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Sunday 11 October 2020

What to do.

 I wish to carry on blogging, my iPad and Blogger do not seem so keen on contributing to that, I was unable to upload my photos, you did want to see the socks I have just finished after a year of on and off knitting didn't you? I am typing this on my laptop, however I have not uploaded photographs on to the laptop so this is not a solution either. It doesn't  seem possible to add the labels or to link back to earlier efforts.

When I have attempted to comment on other blogs using Blogspot it has been most difficult, although I know I am guilty of not commenting on blogs it is part of my attempt to reduce my screen time. I like to have a blog as a record of my life for such mundane domestic events such as when did we update the kitchen or record my crochet and knitting projects for example.

If you were yearning to see the socks I finished I have posted pictures on Instagram as @thepixiemum. This platform is good for picture heavy postings but not for musing,  Will head over to wake up Wordpress again if that will provide what I need. 




Monday 21 September 2020

A tribute.

 A week ago we heard that Ian’s brother, Gregor had died in the early hours of that Monday morning. We had been expecting the news for four weeks, he had fallen, dislocated and broken his shoulder, taken to nearest hospital, had a massive heart attack, not his first, transferred to a specialist hospital. 

Ian was able to see him for about 30 minutes the week before he died, the only visitor apart from his wife and children who were at the hospital all the time. Gregor was very matter of fact, told Ian he would die in a few days.  It was a comfort for Ian to be able to say goodbye, but the death has hit him very hard. The brothers grew up in a close knit military family, very much a unit, Gregor was six years older, looked after his little brother, it is through Gregor inviting Ian to attend an IVC new year’s eve party that Ian and I met.  


I would have  liked to add a picture of the brothers, Blogger doesn’t want to let me, nor does it let readers comment. Pictures can be added to Instagram but that is really what that platform is about, this for me is more of a thoughtful and journalistic place with fewer photos. 

Monday 31 August 2020

Bank holiday musings.



 I do wonder about the need for secular Bank Holidays nowadays, Even more so after GB Ltd has had to shut down because of Covid-19. When instituted in nineteenth century there were few paid holidays, for many years offices and schools were open on Saturday mornings, today working hours are shorter, when I started work it was 9.00 to 5.30, Monday to Thursday, Friday one finished at 5pm, holidays were three weeks and two days, fewer Bank Holidays, no May Day, no New Year’s Day, no flexitime.

Bank holiday means TV schedules are changed, loads of sport, bad films, the TV is showing Mamma Mia:  here we go again, it is so bad none of the fizz of the original. At least we had University Challenge, what a wipe out, waiting for Only Connect to return.  

Gradually I am venturing forth more, yesterday we went to a not so local garden centre in Shepperton, felt safe there, staff were masked, it was spacious, here was a good display of birthday cards, a haberdashery area within the craft section. The yarn was all Stylecraft, grey plastic needles, but joy, Knitpro waves crochet hooks. Now I have a set of these in a fancy pink case, however I don’t like to take a hook from the case out of the house in case it’s lost so stocked up. Bought some Classique cotton, have been making face cloths for daughter-in-law to use instead of disposable wipes, better to chuck these in the washing machine rather than disposable wipes in the bin. 




Thinking about the day I don’t feel I have achieved much, too much time was spent trying to solve the moderate sudoku and the ‘quick’ crossword in the newspaper, the ones in the freebie Metro seem a little easier, occasionally I can manage all three, easy, moderate and challenging, we both try to do them so Ian picks up two copies, Metro isn’t available on Bank holidays of course. 


It has been another unusual day in that Ian was out, for the last week  along with others he is painting walls, doors and woodwork in a vicarage which has been empty some eighteen months. The building is to be occupied by four interns who during the year will decide whether ordination is for them, each will be supported by and assist in a different parish.  They move in on September 12th so there has been a concerted effort to ensure the house is furnished, equipped and welcoming. Although the main task has been to preparation for this, Ian has gained so much working and chatting with other people, lockdown is not kind to him, he has found it very difficult to isolate, he misses his choir, U3A activities, family, monthly men’s group and the normal church services so to see him happier, more energetic in spite of physically working hard has been such a bonus.








Sunday 9 August 2020

Chop, chop, chop

 









Photographs have come out in the wrong order, as I am struggling with Blogger I will not delete and start again, more important is to show what a difference a haircut makes. It is five months since I had my hair cut, before it was a classic bob, fringe, all one length style of Anna Wintour and Esme Young. Considering how muggy and hot it is the new style is a bonus, now earrings don’t get caught up, no more hair blowing on my face or in my eyes. I feel liberated, such a boost to my well being. 


My lovely hairdresser Simone, had cut Ian’s hair last week out in the garden, she was so careful with masks, wipes etc, that I decided to book her in to have mine cut last Thursday as the weather was dry and not windy so we were able to be outside again. All the cut hair went into the compost bin.

Tuesday 21 July 2020

Sunday: Day 130

This is The Day that  day I left Pixie Towers to walk around the block, well a few roads on our suburban 1930s estate after one hundred and thirty days at home. My motivation was actually exercise, I hadn’t walked anywhere except around  the garden and more frequently up and down stairs so I was concerned I would struggle to walk.  It was not so, nor was it today when I ventured out today. Of course I wasn’t on my own, Ian who has sacrificed so much to care for me walked with me both days.

More good news, our son, DiL with Edward and Alice came to our home last Thursday, it was Edward’s fifth birthday, here they are surrounded by crochet blankets. This photo appeared in WhatsApp later, a surprise as I didn’t know it had been taken.



Tuesday evening,

Just an update, the walk for exercise has continued, yesterday we walked the same route in reverse and on the opposite side of the road  around the estate to the day before, today at about 6.15pm we ventured out to the local High Street, the thoroughfare has wide pavements, there is a slope near the railway station so it was good to see how I’m coping with walking up gradients, all was fine, we didn’t go into any shops, there was a sad air about the place but that maybe the hour.  

Emails have arrived, events are opening up, there is a new book coming from the Reading group, none of us appear to have enjoyed or in my case completed Dear Life by Alice Munro, after reading the new title a gathering in a back garden with the relevant caveats will be held. I hope the weather gods are listening.

Emails too about a meeting of the SW London Knitting & Crochet Guild, one in a cafe and one of Zoom, my followers know I shall be attending the latter, my courage doesn’t extend to travelling to Kingston and entering Jax’s cafe, good as it is in normal times. This branch of the guild usually meet on the last Saturday in the month so a return to custom.

Emails arranging deliveries of more face masks were written, the masks were delivered by the shielding cardiologist who makes them later in the day.

On that note, I shall close, post and go to bed, too  tired to do much if Blogger has a hissy fit as it is prone to do. 🦢





Tuesday 14 July 2020

Tuesday: Day 125



This Attic24 blanket is the reason blogging has been tardy, there was a deadline for handover, I reached it, without the help of Ian doing even more domestic chores than he does already and my abandonment of blogging, sending emails and any limited social life it would not be complete.

Basically it is trellis stitch rather than neat wave, the colours of the Yorkshire Moorland are in the same sequence, the border is the same stitch as the original. In between starting in May last year and now other smaller projects have been completed.

Now to use more of my stash, firstly to finish Ian’s toe up socks, then maybe another shawl for me for I am a chilly soul. Plenty of time, still haven’t ventured forth.

Sunday 12 July 2020

Amazing coincidence


Firstly apologies that the pictures have come out so small, technology has beaten this old dear.

The frontispiece on the left above and underneath below is from a Bible belonging to my maternal great grandmother, Emily Gosby, what is interesting is the date  - December 11th.

The Bible on the right above  and top below was given to me by her  daughter, my grandmother  on October 26th.

Our children’s birthdays are December 11th and October 26th.


Spooky, coincidence or just one of those things?

Thursday 18 June 2020

Thursday: Day 99

A very different world from forty one years and two days ago when we were married  by Archbishop’s licence.  A blogger gave us the idea of buying in a restaurant meal, after much investigation we chose frozen meals from Cook, both for the day and for stocking up freezer. Regret we didn’t consider doing this before although it is just recently that Ian felt safe to venture into a shop, this was our first click and collect, I stayed home of course, it was an opportunity to give the car a run for we have had no need to use it.

We have had another home delivery from Sainsbury’s, all went well as I have learnt to indicate where a substitution is not acceptable and that the most popular or special offer items we ordered aren’t available, we were sent an email at 6am to this effect on the day of delivery, too late to order other chocolate bars.

We cracked open a bottle of champagne, not sure from where we got it or how long we’ve had it but lockdown is a chance to declutter, tasted fine, given the 12% we had just one glass.



I have put the toe up socks aside to work on Moorland crochet blanket, the pattern is compatible with TV viewing, so yesterday evening watched. Sewing Bee semifinal, crocheted and had a family WhatsApp discussion about the programme.


Not very clear picture, I’m laying on the sofa, the blanket is keeping my legs and feet warm, Ian is seated at the other end. I’m working on Row 98, the total is 115. The blanket has been worked in trellis stitch instead of neat wave pattern, I suspect that is why it is so long, I intend to follow the border pattern given in the original instructions, it appears to be an uncomplicated double crochet stitch. Extra yarn has been purchased for this, I had a fear of running out. 





Thursday 11 June 2020

Thursday: Day 92

Mmm, left the blog a bit of a while, kept meaning to update, no good reason why not, time just drifts by whilst still staying home still. Have some photos to show you and can chat about them, all very domestic.









May was glorious, sun tanning weather, drying outside weather and washing items that don’t need a weekly wash hence the crochet blankets billowing on the whirly. Yes, that is the Attic24 Sweet Pea blanket, the other two belong to the grandchildren. Both were meant to use up odds and ends of Double Knitting, make it up as you go along design and colours but the grandchildren know they are theirs. One day they will be able to come here again and hug, cuddle and laugh with us. 

On the patio -when did terraces become patios - are Ian’s potted up seedlings plus pots of herbs, roses, geraniums, mostly plants that like afternoon and evening sunshine, the Dutch blind shading the kitchen is left down then otherwise the room is uncomfortably hot. Our original plans for this Summer have been scuppered, we intended to replace the Dutch blind and install an awning over the French doors to give shade and privacy, the corner is a lovely sun trap. Our wooden garden table required some urgent surgery, it will now be replaced next year along with new cushions for our two benches. 

Why was the weather glorious when most people were to stay indoors or in their gardens if they had one, now parks, gardens and meeting up are permitted the weather is cold, windy and wet? It is as if May and June have swapped places. 

As I may have mentioned I’m knitting a second pair of Tramline socks, this is the second attempt of these toe up I’m being very careful but not enough as I didn’t count the stitches whilst knitting the instep, could justify not doing so as there is no increasing, on checking one short nearly two inches down. I had carefully knitted both socks simultaneously, two rounds at a time with a knot in the tail of sock 1 and a five bar gate to count so didn’t want to undo all those tiny stitches and risk not making identical sized socks. Usual solution is to use a crochet hook, 2mm hook was way too thick so ended up “knitting” with two pins. 




Not sure why last picture is so small, only one I have showing the pins with which I picked up the drop stitch. As I am not out and about there is no need for a portable project, instead I am working just on these socks, once completed I shall return to working the Moorland blanket. When we FaceTime our grandchildren Edward asks “how much has Mummy’s blanket grown?” It hasn’t. 

























Sunday 17 May 2020

Sunday: Day 68

Just saying, I am isolating still as per that letter, so hope this blog isn’t too boring for the readers.  I’m pleased to say that DH is going out for a walk locally, avoiding close contact and shops. We are learning how to navigate Sainsbury’s online shopping list, I thought I’d purchased packs of 1 litre fruit juice, turned out to be 200ml cartons, substitutes are another problem, a block of mature cheddar cheese was requested, instead we were sent a small pack of grated cheese was substituted, we asked for sardines in olive oil, instead sardines in sunflower oil was listed so DH asked the very pleasant delivery man if the cheese and sardines could be taken back, they were. The other item that was substituted was chocolate but the alternative was so similar it was acceptable.

From time to time I am annoyed with myself for not achieving much, however I have been decluttering old knitting and crochet magazines, found a 10 year old pattern in Yarn Forward for January 2011,



for a girl’s beret, I had the Rowan wool to make two, this is my effort at Lief beret, blue is Big Wool, cream colour, called China Clay, is Rowan Drift. Not easy knitting with 10mm circular needles and such thick wool it worth the effort. Whether Alice likes them will be another matter, at 3 years old she has very definite ideas about what she will wear, or not, she has a habit of taking all her clothes off.

The lockdown has led to small changes in our lifestyle, shopping by post, as I said above using grocery delivery service, learning to use Zoom, following church services on Facebook and using Chromecast to view on larger TV screen. The streamed church services, 9.30 on Sunday to Thursday mornings and Saturday evening prayer has given us a structure to our day, although pleased it isn’t Zoom when we are in pyjamas.

A few years ago we extended the downstairs cloakroom into a shower room, the shower is an electric one, our upstairs bathroom has shower over the bath, takes the hot water from the tank, we had a different system for each bathroom. The downstairs shower was mostly used when the family stayed, DH realised he preferred the spaciousness of freestanding shower so effectively we have our own bathrooms now.

Our dining room is at the front of our house, in normal times we just have meals in there and spend rest of time in lounge/sitting room/drawing room/parlour/back room (what is the correct name?) or in kitchen, now we use the dining  room more, we can look out in the street, feel less cut off, see people, some of whom even admire DH’s front garden. Another change after clearing the larder to use up food lurking at the back we found a packet of ground coffee so we retrieved a cafetière from the depths of a cupboard,  read the rules and I will have proper coffee now on instead of instant. So flavoursome, the feeling of power and style pushing down the plunger is silly and fun.

Oh,  in case you were wondering about present project, just making more cotton face cloths using up yarn, these will be for face washing grandchildren, preferable to using disposable wipes. Picture of one made earlier, just garter stitch, cast on one stitch, increase in front and back of second stitch, knit to end of row, knit enough rows to diagonal of square and then decrease by knitting second and third stitches together.













Sunday 3 May 2020

Sunday : Day 54.

It has felt a strange few days, Thursday morning I felt so sad and upset, a school friend’s death was announced on Facebook, not from Covid 19, but from a stroke, Medwin had been suffering from terminal cancer, had undergone a leg amputation but battled on. An enduring school memory was her black hair, bouffant, never moving, like a helmet, she was one of those capable organised people who knew what to do, helpful, a mainstay of the South West Pony Association. Medwin’s death is the first of our class of which I was aware.

This was the second death of the week, Pam was a friend through our previous church and children’s primary school, again cancer took her. Another lady who was a ‘character’, boarding school, Swiss finishing school, not really a suburban person but adapted well to changed circumstances, handicapped by inherited deafness, rightly annoyed with me when I became more introvert and stopped entertaining even afternoon tea became too much, let alone dinner parties.

  This will have to change once we are no longer isolated, it is not fair on Ian for he is much more of a people person than me, I was surprised how I enjoyed a Zoom coffee morning yesterday, organised by our church, no raffle, no bacon butties, At the usual coffee morning one tends to just sit at one table so unless an effort is made to walk around one speaks only to the punters on that table whereas with a digital coffee morning everyone in theory can chat to everyone. As has been commented elsewhere it is interesting to see a small corner of other parishioners’ homes, often when watching journalists and others from their own homes the design and decorations are more interesting than their reports.

With that last thought in mind I’m delighted to tell you the sweet pea Attic24 blanket is complete, on the sofa/settee brightening up the dreary furniture. Even after many years I still feel the two settees were too heavy and bulky for the room, but are practical and tough when the grandchildren visit, no risk of fabric stains. They weren’t chosen for that, we thought the higher backs were supportive for our old spines, anyway this is now:-





Once this blanket was finished I started crocheting again as I wish to complete Moorland blanket for Daughter-in-law, however I have realised that crocheting aggravated my right shoulder where I have a rotator cuff tear, have had it on and off since September 2016. In theory it shouldn’t matter, I am left handed but in reality I’m not very left handed, it is mainly writing, sewing and using a spoon, probably because I grew up in a right handed household and learnt to adapt.  Even irons were designed to be used just by a right hander where the flex was in the way, nowadays the flex comes out of the centre of the heel.  I shall turn to completing Ian’s second pair of toe up socks.





























    Thursday 23 April 2020

    Thursday: Day 44

    A few pictures to illustrate how we are doing at Pixie Towers, the sunshine makes all the difference.


    A rainbow on the ginger jar, we have been pulling the net curtains back, we can see the few folk in the street, the sunshine comes in. Ian made and decorated this jar at the Manor House hotel, it is near Okehampton, we used to holiday there when our offspring were in their teens.



    View of our patio, Ian has been potting up dahlias, he kept them in the garage over the winter after reading up online and in books the best method, so far 22 have emerged from their wintry cocoon. He’s had a move round of pots, planted seeds, some of which are out of date by up to 10 years. My role in this, admiration. Some of the plants were intended for the church grounds, he cannot plant there, it is hoped that the teenagers may continue to do so for him.





    Most exciting, a jolly postman delivered this, I never touch the post or indeed anything that comes into the house so Ian had the pleasure of unwrapping the yarn from Wool Warehouse needed to complete Daughter-in-law’s blanket, my loose tension and change of stitch meant I feared running out of yarn. I can use left overs for making knits for grandchildren, the acrylic is more practical than pure wool.

    Oh, just remembered another good thing, yesterday was my first experience of using Zoom, the broadcast featured Betsan Corkhill about the therapeutic benefits of knitting. I was reminded that stress affects immune system, am still amazed that personally I feel so much better both physically and mentally whilst being confined to barracks, confirms I’m an introvert and not a people person.  I do try when I have to be with people, it is only in the last few years I’ve understood all this, but always it has been recognised that I’m happy on my own. Having said this, I’m so lucky to have Ian around, he understand me so well, we seem to have telepathy so life is good. 🦢






    Friday 17 April 2020

    Friday: Day 38

    The system that was set up by the government for vulnerable people like me has worked, there is so much media criticism of the handling of the pandemic that I am pleased to announce this. From receiving the paper letter last Saturday, I registered with government Monday, on Tuesday started using Sainsbury’s online delivery webpage, a first time, apparently needed to compile a shopping list first which we did, then all day kept trying to see if a slot appeared for the next three weeks! If didn’t try within the hour had to keep logging in again, felt a bit disheartened considering all the online discussions about no slots. Woke on Wednesday morning about 7, was in the toasty warm, drifting in and out of a light doze, half asleep mode,  when suddenly recalled the previous day’s actions, half heartedly grabbed iPad  to find a choice of slots this week, with different charges according to time of day.

    Woke Ian, logged on, we booked for Friday between 9 and 10 am, today the driver came a few minutes past nine, he was cheerful, understanding that it was our first time, it was appreciated he couldn’t put the deliveries on the kitchen table as I’m vulnerable. Gave me great joy that Ian isn’t worrying about provisions, possibly we may continue with deliveries after our lives return to our normal. Usually I like Waitrose for shopping, however the Sainsbury store carries so much more stock, we went for the Taste the Difference range and organic where possible. We had even managed to add to our needs yesterday evening, now we intend to keep an open list to add items as we think of them. I consider food now part of the way of being healthy, along with sitting in the sun to top up Vitamin D which until today I have been able to do.  

    Pictures taken rather haphazardly of the delivery, ice cream was already in freezer, I think some other items may have been stored away, obviously I haven’t touch any of it yet. 







    Thankfully we are both well, the warm sunny weather has helped our good mood, Ian has been able to garden, old outdated seeds have been scattered in case they still flower, today it has started to rain this afternoon, the water butts will fill and the watering hose stowed away. I’m awaiting Stylecraft DK yarn to complete Daughter-in-law’s blanket, meanwhile I’ve mastered the border of the Sweet Pea blanket so am concentrating on that. 







    Saturday 11 April 2020

    Saturday: Day 32.

    The texts from NHS Coronavirus keep popping into Messages on my phone, today the paper notification came from the surgery, somehow it seemed more real. More information than in the text, solved the problem of whether I should register my current situation as I have great support from Ian, he is isolating but does go into our front garden, forbidden to me according to the letter. I don’t touch the post, Ian carefully opens the letters and parcels, at first I didn’t realise what he was doing, felt miffed he’d opened May Country Living magazine. This morning our milk was delivered at 3am, Ian went downstairs, bought it in, washed all the bottles, the handle of the crate, it takes time and breaks his sleep pattern. The same cleaning with deliveries  from the greengrocer and the cheesemonger today, these are independent businesses in our local High Street, we will support them in person once this pandemic passes.



    The post brought some paintings from the grandchildren, the rainbow has been put in the front window, the sheet quotes Charlie’s hand, saying “print me, colour me and pop me in your window to bring some happiness and rainbow love to the world”. #windows of happiness.


    Although not as the printed outline of the cross suggests I think the circles of paint are rather artistic, reminds me of stained glass. The children were painting outside, the unpainted sheet in the foreground shows the outline for the cross.



    Work continues on the crochet blanket, today I’ve ordered more 🧶, I think using trellis stitch rather than neat wave stitch has demanded more yarn, also I suspect my tension is a little loose so it is long and a bit narrow, more a blanket for a bed rather than for a sofa. Perhaps I shouldn’t crochet while playing scrabble, no wonder I lost, even by a small amount.



    Wishing all the joy and peace this Easter, we will be gathering round an iPad for the live FB streaming of our church service Ss Philip & St James Whitton. As no one will be in the church building tomorrow Mrs Vicarage posted pictures of previous flora arrangements.


    Saturday 4 April 2020

    Saturday: Day 25

    Firstly, just want to reassure my few readers that Ian and I are still feeling great, we potter along, we read the papers, attempt the crossword and sudokus, Ian has been gardening, I crochet, we sleep well and long, at least eight hours.

     Just now Ian made two palm crosses, we used the leaves from a palm type tree, the stems grow over our front fence from the neighbour's garden, we used to put the fallen leaves back over the fence as the law commands, we were told not to do so.  The crosses are for tomorrow’s Palm Sunday service which will be streamed on Facebook, a tutorial was posted on the church’s FB page for those who didn’t know or had forgotten how the make the crosses. It was planned that those who wished could join the residents of the care  home opposite the church building to make crosses, it is always a riotous and jolly occasion.



    Last Monday we joined the WhatsApp group for our road, well it is an avenue, in name and fact as it is tree lined, we joined in the clapping on Thursday, today it was suggested we have afternoon tea at 3pm out the front of our properties.



    Garden table and chairs with hidden crochet cushions, on tray teapot with Earl Grey loose tea, Emma Bridgewater mugs, coconut slices, serviettes and cake forks. These in honour of 4 year old grandson who insists on using one when cake is served, at least in our house. All this on the driveway outside garage doors!

    I’d made the cake earlier in the day, old fashioned creaming method to produce this:-



    As we will not be going away for some time I have decided to use up the contents of the tiny travel bottles, we have many small size toothpaste tubes, shower gel,  hand cream which is much need as the backs of my hands are sore with all the hand washing.

    Earlier in the day we had a delivery from the small local greengrocer,  the dozen eggs in brown paper bags had been removed before the photo was taken.




    Even the post arrives early, I think it was around 9am, perhaps before but so much better than around 2 pm which has been the norm for some time here.