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Monday 27 June 2011

Monday, Monday

MONDAY, 27 June2011


Simple Woman's Daybook: 27 June 2011

Outside my window ... sunshine, humidity, slight breeze
I am thinking ... about all the things to do, sync my laptop and i-Pad, repair hem on trousers, email friends and think about meals.

From the learning rooms ...  does knitting count? I've learnt a new skill. Ian working hard with maths and learning to use his calculator, more like a mini computer.

I am thankful ... that everything went well for Martha at Glastonbury. She woke us as she arrived home at 7am this morning. It was her intention to be back earlier, she planned to leave after the last act yesterday but her passengers flaffed around and were not co-operative, eventually they left at 2am. Meant a nap on the way, now she's asleep after a proper shower. Not too muddy though, she had enjoyed it, met and made friends and never wants to use a wet wipe again.

From the kitchen ... in the fridge there are chocolate brownies made by Ian.

I am wearing ... re/orange/pink East dress. Very faded Indian cotton but cool and loose.

I am creating ... socks, have turned the heel on the first one, now decreasing before working towards the toes. So much faster than before, and it has helped to have copy of Ann Budd's book Knitting Socks in the Getting started series. Basic maybe, but think I will buy my own copy as there is a limit to how many times one can renew library books.

I am reading ...  Tomorrow - who knows by Alma Moore, widow of Ray Moore the broadcaster. Bought this in second hand bookshop in Wales. Also dipped into Something understood by Gerald Priestland. We had been searching through Martha's uni books and I found the book in there, not hers anyway. 
Now, why were we going though daughter's theology books? Someone at church is training to be a Reader and asked if Martha had any books on the Creed. She did.

I am hoping ... the books will help.

I am hearing ... building noises. The house next door but one is having the garage converted into a studio/study and a downstairs shower room behind so lots of noise there. Then on Saturday builders turned up next door to start extending. It was by chance we discovered the neighbours had resurrected their planning application. At the moment trees are being cut down, such a shame. They are extending at the back along the party line so we will have to lose one of our trees too.
This is the tree that will go so I will have ivy growing up the new wall, maybe clematis too. Hate trees being chopped down, but we have little choice as it is really in neighbour's way.

View sideways on. The wall on the left is being extended by 3 metres, my concern that the materials used will not match original which is pebble dash. It has never been redone, unlike rest of neighbour's property "well we cannot see it" said Mrs. S. Will look odd if we have facing brick for extension however much we cover it with plants and trellis.
A picture thought I am sharing ... 

I like the way the yarn makes a Fair Isle pattern and stripes. I find using a piece of contrast yarn attached to needle with a clove hitch is better than the fancy stitch markers. When needed, the old fashioned Ro-tally also marks the beginning of the round. Some times the old ways are best.
Hope all is well with my readers, drop by here, Facebook or in Ravelry. I'm off to keep Vitamin D levels up before the rains descend this afternoon.


Friday 24 June 2011

Practice run

This is a trial run posting a quick blog using my iPad instead of laptop. truth is I have loads of other things to do, like clearing up after making big bowl of potato salad and a pineapple fruit cake.

Reason for all this activity is a class mate has flown in from Sydney and had asked me to get together as many old girls from our school as possible. We are meeting tomorrow at the pub/Premier Inn very near where we live so I have said we could drift back to our house. As I'm not used to entertaining Ian and I hit Waitrose this morning and bought in stuff that would be fine what ever happened, like quiches, salad ingredients, cheeses wine, etc.

So want Pixie Towers to look tidy and be welcoming, without appearing too fussy either.

Now in the unlikely event that any Kneller girls are reading this and were at the school in the early to mid sixties please contact me.

Good news on the health front, visited Brompton hospital on Monday and Respiratory clinic at Teddington today and both were okay. Of course I struggled with the lung function test, so difficult to try and breathe out when it feels as if there is no breathe left in one's lungs.

Had considered trying to download a picture for you all but not sure how and the ironing beckons. Ian has returned from choir practice to finish tidying the kitchen so I feel I should finish chatting to my friend.

Will tell you about visit to London Metropolitan Archive, our trip to Canterbury and good sock progress another time.

Have a good weekend folks.

Saturday 18 June 2011

At last!


Great excitement! This morning the two sofas arrived. 

Involved much preparation as they would not fit in the front door - fortunately the guys who delivered the temporary sofa had warned us about this so dear Ian had taken the side gate off its hinges and we had moved all the pots and containers on the patio back against the house and the side fences so there was uninterrupted access to the French windows.

Am still annoyed with the shop from which we ordered the furniture. Two reasons, they did not ask about access, they know what type of house in which we live but many of the houses have extended out to the side so much that they no longer have side access to the property. Also, when we chased them up for the order, the owner seemed to think it was amusing and didn't take our concerns seriously. It appears that he made no effort to find out why our order took so long. According to the delivery guys who do the warehousing for the shop they'd not known such delays.

Anyway, I've photographed the room from different angles and am encouraged by how the seats look in the pictures. So different from before, was worried that they would overwhelm the room but we have less furniture now but more seating. 

Daughter came home, was rushing out again and never noticed new furniture. Admittedly the glazed doors were closed but the sofas can be seen through the glass, it's not obscure.

Bit late now, I tried to post Simple Daybook earlier in the week but Blogger was playing up and much of what I said, what I was wearing and doing has gone. Will try to keep in future but a busy week ahead. 

Just in case you are wondering, photos not taken with iPad, although daughter's boyfriend has shown me how to take photos with it. Also, am writing this on my laptop so easy to upload from my camera.

Good night all, PixieMum








Saturday 4 June 2011

Welsh adventure

This posting is an adventure as I am learning to post a blog from my new iPad, not from home either from our sparky new wifi but from my cousin's lovely Tardis cottage in North Wales.

Won't be able to post pictures as have not taken them with my IPad and not sure how to download from camera to iPad. Will have to read the instruction book.

As it is late, I have done plenty of long walks and slept in very late this morning will not post more, just to say I started knitting next pair of socks on the train from London.


Tomorrow will going to my first Quaker meeting, it has been a good holiday so far, although I miss dear Ian.