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Monday 11 March 2013

Murky Monday


It's a stay indoors day today, very strong, cold wind as well as low temperatures and snow showers so I won't venture out even though I feel quite well. One small change has made such a difference, I've started taking prescribed anti-histamine tablets again. The label says "Take as required" , last week we had a smidgen of warmth for one day so I thought ooh Spring and blossom so put the tablets back on the to take list.

I have hardly been in the garden, yes we do have blossom on our apricot tree, but haven't been out there much so I suspect there must be unknown substances to which I'm allergic so yeah to anti-histamines that work.


Photo taken from upstairs window hence the odd perspective.

Yesterday evening was thinking that life doesn't come with a manual. Don't mean life in a spiritual or moral context but in the practical world there seems so much that cannot be taught. Let me give an example, so much equipment comes with symbols rather than words today, our phones, kitchen equipment, TVs and we are assumed to know. When was 'on' and 'off' replaced with a circle with a vertical line? Who decides which colours on the TV handset relate to which function and why do some people know this instinctively and others have to find the missing manual. If there is one, often we should know how stuff works.

Its not just machinery, there are those folk who seemed with an ability and an awareness to see what has to be done in any situation. No jumping in with two left feet for these angels. I remember as a teenager I heard other girls talking about going to Eel Pie Island, to the Craw Daddy Club whilst I was still going to Guides and the Church Youth Club, but even that far back there was an awareness within me that I didn't know the process. How did the confident, mature 'set' know and have the 'right' clothes and hair styles. How did they know what were the 'right ' clothes anyway? I didn't.

Yes, clothes. Another quagmire and source of worry that doesn't end. Whether it is at the gym, on the stand at Olympia, even out with the walking group there are those people who instinctively look great and confident. Doesn't help when told that my trousers are not the right type for walking. Felt hurt, not denim, but  jeans styling (practical with all those pockets) and are navy blue.

Am going to leave it there, Ian has made a pot of tea (no teabags here) so will publish this after wondering how some one knew to write the early blogs. I see them as a cross between logging events which was done in the PR department in which I worked in another life, a journal, a diary and a chat with friends.




Monday 4 March 2013

Dear Reader, I finished it.



So chuffed, the Forest Canopy shawl is finished, was worn yesterday when Ian and I drove to Sussex to see our lovely daughter. She cooked the most amazing lunch, stuffed lamb with veggies and then Eve's pudding. Much discussion about the recipe, different from the version my Mother made and we were taught at school in Domestic Science, Martha's had lemon in it. It gave a bite to the apples and mixture so when I make this I will be adding lemon too.

We even saw the sea, refreshing to have a change of scenery and surroundings, even better sunshine and awe inspiring sunset viewed from her flat. Should 'flat' be changed to 'apartment' these days? What is the difference?




Must get on, it is a lovely sunny Monday morning and domesticity calls, Ian has gone to the dentist, plus he is behind with his studying after a day out to play.

Friday 1 March 2013

Just musings

Well I've been asked why I don't post more often. Partly time and inclination, partly because obviously there are subjects, opinions, projects,  about which I will not blog. Also, as I found when I attempted to post for 31 days on one subject the reading matter became boring to write and to read.

Can tell you about our theatre visit on Tuesday, we went to the Rose Theatre in Kingston, kind of package deal where one ate a three course meal from a limited menu in Carluccio's and attended a performance afterwards. Worked well, saw The Vortex, amazed that Noel Coward was aged 23 when this was written for it shows an understanding of human nature, if slightly exaggerated. The Rose Theatre seating is unusual, some seats are double bench style, no armrests, plenty of leg room. 

As I have used a template sometimes, will do so now I think and integrate it with some jottings I made in a shorthand notebook. It may have even been the notebook given as part of a package from a course or a conference. Am thinking it may have been from the Society of Indexers 2001 Sheffield conference.



I am wearing ...   Burgundy cord trousers, burgundy Joules cardigan, cream Thomas Pink shirt, pink Rivulet cowl (knitted by me). One of my notes was about clothes and the cold weather, modern fabrics don't have the weight in them so there is much layering up. I have a warm duvet style coat bought in Italy many years ago, in a warm winter it languishes in the wardrobe, it's windproof so been worn these past few weeks. Am just longing to wear different lighter clothes for a change.

I am reading -  well will be, Wolf Hall by Hilary Mandel, handed out at the reading group meeting last Monday.

I am creating ... the Forest canopy shawl, so pleased I have reached the border.


Next hurdle will be to block this so it will be bigger and show the pattern detail.
I am listening ...  to Ian chatting and laughing on the phone to our son.

I am watching ...  well watched last night a programme about the Sea King helicopter,  another about part time employment an episode of The Planners. Unusual for me to watch so much, perhaps more listening than watching as I was knitting the shawl too.

On the menu ... nothing planned, perhaps will use the new food processor. We went to Lakeland to buy a mincer and came away with a processor, it didn't cost much more and does so much more. We had given our old mincer to daughter-in-law and our processor to daughter. New one is good, chopped onion and mushrooms to make a quiche, one of Delia's recipes from Book 1 of her original 3 volume work.

On the calendar ...  cat sitting for friend this weekend. 
Well, the other jottings will wait for another time, perhaps when that's about all I can write.