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: 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. 

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.

Day 18

I must be so unusual, staying home for the last 18 days has been calming, relaxing and enjoyable. There’s a little guilt in that I don’t achieve what’s on our to do list, but so what - the ironing can wait another day, we have enough clothes, one shirt or dress waiting doesn’t matter. Neither of us is going anywhere nor seeing anyone for perhaps months as we are self isolating until it really safe to emerge from Pixie Towers. The blanket for DiL is growing, have been able to sit outside and work on it when the wind wasn’t too fierce.

Ian reading his new sour dough book, part of a kit from Sous Chef received for his birthday from DD and SiL. My gift to him has had to be postponed, it is to be the Art Pass so we can visit even more places than Kew Gardens, V & A, Royal Academy or National Trust to which we belong already. 

Much work has been done by Ian in the garden, pots moved around, beds dug, potting up, just tidying up after winter so this was the view when I sat outside in the sunshine. 

We have been advised not to cut the grass until March has gone, so we won’t, especially as the forecast is for colder weather again. 

We have been following our church’s FB live video of church services,  evening prayer tonight, tomorrow it will be Eucharist from the vicarage study. One is reminded that it is now “where one or two are gathered in my name” . We are finding it strangely comforting, no distractions whilst the service proceeds yet one can tell that others are ‘in church’ too. Truly our church is not a building anymore but the many who connect online. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/story/reader/?page_story_id=1505695996158083

If this doesn’t work, the FB page is SS Philip & James Church Whitton. There was another first, our vicar was installed virtually as Priest in charge of a neighbouring parish, again this video is online.


https://londondiocesanfund-my.sharepoint.com/personal/archdeacon_middlesex_london_anglican_org/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Farchdeacon%5Fmiddlesex%5Flondon%5Fanglican%5Forg%2FDocuments%2FVideos%2F2020%2003%2025%20Licensing%20of%20David%20Cloake%20as%20PinC%20St%20St%20Hounslow%2Emp4&parent=%2Fpersonal%2Farchdeacon%5Fmiddlesex%5Flondon%5Fanglican%5Forg%2FDocuments%2FVideos&originalPath=aHR0cHM6Ly9sb25kb25kaW9jZXNhbmZ1bmQtbXkuc2hhcmVwb2ludC5jb20vOnY6L2cvcGVyc29uYWwvYXJjaGRlYWNvbl9taWRkbGVzZXhfbG9uZG9uX2FuZ2xpY2FuX29yZy9FVHBWV1NPajZ3QkZwelhhR3RLY1doY0JqY0dveWp3NmpMWnNGZmdweDNrMXBRP3J0aW1lPUllOXlhbXJUMTBn


Not sure whether this will work, would be interested to have some feedback. I try and respond to to blogs but Blogger makes it difficult for me, I’m a bit naughty, I read a blog, not only on Blogger think I must go back and comment on that and then don’t.

We have it easy here, thoughts go out to everyone struggling with isolation and the difficulties caused by this virus.

Decision made

Yesterday I spoke to the asthma nurse at our GP practice, it was decided that given my health record it would be best if I stayed away from people although I feel absolutely fine. Much time was spent contacting people to explain why I wouldn’t be around given I show no signs of being unwell. Monday and Tuesday were busy social days, went to a knitting group in our local garden centre, Tuesday I worked at Local Studies, although I work on my own project there have decided not to attend for a while.

As one who doesn’t suffer from cabin fever this will be a good opportunity to complete various projects like this Moorland blanket for DiL using Attic24 colour scheme with trellis pattern stitch.

The above was written on Thursday, now it is Friday morning, will be staying home of course, have heard DS and family won’t be coming here next weekend, the event he was attending has been cancelled. My main concern is I won’t be motivated enough to use the time constructively, wasted much time completing sudokus, browsing on line,  I need to finish the crochet blankets and Ian’s socks and then there is reading group book, Dear Life by Alice Munro. The first story has been read, so along with the daily paper, Metro and City-AM there is plenty to keep us occupied. If the cold wind drops I will be out in the garden for fresh air. 

Still here

Just a brief hello, Ian and I have been suffering from the cold/virus that has been sweeping the country, Ian phoned surgery as he was feeling so grotty, GP said his was eleventh call that day. What is so annoying is that gradually one feels better then suddenly symptoms come racing back.

Not much news on the knitting front, I’m working the third side of first round of the Sweet Pea borders, the Moorland blanket is progressing slowly, we are away from the sludgy colours to the mauves, plums and purples. The Qiviut scarf is knitted and blocked, lovely Jean is going to join the ends so it becomes a cowl, no worries about losing what is a short scarf.

Another pair of socks for Ian has become my portable project, much progress was made last week when I travelled to St Albans by tube and train to meet a friend for coffee and lunch.

Bottom corner of Sweet Pea blanket, need stitch markers to show where to miss two stitches, much concentration needed here.

The scarf measures 33 1/2 x 4 inches. 

Not the original stitch pattern, just original colour sequence, both blankets by Attic24.

All photos just taken by iPad rather than from online album.