team from another department) took over her job and I loved it. Not only was the job really enjoyable, I got to know Sarah better and we worked so well as a team, both learning the job as we went along and pulling together if we weren't sure what we were doing and getting the job done between us. The other person made the job look really difficult, when in reality it isn't. It's just a matter of juggling and keeping on top of things, which, when you have an organised mind, is really quite easy. Sure, you get the odd curve ball but you just work through them, if you foul up (like I have quite a few times), you just admit it, work through it, ask for help if you need it - and I've realised that there are so many people that will go out of their way to do this - and move on. Anyway, just before I finished work for my holiday, my line managers had me in the office to discuss my job. They were really happy with the way I kept on top of the contractors, knowing exactly where they were on the job and giving them tenders when they were just finishing, and if they lost everything and had no work for the following week I'd give them smaller jobs that didn't need tendering for to do so they at least had work for their men to get one with. Anyway, it's just keeping balls up in the air basically and they know the rub with me, I treat them well if it's reciprocated and so far everyone is happy, so happy in fact that contractors have asked the bosses directly if I can carry on with the job as there was no screaming and shouting and swearing going on with me unlike someone else who treated them like trash. Anyway, I told them I was more than happy to carry on but my old job would also have to be shared too. They want it that way too so that everyone knows what everyone does in case of long term sick, holidays etc, the department can carry on running smoothly which is fair enough. My line manager phoned me on Wednesday for a chat - yep, can't last a week without me! - and told me that he was getting my colleague in that afternoon to tell her of the plans. On the outside of it she said she was happy, but Sarah texted me and told me that she's spitting nails. I'm so excited about going back on Wednesday, I can hardly sleep ...not. I think a certain person will have one hell of a shock when she realises how much of a team Sarah and I have become in her absence too. We literally do as much as we can for each other to ease our workloads, it's complete teamwork and we call ourselves Team Grenfell and Cadogan! Yeah, we're sad, you can say it ...!

I have serious start-itis and finish-itis at the moment. Since finishing off a pair of socks last night which took far too long to make I've pulled out my Central Park Hoodie which I aim to finish up in the next couple of weeks. I've decided I'm not going to knit the hood though, I'm going to make a collar instead. Ooo, hark at me! Modifying patterns! I've never heard the like!

After that, I'll be on Mr Greenjeans . My mother has seen how far I've gotten with this one - do you know that it's knitted all in one from the top down?! - that she'd quite like one too! Looks like I'll be making her one for Christmas but lets see how mine turns out first. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Japanese Feather Stole

2009-08-26T10:40:00.003Z

Japanese Feather Stole - 1
Originally uploaded by gsdsheba

Now that I'm totally addicted to lace, I've decided to have a go at a "proper" lace stole. This particular design is by Anne Hanson and called Japanese Feather Stole. Of course, the colour is called "Mermaid" and it's an absolute joy to knit. It's totally forgiving should I make a mistake as it's so lacy I don't think a mistake or two here and there will make much difference to the overall pattern. It's 2 ply lace - something I never, ever contemplating knitting with, 4 ply used to be scary enough - compared to 2 ply, 4 ply is positively *chunky*!!!

Woodland Shawl Take 2!

2009-08-25T08:18:00.001Z

Woodland Shawl
Originally uploaded by gsdsheba

My mum was so taken with mine that I decided to make her one for Christmas this year. It's made with Unicorn Yarn, the content of which won't be revealed until around January/February of next year. Suffice to say, it's extremely soft, like alpaca or angora and and absolute joy to knit with so if you get a chance to try some, please do! I haven't washed or blocked it yet so I can't show you how pretty it is but I'll definitely update when I do.

We decided that I needed a new microwave - I had a tiny bit of rust coming through so I wasn't happy using it - anyway, off we toddled to all the electrical shops. Gary went straight to the t.v.'s (as they invariably do) so I had no option but to go find him when I'd decided on the microwave. Yep, you've guessed it, we are now the proud owner of a Sony Bravia 40" job. It's big and scary .... I couldn't watch it for a couple of days cos the damn thing was giving me a headache... hmm ...

Woodland Shawl

2009-08-24T21:36:00.002Z

Yep, I know I haven't been around much lately - depression will do that to you, plus I've had to do someone else's job whilst doing my own so I haven't felt like doing much when I've got home of an evening. But I'm off for over a week now and intend to recharge my batteries, explain my absence more fully (brace yourselves!) and show off what little I've been knitting lately.

So without further ado, here's my first attempt at lace. It's called Woodland Shawl and I've knitted it on some beautiful yarn called Handmaiden Sea Silk - it's made from seaweed and I love it! My friend Jules gave me some for Christmas last year and now I'm totally addicted to it. I have since bought some more and have squirrelled it away like Scratt with his nuts...!

Rippit Rippit ....

2009-04-28T11:26:00.002Z

I'm making a pair of socks for someone who shall remain anon and I've decided, after I've got to the heel, that I'm not happy with the way it's turning out, so tonight I'm going to frog and reknit them on a bigger needle so hopefully the pattern will pop.

Same for the Woodland Shawl shawl I'm knitting, made a mistake somewhere and haven't a clue where, it's all yo's so I daren't start messing with it or I'll stress up! Nope, its easier to rip it back and start again.

Sigh .....

TGIF!

2009-04-24T20:20:00.005Z

Well this week has been a very busy week! It seems to have flown by. I have been home late every night and if I haven't I've been dashing off somewhere again, aerobics or pilates class ...

Talking about Pilates, I mentioned yesterday that I felt great, today however, it's a very different story! My "core" muscles - which between you and me I never knew I had - are aching! Don't get me wrong, it's a good ache, the type you get when you've had a really good workout and you are not at the point where you can't move, but have that, well, ache!

Rebecca had a brilliant day at work yesterday. She took part in "Take Your Sons and Daughters to Work" Day. She had some training with the webteam which she said she enjoyed a lot, then after lunch she worked on a powerpoint presentation and had some talks about what a typical day was like in an office, which, again I think she enjoyed. There'll be some photo's floating around soon so once I get these, I'll post a couple up.

I read on RosemaryConley's Twitter that "The staff danced a stunning routine to Michael Jackson's Thriller" so no doubt, I'll be aerobic-ing to THAT on Monday... watch this space!

Pilates

2009-04-23T18:33:00.003Z

Yesterday I went to my very first Pilates class and I thoroughly enjoyed it (even though I probably didn't get as much out of it as the more experienced people there). It was the fastest exercise hour I've ever done! You know how usually when you've had enough, the rest of the session just drags on and on, well not once did I feel this way, in fact I think I could have quite easily gone another hour and felt the same way!

I'm obviously not using my "core" muscles yet as I'm still trying to remember everything all at once and I was probably still quite tense throughout, but I spoke to the instructor afterwards and she assured me that everything would fall into place in a few weeks or so - watch this space!

Too Sweet!

2009-04-22T08:45:00.004Z

A short while ago, a work colleague went into premature labour with her twins, unfortunately, the little boy died, but her daughter survived, although it was touch and go for a while afterwards. It's now great to hear that she's doing so well and they have been told that a tentative date for early June has been set for her to go home.

As my mother was also a twin who lost her sister (five days after she was born) I felt I really must do something - I only wish I'd taken photos - so I made several preemie hats for her. This was the reply I had yesterday ...

Hiya Nic

Mum has asked me to email you ... Thanks for my fab little hats - I cant wait till I'm big enough to be wearing some clothes !! At the moment I'm wearing just a nappy and an incubator hat !! They're all the rage here !!

I had an operation last Thursday to close a duct on my heart - well at least I got to go to Bristol for a trip to get it done ! I'm recovering well and came off the vent on Sunday - hopefully this time I will stay off it. I am now weighing 2lb12oz, so wont be long before I can get in to some clothes !

Will come and visit you when I'm bigger and stronger - I'm not due out of hospital till early June so long way to go yet

love
Cerys
xxx

It's lovely to be appreciated and a little note goes a long way knowing how tired and busy they must be to take time to write this.

Monkeys

2009-04-19T18:26:00.006Z

Monkeys
Originally uploaded by gsdsheba

Well I know I've been a long time posting, but I've been really up and down these past few months and I really haven't found the will to update my blog. However, I've been quite busy as you can see, I absolutely love these socks, they're called "Monkeys" from Cookie A and can be found at Knitty.com.

I've been off for a week (thankfully) I've been having a bit of a rough time in work again and needed to take some time off and have a break from the office. Although this week I have a meeting to discuss my job role and others too and how we can integrate them a little more, which I'm not looking forward to at all. My job is busy enough as it is without having to take on more because I know if I do something "as a favour" it'll end up with it suddenly becoming part of my job and I can really do without that kind of stress right now.

Last Friday I went to a Rosemary Conley Roadshow which was held at the newly refurbished LC we had loads of fun and I feel totally motivated to get to my goal weight now, I've nearly lost three stone, just another stone to go but that's always the hardest and feeling the way I have been lately I haven't really lost anything since Christmas - awful isn't it?! Anyway, I've read up on my books, going to sort a menu (of sorts) out this week and damn well stick to it - positive thinking! Nothing is getting me down this week, I'm determined!

Going to my first Pilates class on Wednesday - I'll let you know how I get on!

Thanks to everyone who's emailed and asked how I am, rest assured, I'm getting there slowly, just takes time. My special thanks go to Karen for checking up on me - you're great!

Congratulations!

2009-01-23T21:20:00.007Z

At the end of last year, my stepfather graduated from Swansea University, it was a computer degree that he started after he persued when he retired. Considering when he had the computer my mother and him thought the only thing they'd be doing with it is dusting the damn thing, I'd say, the boy did good!

It must have been on the coldest day so far that year, you can almost see us shivering! It was so lovely to see him achieve his degree, he'd worked so hard for it and the official pictures have pride of place in both homes.

Thank you.

2009-01-18T20:09:00.003Z

Firstly I'd like to thank all who have posted wishing me well and congratulating me on my two girls, thanks have to go to Claire who placed them for me in the first place. If I'd have done it, one of them would have ended up looking at the other one's boobs ... hmmm. Not really the look I was after.

I've had quite a bad week in work this week. In December I witnessed a "spat" in the office where a colleague from another department was quite aggressive towards one of my team members and another stepped in and got rounded on and screamed at. Unfortunately, she was suspended when my colleague reported her for using foul language. Because I was there, I had to write a statement giving my version of events. This has now gone further and I had to meet with the Investigating Officer to give a verbal version of events. Not something that's pleasant at the best of times, let alone when I'm being treated for depression and my psoriasis is totally out of control at the moment. I saw her in Reception and she made a point of totally blanking me, sigh ...

I've managed to finish my Dashings this week ...

Just in time for the cold and wet weather we're expecting this week, methinks.

I'm going to try a stitchy rotation again this year over on Stitch Direct's forum. The difference this year is that it's a fortnightly SAL rather than a weekly one. One of the members said that you could have a good crack at a WIP over two weeks rather than just one therefore see much more at the end of the fortnight.

There's also a Competition SAL.

For this round, I'm going to do Silver Moon Fairy by Jessica Galbreth, I've already made a start, but there's really not much to see yet ...

Hopefully that'll change as the year goes on. Hmm ...

I'm also going to stitch Sadness of an Angel in Vikki Clayton Silks. She had a sale on a few months ago to make way for some new stock, so I took full advantage and bought everything I needed for it. I've done a few rows and so far it's turning out beautifully, but no pic yet until I've done a bit more. The silks are absolutely gorgeous to use and well with trying a couple of skeins.

I've also started knitting a pair of socks for myself (about time too, my mum said! I tend to knit for others). It's a free chart by Knitzi, called Nutkin ...

I had the yarn from my friend, Jules for my birthday in August. It's not only a gorgeous colour, it's an absolute joy to knit with too! Thanks, Jules!

Yes, it's been a long time ...

2009-01-11T19:07:00.005Z

And I'm sorry I haven't been around. I had a complete meltdown in work in October and have had to have a lot of support both from my colleagues and from the doctor which is still ongoing as I write, but I'm slowly getting better and having less panic attacks. I'm still getting wound up about actually going to work but I can at least get in through the doors now and get on with day to day stuff.

I'll explain more as I blog more, I'm only now really starting to want to write again and show you what I've been doing during the past few months. So here we go ...

My girls are finally framed and on the wall - I refused to put anything on this wall until I'd done these as I knew they would look absolutely perfect for it ... and they are.

I knitted quite a lot for Christmas, there's nothing like adding a bit of pressure over before Christmas now is there? I finally finished Gary's socks on Christmas Eve, that's how close it got (although I don't have a pic of those for some reason). Here's just a selection of the 8 pairs I knitted, on top of that I made two pairs of fingerless mitts and a hat!

I had some lovely knitty ( Knitting Circles Around Socks sock yarn, circs and sock blockers) and stitchy stuff ( Moonlit Mermaid , Dangerous Beauty) for Christmas as well as some books At My Mother's Knee by Paul O'Grady, Look Who It Is - Alan Carr and of course, How To Be A Gardener by Alan Titchmarsh - looking forward to doing more with the garden this year! (But only if next door's bloody dog stops jumping into my garden and stops wrecking havock ... my sprouts are inedible now, sigh ...) I have one more thing to show you that's very special to me but I haven't taken a proper photo of it yet (need good light, so you'll have to wait!)

More posts this week, promise, I have plenty more to tell.

Deepest Love and Queen Mermaid - FINISHED!!!

2008-10-19T18:39:00.003Z

Yes, you read right! I've finally finished Deepest Love and Queen Mermaid!! First of all, here's Deepest Love ....

I have to admit, I really didn't enjoy stitching her (and what on earth is that swirly thing wrapped around her?!) I thought it would become apparent (like Titania sitting on a rose) but it never happened, so answers on a postcard please! I found her colours very boring - how many shades of green??? Anyway, she's done now and I'm pleased.

Here's my ladies together ....

(Sorry for such a crap picture, I never was much good).

Tomorrow they're off to Ocean Framers - yep, I've even found the perfect framers for them!

I have a wall that's been bare forever just so I could put these to on it!

Tail's done!!

2008-09-04T08:46:00.006Z

I'm making progress now and can see the end in sight ... honest! Actually she's done, it's just that swirly thing and the beads to do and she's finished! Thanks to all that's commented on her, your comments really are encouraging.

Take a look.

Other news ...!

Bec hasn't been well over the weekend, we took her bowling and she was great until she got hot then was sick. It's the iron tablets that's doing it, so I phoned the surgery and asked if she could have gentler ones - the rottweiller of a receptionist (yep, every surgery has one) wanted to know the ins and out of a cat's bum before she'd talk to the doctor. I wish I'd just made the appointment and went to see one of them but, me trying to be thoughtful thought it would save an appointment for someone else. Anyway, she eventually gave in and arranged for a new script. So over she went for it, called into the chemist and walked back to my mil's. She was reading the bottle and realised that they had expired! March 2008!!! She phoned me for advice and I told her to get straight back over there and explain and tell them that you want a fresh batch. She overheard them talking in the back and saying that they've been dishing them out all week!! Surely as a duty of care they are going to have to recall all those scripts or people are going to be ill. Thankfully Bec hadn't taken any.

Work is as mental as anything (weren't they an 80's band??) although we are now back up to full speed, sort of - we have a temporary building surveyor and the voids administrator is off sick, it still feels like we have loads of staff here - a lot different from August when it was just me and one other and when he went out I was Billy Nomates (sob!)

September feels like everything is back the way it should be somehow. The kids are back in school and settling into a routine, the roads are a lot busier in the morning with the school run, holidays are finished and there's a lull before Christmas stitching/knitting and shopping starts. I love it!

Deepest Love!

2008-08-20T12:31:00.003Z

I'm finally on the tail! I have to be totally honest with you and say that I haven't enjoyed stitching her at all which is unusual for me as I love stitching mermaids. I'm hating the swirly thing that's wrapped around her too!

Deep down I know that when she's done and I can see both her and Queen Mermaid together, they'll look stunning as I think they'll really compliment one another. She's just never been my favourite mermaid - that would be Mermaid of the Pearls who shimmers in my bathroom!

I'm hoping to get her done by the end of August - mind you I've been saying that since around March, heh heh! Considering Queen Mermaid only took me 6 weeks, this one has really bombed me out, taking nearly a year so far.

After she's done I'm going to have to start (and finish) Passione Ricamo's Country Sunset, and I'm really looking forward to that ... NOT. But it's my mother's Christmas present so I'll really need some encouragement to keep on track with that one. Hint, hint!

I've listed some 2008 goals on Stitch Direct's forum, and so far I have achieved the grand finish of .... NONE!

Our cat, Jasper

2008-08-18T13:30:00.003Z

Just took him for his annual check up and jabs and we've found out that he has a heart murmur. On a scale of 1 to 6, his is around a 3, so it's quite a significant one. He's absolutely fine in himself though which is a good thing. The vet wants to keep a closer eye on him so it'll mean more trips to see her, but that's okay, at least we can get him on medication as soon as he needs it. It's a good thing that I've just taken out insurance (just last week in fact). Just hope that it's valid for any xrays etc he might need.

Here I am!

2008-08-18T11:11:00.005Z

Yesterday was my 40th birthday - sheesh! The amount of friends and family that made a fuss! I was happy to let it all slide by, but no, certain people who shall remain nameless would insist on making sure that the world and his wife knew how old I was ... yep, I had a banner on the house stating exactly who was 40 ... hmm!

I was totally spoiled though, had so much bling! Presents were coming out of my ears, which was all brilliant, I was like a kid on Christmas morning! It was so hard on Saturday night not to open anything when they were there, begging me to rip off various coloured wrappings.

My stitchy and knitty friends gave me some lovely hand dyed wool to fondle and drool over (pics when I decide what I'm going to make, so you'll have to wait!) plus this gorgeous mermaid ...

How cute is she? She'll sit on my bed and comb her hair every day for hours and hours, no doubt! Thanks Jules!

I also had the Lizzie Kate Double Flips which I'll make into this so I was thrilled to get them. Thanks Claire! She also bought me Stitchopoly. Sheesh! What will they think of next!

Turkey 2008

2008-06-29T19:45:00.004Z

Update

2008-05-09T18:50:00.006Z

Took Bec for a blood test this morning, thought it better to do it sooner rather than later seeing as we have the weekend. The surgery told me that the results would be back by Tuesday and to ring in the afternoon.

After waiting in the cattle market, er, waiting room to be called (not bad, only waited an hour) we were seen. This was 11 a.m.

By 2.30, I had a phone call from the surgery, her results were in and the iron levels were so low that they wanted her to start taking ferrous sulphate straight away. They would keep the surgery open if I could call there now. Of course, no problem. I knew she was ill, but didn't realise her iron levels were *that* low. Not only that, the doctor wants to see her first thing on Monday morning. Miraculously there was an appointment made for her at 8.40 in the morning. Most of you in the UK know how hard it is to get an appointment that quick, so she must be ill.

Anyway, at least she has this weekend to relax and let the medicine do its work, of course, she won't be going to school anytime soon, I want to be absolutely certain she's fit and well before that happens.

She has to have more blood tests, but she was so brilliant this morning, that I have no worries about taking her for them. She was so brilliant. Although we did have a moment when we thought she was going to pass out ... she didn't but it was touch and go for a moment.

Thanks once again for your lovely comments and good wishes, it really is comforting to read that she's in your thoughts.

Bless you all.

Bec

2008-05-08T20:03:00.002Z

We took Bec to see the Consultant today about her nosebleeds. I had a phone call from the school at 3.30 telling me that she really wasn't feeling well after a terrible nosebleed and could I fetch her as the nurse wasn't happy about her walking home. Bless her.

We got there early but had to wait an eternity to see him, but the wait was well worth it. He must have been one of the most calmest, patient men in history. He really was great. After asking a series of questions, he asked Bec if he could examine her nose which she was quite happy to do. He said he would like to cauterise her nose today to see if he could stop it before we went on holiday, that way we could all relax and she could recooperate. Once she heard that she got really upset and wouldn't let him near her. She wasn't kicking or screaming the place down or anything, she just shied away every time he went near her. So after much persuasion from us all, she eventually let him do his thing. It took less than 20 seconds .... she's had several nosebleeds every day since two days before Easter, and it was all over in less than 20 seconds. I could have kissed him.

He was worried about her blood levels given the amount of nosebleeds and the intensity of them she's had of late, so he's written me a note to take to the doctor tomorrow in order for her to have a blood test so that she can have some iron. I don't think she really realises how ill she's been. She's totally wiped out all the time and I think she's got used to it. I can't wait for her to start taking iron so that she can appreciate how good it is to live her life without getting absolutely washed out. She can't even cope with a short walk and school is completely wiping her out. She gets home and has to lie down for an hour.

He wants to see her again before we go away, just to check on her and then he'll sign her off.

Best £110 I've ever spent.

Thanks to all that sent their good wishes to her, they were really appreciated and its good to know that she's being thought of during this time. Big hugs to all.

May Day Bank Holiday

2008-05-06T18:55:00.001Z

Yesterday after much phaffing around we decided to go out for the afternoon, I wasn't too keen seeing how Bec was really tired (she'd had several nosebleeds) but His Nibs decided that a bit of fresh air might do her good, so we decided to go to the National Botanical Gardens (link up there, in the title!)

I think we may have gone at the wrong time because the only thing out was tulips (and even they were dying back a bit, sigh ...) Lovely big lettuces though. As it was MayDay they had children maypole dancing - I have no idea why, but this really creeps me out, I'm sure it has something to do with "The Wicker Man" but there you go. Anyway, what we really enjoyed was The Quack Pack (some cracking photos, don't you think?!) The sheepdog was so good herding a bunch of ducks in and out of some carefully placed kids, through tunnels and finally into a pen, very different and extremely amusing ...

Bec (as I anticipated wasn't well, she nearly fainted in the giant glasshouse and then had a heavy nosebleed as we were going) but she said she really enjoyed it as she loves gardening as much as me. Before you all go there, she's going to be a meterologist not the second Charlie Dimmock ....

Before I go, many thanks to all who commented and welcomed me back into the fold of the cross stitching world, it really inspired me to keep on and just to prove it, look!

I apologise for her being on a squiff (it's not you, it's me!)

Stitchy mojo!

2008-05-05T08:20:00.004Z

Yep, my stitchy mojo is back! I haven't stitched in weeks! Sue was on the bus with me on Friday nagging, er, chatting about cracking on with Deepest Love and how great she and Queen Mermaid will look on that piece of wall in the living that I've reserved just for them ... then Claire over on Stitch Direct started texting me about her. "Just do 100 stitches ..." Being good and the fact that I promised her, I duly stitched just over 100 stitches (I wanted to finish off a block). "Great," she texts back, "how about another 100?" Argh!!!! Alright, alright, I give in! I ended up stitching for four hours ...

Other news, thanks for all your comments about Bec, she's really settled in her new school well and is enjoying it, thankfuly. I still worry endlessly about her and hope that she'll be able to talk to me if she has any worries.

She's been having serious nosebleeds since two days before Easter and they aren't getting any better. I decided to take her to a different doctor at our surgery this time in the hope that they'll finally refer her to a Consultant to get it fixed once and for all. She's been such a trouper going to school when she's feeling as ill as she has been, then coming home totally drained. Anyway, the doctor agreed to refer her and we all felt better that the nosebleeds are finally coming to an end. Last weekend she had horrendous ones again and she literally looks like death warmed up, so I phoned the doctor to find out how long the waiting list is. Can you believe it's 20 weeks before she even gets to see him? The good old NHS Service eh? Don't get me wrong, I not knocking it, but she just can't go on like she is for another 20 weeks, so we've decided to go private. She's seeing him on Thursday.

I've now gone full time at work, I doing the hours fine, but its losing all that free time when I get home that I can't get used to! I'm sure I will though, I'll just have to time manage myself a little more! I'm enjoying it though, although I seem to be just as busy as I was doing 29 hours!

I'm still losing weight - whoo hoo! 17 lbs since January, yep, I lose it s-l-o-w-l-y! I walk one and a half miles three times a week, that's from work to the Park and Ride car park, I do aerobics once a week at my Rosemary Conley class, body plates and, get this, I hoola hoop!!! Knackered is an understatement, so why aren't I losing at least a stone a month?! Heh heh! As my leader keeps saying, "Patience, girl, patience!"

Can you tell what it is yet?

(I have no idea why the bottom of this turned out so crappy, so here's a direct link.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/GsdSheba/Stitching/PIC_0110-1.jpg

She Loves It!

2008-04-14T20:43:00.005Z

Well Bec started school last Wednesday, her Head of Year put her in with her friend from orchestra and apparently, a lovely quiet class. Her teacher is very approachable, fair and won't tolerate bullying, so that's a positive thing. I was told that the staff would be watching out for her for a while whilst she settles in and Bec has told me that she feels quite safe in school.

She has joined a "clique" of 16 girls! Can you imagine that lot meeting up during break? It must be like a gaggle of geese! But the main thing is, she's absolutely loving it. She's a totally different girl now. Before she was quite sullen and quick tempered, now she's smiling and warm again just like she used to be before she started Comprehensive. I really feel like I'm getting my lovely chick back again.

Dylan George - Magpie Goose

2008-04-06T20:56:00.005Z

Last week, Bec and I went to Wetlands to visit "Dylan George". Of course that's not his proper name, but he just looks like a Dylan George! I was totally enchanted by this wonderful looking Magpie Goose who had no qualms about sitting with me for a while as I fed him and stroked him before he wandered off for a dip in the pond.

Bec couldn't see what all the fuss was about, but I think he's really cute! He's not the best at actually getting in the water. To say he splash landed after an unceremonious nosedive would be an understatement, but I thought it just added to his charm. He's an endangered species so I hope he'll be around for a long, long time.

Change of School

2008-04-06T20:01:00.005Z

Bec has been really miserable at school lately, she's been bullied by this particular girl that's in her group of friends for the past two years off and on but its got to the stage where we think she's having stress nosebleeds - big nosebleeds. I don't know if such a thing actually exists but it seems that when she's having a particularly hard time with her, she gets really heavy nosebleeds.

We decided a few weeks ago that we'd give her the option of changing schools. We pointed out the pros and cons and if you'd have seen the relief in her face, we are pretty certain that it's the right thing to do. She's going to the local catchment school, starting on Wednesday. We have an interview tomorrow with the Deputy Headmaster, then she'll start officially on Wednesday. She's really looking forward to going as she has friends from orchestra that go there. It's quite refreshing actually because she's usually dreading going back to school after a break as this Lauren girl always makes sure that she's turned her friends against Bec just before they break up and Bec will end up on her own over the school holidays. You know what it's like, the ringleader will call the shots and if anyone goes against her, then they are ousted too. What's more, she makes sure that Bec knows what a great holiday they are all having by making her other friends text her or go onto MSN to wind her up - nasty, cruel, vicious little girl.

This holiday hasn't been too bad for her though as she wasn't in school during the last couple of days of term due to, yep, heavy nosebleeds again - I think she was winding herself up for the school holiday to be honest with you - but as she wasn't there, they haven't been as bad. She's met up with a couple of her friends a couple of times and gone to the new Leisure Centre which has recently been turned into an aqua park and has really enjoyed herself.

She's been telling me that she's been on MSN again and has caught her friends out on a couple of shopping trips that they haven't invited her to. Its not that she minds not being invited, its the fact that they seem to rub her nose in it that gets to her. I've told her that this time next week her old friends will be a distant memory. Her new ones actually can't wait for her to start, they all want to look out for her and take her under her wing, so I think she might have mentioned what's been going on previously. I'm glad that she can open up and talk to them too.

Watch this space!

Busy, busy, busy!

2008-04-06T19:29:00.007Z

Remember me? Yep, I'm here! Back again after such a loooooooooong absence for which I am suitably ashamed. Hell right now, I don't even email my friends whom I once used to email at least once a day, they're now lucky to get a look in once a week.

So this is what I propose to do. I'm going to break this entry into smaller ones because there's nothing worse than trawling through a really long post and then not seeing anything for weeks on end - yes I'm blushing furiously here ... I have so much to say and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I remember it all!

Wasn't Easter far too early this year? Thankfully it won't be this early again in my lifetime! I always associate with Easter with being halfway through Spring with Summer just around the corner, this year it was barely Spring and I didn't like it! I have some lovely pics of spring flowers to show you, remember I put the bulbs in last Autumn with the faint hope that something would come up? Well, the tate a tates have nearly gone over now but there's still some lovely colour in the flowerbed.

Talking about gardening, I've planted out some veg - as usual my supervisor was there to check I was doing it right.

"What's that you've just put in there then?"

(Notice some leaves? That's beetroot!)

This morning I put some lettuce, radish, sweetcorn and spring onions in plus a couple of runner beans in the coldframe, so hopefully they'll be sprouting soon - I love runner beans!

Update!

2008-02-10T18:55:00.000Z

Thought I'd post before I get snowed under with another week at the new job! Thanks to all that congratulated me, it really made me warm and fuzzy inside! The job is absolutely manic, I'm still finding my feet but the work just keeps on coming - STRESS is an understatement! I'm enjoying it though, it's much much busier than my last job but I'm sure (as my friend, Rosie says) within a couple of weeks I'll have it licked. Lets all keep our fingers crossed ...! I'm sleeping well anyway!

I haven't stitched much of Deepest Love this week as I've been too tired, but yesterday when I really wanted to settle down after the rugby - congratulations Wales!!! - I couldn't, sigh ... the socket that my overhead lamp is plugged into is, well, iffy to say the least, and somehow the power wouldn't go through. I won't stitch in bad light, not good for neatness! So I sat there with itchy fingers all night. (I couldn't find one of my dpn's either - yes I know, I'm hopeless!)

This morning I decided to clean the garden up, sweep up the leaves and deadhead some flowers etc.

Look who's supervising ...

There's a field at the back of the house so you can imagine how happy he is. He's a proper mouser (yuk!) He goes out in the morning and rarely comes back before dark. I've just gone to let him in and watched him run down my steps with, yep, a mouse in his mouth. Only this time the damn thing was still alive when he put it down. The poor thing ran for his life closely followed by Jasp, I've now chased him and the mouse back up the garden where hopefully the mouse will be able to get away and back up the field. Gross, gross, gross! I'm sure some of you have some stories to tell about *their* cats!

Butter wouldn't melt would it?

Whoo hooo!!!!!

2008-01-29T12:50:00.000Z

I got the job!!! Whoo hoo!!

Start Monday! Watch this space!

Deepest Love - Week 2

2008-01-27T10:45:00.000Z

Finally I have a cross stitch wip to show you!! I'm going to crack on with Deepest Love until the end of February and whether I've finished it or not, I will then have to start Passione Ricamo's Country Sunset for my mother's birthday in June - I'm really looking forward to stitching it ... NOT.

I'm afraid to say that I'm struggling with her, Queen Mermaid just flew along but I can't seem to get into this one for some reason and I'm told she's a really quick stitch. So if you can help me along, I'd be really grateful!

No other news I'm afraid - I still don't know if I've got the job I'm going for as there's been a breakdown in communication between departments (typical). The closing date was supposed to have been on Friday but Personnel have advertised it as tomorrow at noon so I'm another weekend stressed up, sigh ...

Couldn't have been as bad as last Sunday when I fell down the stairs though ...

Bus Drivers ... Again!!!

2008-01-24T10:09:00.000Z

Heh heh, well last night I decided to get the job application form done and dusted. It was no good just looking at me, it wasn't going to fill itself in, so I spent a good while musing and then settling down to it last night.

Rather than squashing the form into my bag this morning, I carried in. Big mistake. I got as far as the office and realised I'd left the blasted thing on the bus, argh!!!!

Now, the Park and Ride drops me off on The Kingsway and trundles off to The Quadrant. No way was I going to catch him there, so I pelted back up the length of The Kingsway (boy it felt a long way!) then around the corner to where I could pick it up at St Mary's Square. As I rounded the corner, I could see the bus coming up the road - no way was I going to make it, I turned tail and ran up to the High Street. Now I was in a dilemma ... would he see me as its not normal for anyone to be picked back up at that time of the morning, everyone is getting dropped off, plus I had a delivery van parked in the bus stop to contend with ... hmm ....

The bus came around and I waved frantically and realised it wasn't the driver that took me down, but it was the same bus. My brain by this time was even more fuzzled than it normally is. Do I still stop him? Yep, it was worth a go.

Now I had a Polish driver to contend with - he's a really nice, friendly chap but I didn't know how much English he could speak.

"Did you just switch with Mervyn back at the Quadrant?" I said, frantically pointing in the general direction of the Quadrant. He looked a bit scared at what must have been a mad woman waving her hands in his face.

"Eventually he nodded, "Yes, Quadrant, Mervyn."

"Great, I've left an envelope on the bus and I need to get it, could I go and look to see if it's still there?" Again, frantic gestures and drawing rectangles in the air ....

"Yes, yes ..." he said hesitantly obviously not knowing what on earth I was rambling on about.

As I stumbled up the bus looking under seats, I felt the bus move. Oh no, did he not understand and thought I was just explaining to him that I just wanted to go back to the car park????? Nope, thankfully he was just parking up properly. To be fair, he was flagged down practically in the middle of the road, hmm ....

Found it!!! I ran back down to him, thanking him profusely for stopping and letting me look.

"It's ok, it's ok! Thank you, thank you!" he kept saying to me. I'm sure it was because I was now resembling something half human again and he'd was not in fear for his life anymore, heh heh!

Now I've got to face him, probably at 2.30 this afternoon .... who'll have the red face I wonder ....

As promised ...

2008-01-16T16:18:00.000Z

Here's a pic of "Fetching" actually being modelled, so it does actually mean that I managed to produce a mitt that fitted, heh heh!

Trying to balance a camera in one hand and take a halfway decent photo is totally beyond my capabilities, so please bear with me ...

Breaking News!!!!

I covered a job in the Housing Maintenance Department a couple of months ago for the postholder to be able to go away on holiday, it's the type of job that needs someone there all the time and two weeks would have meant that the Inspectors would have ended up with no work to do. The work comes in, has to be logged in, then there's a series of steps taken before the work actually gets to them, anyway, I really enjoyed doing the work, it was totally manic but I got on with it, there were no disasters and the team seemed to like me. I think "please apply for the job if it ever comes up" clinched it. Well the postholder has now handed her notice in.

I had a chat to my line manager this morning, in fact, she was the one that told me that it had come up and I bit the bullet and told her I'd like to go for it. Now here's the stinger, it's a full time post (34.5 hours a week) and I currently work 29 with no way I can work anymore because of Bec. She's too young to be in the house on her own yet and I don't think it's fair to ask my mother to have her for another three days as she's already looking after her for two as it is. The team have already told me that they are more than happy to cover as they don't have to worry about cover during the lunch break as I work five hours straight through. Swings and roundabouts ...

I managed to have a chat with the Head of Department and we talked through most things, he also mentioned the hours but I think if he feels I'm right for the post, then he'll be able to work around that especially if I have support from the team already. Either way I have to apply for it, whether it goes internally, externally or secondment. Either way, he told me to definitely go for it. Can't say fairer than that.

My nerves are fraught.

Here we are again

2008-01-14T11:04:00.000Z

Decided over the weekend to take a break from knitting a sock and start Fetching instead. After quite a shaky start - I really should read and re-read instructions, you know, I was surprised to finish them on Sunday night after only starting them late on Saturday afternoon (for the 5th time ...)

I'll post a pic of my hand actually in them later (I stupidly deleted it!)

I have a better pic of my sock ...

In this one you can actually see what the pattern is supposed to look like. I'm enjoying it, but it's just taking forever!

Had another incident with a bus driver this morning, I was sitting next to the emergency exit, minding my own business and texting a pal, when all of a sudden the door swung open - I swear my hair stood on end - and he was trying to hand a brolly over to a lady in the back seat. "Bloody hell" (apparently that came out a lot louder than I thought) to which Mervyn burst out laughing, then started cajoling me, he nearly got hit over the head with my umbrella. Why on earth can't he walk up the bus like the rest of us??? Heh heh!

Driving to work this morning, I was flipping through the channels on the radio (I can't stand listening to the sports news which is on the 3 local channels all at the same time) and started listening to Radio 2 - Terry Wogan. He had just received an email from someone in Wales who was complaining about the recent weather forecast. She said that he'd mentioned high winds. HIGH WINDS??? It's like a hurricane down here, she said. Her bins were doing a lap around the garden, her fish pond had so many waves on it that surfers were turning up and droves and her knickers were last seen blowing up the M4 towards London ... I was screaming. People were looking at me ... stop laughing!!!!

Must get back into the habit ...

2008-01-05T12:08:00.000Z

I really must get back into the habit of blogging more, I think of things and remind myself to put it in the blog, but never actually get around to it. I'm sure it was because of the run up to Christmas and not having enough time to do everything that sort of did it. But I'm here now and looking forward to blogging much more regularly.

Had a lovely Christmas, very quiet seeing as I somehow managed to pick up a head cold on Boxing Day. I was all geared up to crack on with some stitching but just didn't feel up to it. I did however start planning my vegetable plot. I had some lovely gardening books for Christmas from my parents and my thoughts having been running from "I really want to grow this," to "Oh my God, how can I possibly imagine for one moment that I can actually grow anything?" Time will tell ...

My cat, Jasper is now able to go out and about after I found out that the woman who was determined to steal him from me is now in hospital and won't be returning to her house as she is too frail (she had 4 cats of her own at the time). Anyway, that story is in another post if you want to read up on it.

Anyway, he is absolutely revelling in his new found freedom and is enjoying supervising me whilst digging compost and manure into the new vegetable plot as well as exploring and visiting new places. He doesn't mind the rain as he knows that when he comes in looking like a drowned rat, he'll have a good towel rub and a meal waiting for him when he comes in. Not sure about hailstones though, we've just had a good shower of them and there's no sign of him yet ....

Had plenty of stitchy and knitty stuff for Christmas, I was in the Stitch Direct Secret Santa and received a lovely Just Nan chart together with the fabric to go with it. My best friend also gave me some HAED charts, fabric, threads and krenik to go with them so I'm all set to start whenever I feel like it. I don't know about you but I love to have "a kit" like that. Everything you need, all freshly bought and just waiting for the first stitch to go in - nothing beats it. I also had a couple more Just Nan charts, one from Gary which was the 2007 Christmas Biscornu and one from Sue called Wildflower Wishes (both supplied with fabric and embellishments - how lucky can one get?)

He also bought me three sock knitting books, Sensational Knitted Socks, More Sensational Socks and Favourite Socks well ok, I ordered them and he paid, but still ...

I'm going to try and knit a pair a month, and have already started this month's. Not much to see yet, but they'll be a sort of cable effect when done. I bought the yarn from Web of Wool, it's hand-dyed and came as a hank. I absolutely hate winding yarn with a passion, but bit the bullet and cracked on. Thankfully it didn't knot up much and I didn't have too much of a time getting it done.

If you look carefully, you'll see the cable pattern, but I don't think you'll really see the full effect until I've knitted some more (or even until I finish) but trust me, they are really pretty.

Busy few weeks!

2007-12-19T13:47:00.000Z

How's your Christmas preps going? I've finally calmed down enough to make a list of what I have left to do (and believe me, it's a pretty short one ... thankfully!) All but a few presents are wrapped, I have a couple still to come in the post but they are for me from Gary so it's no biggie, I have the food shopping being delivered tonight and the fresh on Sunday so its just a clean through on Christmas Eve and I'm all set. Although I'm cooking dinner this year so I going to be a little frayed at the edges come the big day, for sure.

Friday night was Gary's works do. We were picked up in a Hummer limo (something I've always wanted to go in, so I was an extremely happy bunny) and plyed with champagne - it was so fab!

When we got to the restaurant, it was really lovely. I can't tell you how much I had to drink because my glass never got empty. I had stuffed mushrooms to start, followed by steak and a jacket and profitoroles to finish - lovely! We were in the vip area so we were cut off from the rabble! The conversation was wonderful, with all the "boys" putting bullets in for someone else to fire, so there was plenty of laughter, high jinx and banter going on. I was so relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Sunday was my company's Children's Christmas Party, which was an ice skating session, followed by a meal at Frankie and Benny's. It was lovely but bitterly cold outside. I didn't hang around watching the girls on the ice much, but could watch them from the refreshment tent and they were doing ok from what I could see! The wind chill was biting though. I'm going to have to knit myself a hat next year...! Afterwards Went to Frankie and Benny's and waited for an hour for our meal which wasn't too bad considering there was nearly 60 of us and we all got served at the same time. We weren't too impressed that the adults got served first though. I asked the waitress to sort out my 3 (Bec and her two friends) early so that they could pop off to the cinema - well I just wasted my breath. (And told her so because they were served the same time as everyone else.) In the end I told them to go and change the time to a later showing. After they'd eaten they went back over to the Winter Wonderland and then on to the cinema. Bec phoned me to tell me what time she was coming out and I went back down to collect them in the car. No biggie, but if Frankies had listened to me, we could have all come home on the Park and Ride together at 4, as it was I had to go back to the car park on the bus then double back to pick them up at 6.30. Grr!!

Last night was Bec's Christmas carol concert at the Brangwyn Hall. She's first violin in the orchestra and boy did it sound good! Yeah, yeah, I'm biased! I managed to capture "Everything I Do (I do it for you)" on my phone which is now my ringtone - don't tell her, she'll probably flip!

Bus Driver Update

2007-12-05T16:44:00.000Z

Well I am absolutely bouncing!!!

As you are now aware (see my last post) I use the Park and Ride Service into work each day. I emailed the Council to ask if there was a possibility of being picked up on The Kingsway and I had an email a couple of days later confirming that, yes, there is a pick up and explained exactly where it was.

Today I decided I was going to use it. As I stepped on the bus, the driver said that he would let me on this once, but the official pick up was at The Quadrant (quite a distance away). I explained to him that I was told that this was an official pick up point and he practically demanded to know how I came to this conclusion as there was nothing on "his notice board" to say this only that The Kingsway was a drop off point. Argh!!!! I said that I'd emailed the Council who wrote back and would he like me to print it off for him to see? I'm more than happy to do that for you, I said. He wasn't having any of it.

When we arrived at The Quadrant, there was an enormous queue (Chirstmas shoppers) to get on the bus, so I just carried on texting Sue telling her what had happened. In the meantime, he phoned his boss at the Council and was yelling up the bus asking where the lady was that got on at The Kingsway. Mortified was an understatement.

He smirked as he swaggered up the bus, brandishing his mobile at me and practically shoving it in my face telling (sorry, yelling) me to speak to his boss, all the time smirking. You can imagine how I felt, the bus was by now packed, everyone was looking at this circus going on because, lets face it, the driver isn't exactly quiet, whilst he stood there watching my reaction.

The gentleman on the other end asked me ever so politely what the problem was, so I explained about the email and the driver having a problem with me trying to explain that it The Kingsway was an official pick up point. To my horror, he said that the driver was right there wasn't a pick up point on The Kingsway!!!! I nearly died. Then he said that someone was trying to grab his attention and would I mind holding. By this time the whole bus was listening ...

He came back to me and profusely apologised and told me that I was quite right, there was an official pick up at The Kingsway since September!!!! YES!!! RESULT!!! I told him it was quite alright and would he like to speak to the driver now.

Such a sweet moment to watch the driver's smirk wiped right off his face ...

He couldn't even face me when he pulled up at the depot. He practically pushed someone off the bus in his haste to hide in the office, but I'll have the last laugh when I lodge an official complaint about him in the morning. Nobody has the right to take pleasure in making someone feel small and humiliated in front of a crowd of people, even if that someone had the last laugh.

It's not only Postmen, it's Bus Drivers Now!

2007-11-27T11:49:00.000Z

Last night I was putting my coat on ready to make my daily dash to the Quadrant to pick up the Park and Ride and saw the bus going down the Kingsway (the road on which I work), I was muttering away to myself and my boss picked up on what I was whingeing about. "Why don't you ask if they'll do a stop on The Kingsway?" Good idea. They do not 1 but 3 on the High Street, plus they do a drop off on the Kingsway in the morning, so there's scope ...

This morning, there were 4 of us from my office waiting for the bus and I was telling them what she said. Good idea! I glanced at the little office and one of the Polish drivers was filling out one of our housing forms! I said to Sue, shall I make a deal with him, I'll offer to take his form in if he picks us up tonight on the Kingsway .... maybe not though, he can barely speak English and would probably not get what I was trying to say, hmmm ...

Anyway, just as the bus pulled in, I asked the Clerk if I could have some customer suggestion forms. "Not to report me is it?" he said, grinning. "Nope, I work on the Kingsway and want to know if they'd make a pick up on it in the night," I said. As I was grabbing the forms "Mervyn" (stop laughing, it's his name) walked in and the Clerk said (as loud as you like, mind) this is the one you're reporting, Mervyn is his name!" Mortified I was ....

I jumped on the bus, Sue and said colleagues were nearly wetting themselves by this point (after abandoning me) and I started handing out the forms. Before I knew it, Mervyn was standing in front of me. I nearly died!!!! Then he asked if I worked for a Housing Association. I nodded (blushing to my boots - I'd already blushed to my tips there was nowhere else to go but down) and he gestured for me to walk back off the bus with him.... Poor sod, the Polish driver was standing there with his form, looking at Mervyn expectantly to which Mervyn asked if I'd drop it in. "Of course, as long as you pick us up on the Kingsway in the night ...." His face dropped! Heh heh heh!! I'll keep you posted!

Christmas Stitching

2007-11-25T18:34:00.000Z

Sorry I haven't been on for a while, I've been busily stitching some Christmas presents and think I can show you these without giving the surprise away for the intended recipients ..

These are socks for my mother, from Posh Yarn they're Eva which is a blend of silk and cashmere, just right for her as she has recently been diagnosed with osteo-arthritis in her feet.

I've had a rough couple of weeks at home too, but I won't bore you with the details, suffice to say we're back on an even keel now and fingers crossed it will stay that way.

Anyhoo, back to the presents, I have another 5 socks to knit and a tree from M Designs plus another little something but can't say because I know the recipient *does* read my blog, so I'm afraid no pictures of the wip or clue as to who the designer is until Boxing Day, sorry.

These initials are from Passione Ricamo freebie collection and stitched with Vicky Clayton Silks . They are Christmas presents for the team I work for (remember the mug huggers my Line Manager and I made last year?) well these will be turned into coasters! Pretty neat, huh? Claire, my best buddy thought of them, so thanks, Claire!

Well off I go, back to my knitting!

Garden Update (and other things)

2007-11-04T21:01:00.000Z

Back again (and so soon!)

This morning I decided to have another "go" at the garden, this time getting all the rocks and rubble out with just some sieving left to do to get the smaller bits out, then I'm going to put loads of compost and manure in and let it all rot down over the winter. I would have loved to have got some dwarf beans and some onions in but it's not going to happen now, as I really need to let the earth, er, mature!

Here's some pics of what I was up to ...

Doesn't look much yet, does it? I'm planning on growing vegetables here. I'm turning out to be just like my grandfather, I think - he had one side of his garden full of flowers, the other ... full of veg!

As promised, here's a pic of something very special that a lady made for me whilst demonstrating fymo at the Knitting and Stitching Show on Saturday. She said that this was the most unusual thing that she'd been asked to make that day, hmm ...!

I bought some hand dyed sock wool which now has to be wound into a ball (sigh), if there's one job I hate, is doing that, still I think this wool will turn out to be really pretty socks, don't you?

I'm very close to finishing a sock that I'm knitting for my mother (pic when it's done). I used Posh Yarn's Eva as it's incredibly soft and she's just found out that she's has osteo-arthritis in her toes so I'm hoping that it'll give her some snuggly comfort as well as warmth.

Missed me?!

2007-11-03T19:54:00.000Z

Sorry I haven't been around, but I've been on my holidays! It was half term last week so we decided to go to North Wales and do a bit of sightseeing and see the rellies.

Bec (as most of you know) loves castles and there's plenty of them around North Wales so we decided to explore a couple of them - Gary was bored out of his skull, but there you go ...

We went to Caernarfon Castle and Criccieth Castle which were both great fun to explore, followed by a walk around the towns and back to the Hafan y Mor site for tea and a cosy evening in where we played endless "Top Trumps" with Bec and basically collapsed in front of the t.v. ready to start all over again in the morning. It was a lovely, but tiring break and a good time was had by all.

I'll update tomorrow where I went to today. I have something very special that was made just for me ... pic tomorrow, promise!

No stitchy pics - sorry!

2007-10-14T11:18:00.000Z

First of all, I want to thank everyone who posted their good wishes and thoughts for Bec, she's much better now and hasn't had a nosebleed in a week, so fingers crossed that'll be the end of it for a while.

Secondly, I have my stitchy mojo back (thanks to the anonomous person who sent it back (!) I think I got all mermaid-ed out. I've now put Deepest Love away for a while so that I can get on with my Christmas stitching ~ hence no pictures because I don't want to spoil it, but I promise I'll post on Boxing Day what I'm stitching at the mo. Cross my heart, hope to die. There.

On the gardening side of things though, look what's been growing!

I even have daffodils shooting up.... IN OCTOBER!!! Sheesh! At this rate, I'll have blooms at Christmas, never mind St David's_Day! Look!

I seem to have become addicted to gardening programmes. I'm avidly watching Gardeners World (and even taking notes! How sad am I!) In fact, I've just come in from the garden after planting some tete a tetes, crocuses and some snakes heads where I apparently have a "raised flower bed" - imagine that! I just thought it was a walled bit at the back of my garage with some earth in it, go figure! I'm posh!

My poor bunny

2007-10-04T17:39:00.000Z

I had a phone call at work yesterday from Bec's school. She'd had three nosebleeds - one during assembly, one in her English lesson and a huge one in the nurse's office. She's been suffering with nosebleeds for a few years now, off and on, but the doctor is convinced she'll just grow out of it like her dad and me.

She tends to follow a pattern - warning ones first where they are relatively small, then followed a couple of hours later by a really heavy one. Well the really heavy one happened in the nurses office which is the best place to have had one. The nurse wasn't happy to keep her at school and to be honest, neither was I, so I had to and fetch her. My poor baby was like wax and very shaky on her feet, so a cuddle with mum and a few things that we'd taped on the V+ box soon made things better.

I've kept her off school today but I think she'll go back tomorrow to see how she gets on.

For some reason, I've lost my stitchy mojo. I really don't fancy working on Deepest Love at the moment, even though I've entered the Mirabilia BB competition and should have her finished by December. So if anyone sees it lying around, can they please send it back as soon as possible? I know there's a Royal Mail strike at the moment, but I've heard that Pigeon Post is a lot better than it used to be!

Deepest Love - Week 1

2007-10-01T06:44:00.000Z

Ok, as promised (again) here she is after Week 1 ...

Now I have to admit, I very nearly didn't post because I backstitched her eye four times last night, sigh ... I just couldn't get it right but now I'm happy so we're all good. I think once I get a bit more done, I'll start to enjoy her but right now, it's an effort to pick her up.

Personally, I think I was too tired last night to work on her, but a promise is a promise and I'm glad you lot nagged me because I feel a lot happier now that she has a proper face.

I'm pretty sure Queen Mermaid and her have been yapping all night now that I've given her a mouth ... just hope that this one doesn't play with her hair as much as the other one. It was a bugger to comb out every morning.

An apology!

2007-09-30T17:51:00.000Z

I'm very sorry ladies, but I can't update you with a pic for Deepest Love (whispers) because I haven't put a stitch in all weekend!!

I've been gardening! Well digging out the bricks and rubble that we put in last year to stop weeds and the like, before covering the borders with pea shingle and bark. Now I've decided that I don't like it and have spent all afternoon digging it all out again - knackered it an understatement!

I have one more border to dig out (I think I'll take some before and after pictures for it, just to prove that I really am neglecting my stitching for gardening ~ and of course, Meerkat Manor!) but I think my step-father will be helping me as it's going to be a pretty horrendous job and he's absolutely loving the fact that I'm vying to be the new Alan Titchmarsh ....

So forgive me, but I haven't stitched but (stands up and puts hand on heart) I will tonight and upload a pic tomorrow. Oh yes I will ...

Thank you so much for the comments, I had a good chuckle at them! Nope, I don't get hangovers ~ ever! I can drink until I'm sick and I'll still get up at my usual time and crack on with what I need to crack on with. I know, I know, it's so unfair, but there it is!

Update tomorrow - promise!

'Ello!

2007-09-29T12:07:00.001Z

Has it really been two weeks since I last blogged? Well, I *have* been busy you know!

Last night I went to a leaving "do" at our new Casino in town. It was brilliant, a good time was had by all - although some did better than others! I was very good though, I didnt drink too much, but I did have my first Tequila slammers for which I am paying for today with a swollen tongue. (Someone's told me that it's the lemon that's done it, not the actual drink, it sounds good so I'll stick with that, although it's not something I'd drink again as to be honest, the only thing I could liken it to was Domestos). The meal was fantastic, piping hot which is always a good sign. I had tagliatelli with salmon, prawns and mussels (but I picked the mussels out as I don't like them!) I gave them to someone else who loves them and who I found out is a midwife and knows the one who delivered Bec!! Small world or what?! Didn't go on the gambling tables, it's just not something that I have any interest in whatsoever, I even got bored watching to be honest. I think I stuck it out for about a minute ...

So here I am, stuck in work (thankfully I don't get hangovers) and musing about what I'm going to do when I finish this afternoon. I was going to dig the garden over, but the weather looks a bit dodgey at the moment, so I might just curl up and stitch instead, I've still got a bit more of the hair to do on Deepest Love plus I want to backstitch her face so she doesn't look so ghostly. We'll see, I'll decide later on.

I'm totally addicted to Meerkat Manor! It's on Animal Planet every day (I'm in raptures!) I tend to tape the 3 in the morning ones as it's not going to clash with anything else I'm taping! I sit in the living room, laughing my head off one minute, then bawling like a baby the next - absolutely compelling viewing! I'm so addicted and even have the Meerkat Manor wallpaper and screensaver! Yep, I'm addicted, sad, but true. Try it and see!

Tomorrow I'll upload a picture of Deepest Love tomorrow, I'm going to try and finish her by Christmas.

Thanks to all who posted their lovely comments about Queen Mermaid, it was such a joy to read them, so thanks once again.

HALF A HAPPY DANCE!!!

2007-09-16T09:46:00.000Z

Well I did it!!! I finished her last night and I'm so thrilled! I've completed a Mirabilia in just six weeks!!! I'm amazed! To be fair, I was on leave for a whole week and I did so much stitching, you just wouldn't believe, but still ~ 6 WEEKS!!! I'm still reeling!!

Here she is!

I haven't added the treasures yet as Deepest Love is going on the same piece of fabric. Cliloe asked if I was going to do something similar only instead of Deepest Love she mentioned PR's Galatea but I've decided I'm going to do her on her own I've wanted to do QM and DL together since I saw them in a Silkweaver's competition some years ago. (Watch this space!)

I've definitely got the gardening bug! Karen has asked to see some pictures of the garden, but there isn't much to share as yet as I've only potted up some bulbs and some pansies and some other flower that I can't remember the name of at the moment, but here are a couple of pics ...

Bec's Alpine Garden and her fushia's that haven't quite got going yet.

My grandfather's fuschia.

This is what it looked like last year ...

So it's a slight improvement ...

I have so many ideas that I want to do with it though, I'm avidly watching gardening programmes that I thought were so boring years ago! I'm going to dig up the stones and bark chippings where the pots are and have a border there instead and grow some ivy or creeper that will engulf the fence and give us some privacy from our next door neighbours who think its fascinating to watch me pegging washing out ... I'm going to cut back the fuschia (it was my late grandfathers) and tidy it up so that I can put another border there and grow some nice shrubs. I was going to start yesterday but after I'd finished work, didn't feel like it. But rest assured, I have loads of ideas going on in my head and a blank canvas to work from - I'm so excited!!

For all the gardeners out there, please feel free to give me as much advice as possible!

Nearly there!!!

2007-09-12T06:27:00.000Z

I'm on week 5 and thought I'd be finished by now, but schools went back (and I wasn't anticipating how much time and energy I'd be spending covering schoolbooks (Mum, I can't use this sticky stuff, please help!!) and sewing name tags on about a thousand school garments ... not to mention the small bitty stuff that we simply couldn't have bought during the six weeks school holidays, hmm... (I can see mums out there nodding their heads at this).

So, poor Queenie had to sit patiently and play with her hair (well, she must have been so bored one night because I was nearly a day untangling that damn thing for her, heh heh heh!)

Here she is, impatiently swishing her tail at me and yelling at me to get her finished already.

(The white behind her head is actually the window at the other end of the room reflecting through the fabric, not me suddenly deciding that some beads and krenik would look quite good coming out of her hair.)

Everything has started back for Bec now, she had her first violin and orchestra session last week so I'm backing to taxi-ing her everywhere, I don't really mind though, if she enjoys it then I'm happy to do it.

I've been covering someone at work which meant four days of actually learning the job (it's very bitty) plus doing my own so I'm extremely snowed under at the moment but really enjoying it. I'm feeling it though, when I get home I'm shattered!

I spent a lot of time in the garden over the weekend, potting up bulbs for Spring and adding a splash of colour for the Autumn season too. I've decided that after covering over our borders with chippings and bark to stand the pots on, that I'd quite like to take it all off again and have a proper border instead so that'll be my job over the next couple of weeks. Watch this space!

Week 4!

2007-09-02T17:16:00.001Z

And she's almost done!!

I'm on the tail this week. Little Grey Cat asked if I bead as I go along, well, yes I do. I enjoy beading and always bead at the end of the week just before I take a pic as that signifies the end of a week of stitching for me, don't ask me why, it's just a quirk!

Queen Mermaid Week 3

2007-08-27T09:04:00.000Z

I can't put her down!!

I was hoping to get half of the chart finished by the end of the month, well, I've done it, plus I've already started on the other half - I really think she will be the quickest Mirabilia finish I've ever done!

I've also finished another pair of socks for Bec ...

Not a colour combo I would have chosen, but Bec loves them, so that's what counts!

Thank you and an update!

2007-08-19T17:34:00.001Z

Thank you so much for my lovely birthday wishes and kind words about my presents, they were all appreciated. I had a lovely birthday, we ate chips on the beach followed by Joe's Ice Cream which is the local delicacy around here - lush is an understatement ... yesterday Bec and I went to the cinema to see Evan Almighty which was mighty funny actually, we both enjoyed very much!

Here's week 2 of Queen Mermaid ...

She's coming along nicely and I'm really enjoying stitching her. I had a problem with the qsnaps though, I put some tissue paper between the beads and the qsnaps but when I took them off, it had pulled the fabric so taut that the beads were loose and out of shape on the fabric. I've pulled the fabric back into shape as best I can and it looks okay, if I'm still not happy I'll restitch the beads again. No biggie.

Yesterday I picked up Middy from the framers. She knows I always call early for them, but she was late opening up yesterday (for a purpose) so after waiting nearly three quarters of an hour in the pouring rain, I gave up and drove home. She phoned later on that morning to say that she was open and to call down, she gave me a great discount for messing me around and I'm thrilled with the results!

She's framed the same way as Titania as eventually they'll hang together.

Once again, thanks to everyone who wished me a happy birthday, I really loved reading your comments!

Today is my Birthday!!

2007-08-17T06:35:00.000Z

Happy Birthday to meeeeeeeeeee
Happy Birthday to meeeeeeeeeee
Happy Birthday dear Nicolaaaaaaaaaaa,
Happy Birthday to meeeeeeeeeee!

Had some lovely stitchy presents from my dear friends Sue and Claire.

Sue actually designed and made this herself and has been teasing me for the past six months (at least) about it. She kept texting me to say that she was working on my present, and that she hoped it would turn out alright, and how much I'd laugh when I saw it. All very mind boggling.

Anyway, here's the finished project ...

(She's a fairy nut almost as much as I'm a mermaid nut ...)

Claire made me this gorgeous little design, which I think is absolutely adorable ...

The Nadia Tate ACEO is a first edition (01/50) Fishnet Mermaid - I now have four in my collection and love every one of them.

My nutty friend, Rosie always writes a story about me for my birthday and she came up trumps again this year, she has such a wicked sense of humour, you can read and laugh at her stories until tears run down your face, it's such a shame that she lives in the USA and I'm over here in the UK because I know we'd have a blast when we met up. Someday ....

Last night Bec and I went to see Shakespeare's "As you like it" in the grounds of Oystermouth Castle. We donned our thick winter clothes together with blankets to wrap around us and took hot drinks with us, sat on deckchairs and watched the play. All very good but I didn't have a clue what it was about! I'm still clueless this morning ...

After all the bad weather we've been having lately (Sue and Claire are in Crete and Gran Canaria respectively, so don't really give a damn what the weather is doing over here, heh heh heh) I thought I'd post a pic of Jasper following the sun around the room last week ...

Queen Mermaid - Week 1

2007-08-12T09:09:00.000Z

Thanks to everyone who commented on Rebecca's birthday present, she was so pleased with it, I can't even describe in words how she reacted when she saw her.

I've been on leave this week so managed to get a really good start on Queen Mermaid. Here she is after a week ....

I couldn't capture the sparklies in her dress, so I'll try next time. I don't know, the last one was blurry, this one is flat, what on earth will the next pic be ...!

Bec's Birthday Present

2007-08-10T09:38:00.001Z

This is what my best friend, Claire stitched for Bec for her birthday ...

You should have seen her face when she opened it! I've managed to capture just some of the sheer delight ...

Claire also framed her and I think has done a beautiful job as well.

So thank you, Claire - your much, much more than anyone could ask for in a friend (and I don't just mean Bec's birthday present either!)

Love you hun!

Queen Mermaid Update

2007-08-07T08:18:00.000Z

I'm going to finish off her hair, then move on to Deepest Love.

Hopefully I'll have finished her hair by the weekend, beads and all!
Look who else has taken it up ...

She's stitching a squircle at the moment, but there's not much to see as yet, just a yellow blob.

Shimmering Mermaid went into the framers yesterday for repair. The framer said that it's fine to be reglazed and reframed, luckily there was no damage to the stitching, fabric or mount so it's just a case of taking it apart and doing the necessary. Whilst I was there I also took Middy in to be framed. She's going to frame her in the same frame as Titania so that I can hang them both together. I'm picking the both of them up a week on Saturday ... can't wait!

Disaster!

2007-08-05T18:46:00.000Z

Look what fell off the wall ~

Thankfully the fabric wasn't damaged (a stitchers worst nightmare, I'm sure), the frame has split though ~ you can just see it in running along from the bottom corner, so I have to have a new frame as well as new glass put in.

It's Bec's mermaid and she's gutted. I've told her that as we're off this week, we'll go straight down to the framers in the morning and get it sorted out as soon as possible.

I've started Deepest Love and Queen Mermaid, although I don't have a lot to show you, here's a pic I took last night. She has a little more hair now though.

I'm so sorry about the picture quality, for some reason I just couldn't get her into focus, she must be a little shy at the moment. Better pic at the end of the week, promise.

Good news!

2007-08-01T06:27:00.000Z

Rebecca passed her violin exam! Yippee!! I knew she'd do it! The confidence boost its given her is incredible!

Other news ~ Gary is handing his notice in on Friday, taking a week off and then starting work with his friend, Paul on the 13th. I don't think he's sleeping very well for nerves and/or excitement, but we're all pretty sure that he's made the right decision as there's big changes afoot coming in the Council over the next year or two and I don't think it's going to be for the better either.

Thanks to everyone who posted about Middy ~ I couldn't really capture how sparkly she is, but trust me, she's a proper little stunner in real life.

My next start will be Mirabilia's Deepest Love and Queen Mermaid on the same piece of fabric, plus Galatea when she arrives. I'll post some wip's when I've got something to show. I'm still reading HP7 though and thoroughly enjoying it. I'm not rushing it as I want to savour it until the last page, so bear with me if the wip's are a bit scant this week.

I'm on leave next week though so I should be able to show you *something* !

Middy is done!!

2007-07-27T06:34:00.000Z

Join me in my happy dance!!

Despite the tedious beading at the end, I really enjoyed stitching her. If I hadn't rotated, I think she would have been quite a quick stitch too!

Thanks to everyone who's been commenting on my blog and encouraging me to finish her, I appreciated it and it really spurred me on! Big hugs, xx

One Wing Finished!

2007-07-24T06:58:00.000Z

After splitting my weekend into working (sigh), reading Harry Potter and stitching, I managed to completely finish one wing ...

It's a Mira SAL over on the Stitch Direct Forum this week, so I'm going to have a go at finishing her. Then I can concentrate on Harry Potter until PR's Galetea arrives.

Bliss ...

We Queued!

2007-07-21T10:25:00.000Z

First of all, thanks for all the encouragement you gave me on Middy! I'm so close to finishing her now, that I'm hoping to be happy dancing by the end of this weekend! Yay! Watch this space!

Last night we went to the launch party at Borders for the Harry Potter book. We arrived at around 10 p.m. (Bec couldn't wait any longer) and watched some flamethrowers before venturing inside to see and stroke some magnificent owls.

After a wander around the shop, we decided it was very thirsty work so had a Starbucks and a biscuit to keep our strength up (well that's my story anyway).

Now there's only so many times you can walk around a shop, so went for a wander around the mall to kill time until it was time to queue (I told her 10 was too early). We joined at the entrance to the shop doorway which meant we had the whole length of the shop to go before we could get to the books! We were entertained by Hagrid and Harry wandering around though, plus there was plenty of sweets for the kids to get nicely hyper in the queue ...

The countdown started at 11:45 with an announcement at 11:55 to say that the books had just arrived, hmm ... at 12:01 (after a 10 second countdown, the books were finally given out, but it took us another half an hour to get to it, plus another half an hour queueing the other way to pay for the damn thing. When we got to the cashier, it had to be "He Who Must Not Be Named" To be honest, with his shaved head, white make up and creepy contact lenses which made his eyes orange and pupils into slits, I couldn't quite meet his eyes and phyiscally shivered when he handed me my change (his hand touched mine, yuk!)

We were glad we went though, being part of the hype and everything. Plus there won't be another time when we can do it, so it was now or never!

Wings are nearly done!

2007-07-15T08:09:00.000Z

I've been stitching away on the wings this week, so its been blending filament with braid, blending filament with er, blending filament and blending filament with DMC - I've nearly gone out of my mind ...

I'm still waiting for some krenik to come so I can't quite finish the wings yet, but to be honest, I'm glad of the break. I'm now beading around by the twig on the left hand side.

Thanks to all for all the comments I received in my last posting of her, they were lovely!

Middy update

2007-07-10T06:35:00.001Z

She finally has a face and hair! Now for those who don't know me that well will know that I tend to stitch the hair last so I know it's going to be a shock that Middy isn't bald ...

I've decided, I'm going to keep working on her until she's done, that way I can start Galatea conscience free! (Which, by the way, hubby is buying for my birthday, but said I can start as soon as she arrives, yippppeeeee!)

Bec's Violin Exam

2007-07-08T07:40:00.001Z

Yesterday Bec took her Grade 3 violin exam, she was totally stressed out by it and I knew that they only thing that would make her fail was her nerves, because to be honest she has practiced and practiced and practiced for it. She was nearly in tears in the car, she was so nervous.

I told her that if she didn't want to do it, then it was fine, it was no good her walking into her exam like she was, but she wanted to do it, so we carried on.

Kathryn (her teacher) went through all her pieces before she went in to the exam room and she sounded really great and I thought it would calm her down when she realised that she was doing it well. Kathryn had a chat with her and told her to just enjoy it and it would all come together.

Unfortunately, I couldn't hear her actual exam as it was in another part of the building, but Kathryn came back and told me that her pieces sounded really good so far. But it was a different story when Bec came out though, she told me that her scales went to pieces and she couldn't do the sight reading because her nerves just got to her. Unfortunately we won't hear if she's passed or not for about another month, sigh...

Personally, I'd like to believe that she has passed and that the examiner will take into account that she was nervous, because lets face it, she really knows her work or her teacher would never have put her in for the exam in the first place, right?

I've told her not to worry, it's not as if it's the end of the world or that this exam is life changing (gently, of course, I wasn't as blunt as that!) So it's the waiting game now, I'm afraid.

Concert at Neath

2007-07-05T06:28:00.001Z

Last night Bec performed with her orchestra at St David's in Neath (we didn't have a clue how to get there!) What a wonderful performance she gave too! She's come along so far since she's changed teachers, her confidence has grown tremendously and I was so proud of her.

She has her Grade 3 exam on Saturday and her nerves are starting to twang a little (read "she's freaking out"). I texted her teacher and asked if she could have another lesson before Saturday but she's unable to fit her in at the moment. All Bec needs to do is calm down a little and she'll be fine. She's playing her pieces brilliantly but its the oral part that's getting to her and I don't know how to help her out there.

Still it's only two days away so a few nerves at this point isn't too bad, I think.

I've pre-ordered the new PR chart, together with the braids, beads and fabric! Claire at Stitch Direct knew how much I wanted her so set it all up on her homepage, so it's just a matter of waiting for it all to arrive now. I've gone for the recommended fabric of PolStitches Stormy Seas too! I hate choosing fabrics so when I saw how pretty this was, the decision was taken out of my hands, thankfully.

I'm still working on Middy, I've run out of a braid (which is on order). I'm hoping to have all the stitching done by the end of the weekend, so I'll be posting a pic then.

I'm so excited!

2007-07-01T08:36:00.000Z

The new Passione Ricamo is up! AND SHE'S A MERMAID!! Yay!! Her name is Galatea and I think she's gorgeous! I love the fabric, braids, beads and of course her.

I *must* get Middy done soon because as soon as she arrives with Claire I want to start her! All my other wip's are just going to have to wait!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

2007-06-30T12:27:00.000Z

The weather is flipping awful. As I sit here, looking outside from my office desk (yes I'm in work, sigh) the rain is going sideways as well as coming down. Sheesh ... I want nothing more than to get home, change into something warm and comfy, have a hot cuppa (a la Nicola as my good friend Rosie says) and stitch Middy.

She's been neglected for far too long, bless her, and after Paula's finish this week over on the Stitch Direct Forum, I really need to get her done.

Thanks to all who have posted (and also those to are reading my blog) and have said some lovely things - I really appreciate it. Jot - this is what Silver Moon Fairy will look like when she's done.

Other news, well, last Thursday there was a parents evening for the Year 7's for us to discuss how our little darlings have settled in to life at Comprehensive School and to talk about their school report. Bec's was really good, it seems that she was quiet and shy when she got there (sussing things out more like) but now she has matured and is an active member of the class. Her history teacher is completely barking! She took one look at poor Bec and said "Oh My God, not you!!" To which Bec flushed to the root of her hair! She told us that she just missed a level 5 grade by a whisker, purely because she ran out of time in the exam - Bec is very "flowery" in her writing, she likes to get everything down as she thinks it, rather than taking a few moments to compose what she wants to say, I'm sure that will change as she gets older and wiser so no-one is worrying about it at the moment. Her english teacher said more or less the same thing. I remember Bec saying that she panicked during her exam and that reflected in her result - no problem, her work throughout the year was consistent, I'm pleased.

Her maths teacher, although gave her a good report wasn't too happy about the way she hands her homework in. She gives it in, just not on time. I think the problem here is that she's unsure of what she's doing, leaves it to ask her friends and then ends up not being able to hand it in on time. Next term, I'll sit down with her every night and go through her homework and if she's unsure, encourage her to go and see him the next day rather than leave it. He doesn't seem the type to be approached though - just the feeling I got.

Her science teacher was nothing short of glowing about her! But she loves science and it's once of the subjects she really excels in. He aimed to get her to level 4 and she reached 5.25 - not bad eh?! (You can almost see me puffing my chest out with pride, can't you?!)