September mini break.

Mid-September Ian and I zoomed off to South West Wales for a pre-Autumn break, very last minute but so fortunate weather wise, warm, sunny and dry, also fortunate in taking the last room in Heywood Spa Hotel in Tenby. Very pleased with choice, fantastic service from staff, also good food with breakfast cooked to order rather than having to serve oneself food that has been on a hot plate for ever. Lighting in lounges and in bedrooms was excellent so progress was made with knitting projects.

We are not used to empty, windy, hilly roads, albeit with good surfaces, our petrol car with 1600cc engine struggled, it is so used to Middlesex flatlands, we made it to St David’s, a city the size of a village, again steep inclines for pedestrians too. As is our custom we ate in the refectory, very generous portions of tasty local food.

There was a tiny market in the town, a stall was selling alpaca, would have been tempted need to complete 4 projects and use up huge stash too.

Following day was spent in Tenby itself, we walked in knowing it would be too steep to walk back, 

ambled around the mostly independent shops, found a smaller vegetable steamer for which we had 

been searching, the rather dusty box indicated this hadn’t been a best seller but it has been ideal size 

for us. Some clothes purchases for me will keep Seasalt in profit, the quality is good, the pinafore dress is lined and has pockets! Also their catalogues have interesting features about crafts, design, materials etc.

We found the National Trust merchant’s house, excellent and knowledgable guides there, I prefer these smaller NT properties rather than the large stately homes.  The herb garden made me consider that many of the ancient remedies, dyes and culinary uses should be scientifically examined for their properties today. Am going to attempt to post pictures of the garden whilst not losing the ability to write more text. 

Saturday 6th.

As the thirty one days concerns one subject I shall start with knitting, but then just add in an ordinary blog.

So the picture from the other day won't load onto here, have taken another one but Blogger wants me to sign up to loads of other stuff so will finish the blog on iPad, take a picture with ordinary Canon camera, go upstairs and  edit blog on laptop.  Now using laptop and camera so you can see the progress and how different each sock is. The wool is Regia stripe, there's a link to Kaffe Fassett on the ball band.

Unusual Saturday, daughter drove up early from Sussex, she had ticket for Hedda Gabler at Old Vic but before then we went into Kingston as she was concerned that I wasn't wearing right size bras. I had been measured a few years ago in M&S, just bought same size each time replacements were needed, often didn't wear one at all.  What I (and apparently lots of Mothers) don't know is how these garments should fit. So lots of trying on in John Lewis, purchases were made before moving to M&S for more trying on and slightly more inexpensive purchases.

Have to admit, I am feeling a little more comfortable than usual at the end of the day but don't ask me to explain English bra measuring systems, or to remember the overheard snatches of conversations from other changing rooms and from the shop staff. Made what could have been embarrassing a laugh.

Daughter went off to go to London, Ian joined me as a break from study and for lunch. Think I had forgotten how crowded shops are on a Saturday, we are so spoilt being able to do so in the weekday calm that we returned home mid afternoon. Of course had quick look in John Lewis haberdashery to see if any suitable wool for hexipuffing on sale -wasn't - and checked in Tiger but now acrylic only.

Daughter came back here, spent time with us before driving home to her cats. We gained an extra paper as she left her copy of The Times here, good to read the news from another viewpoint.

Just thoughts

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Simple Woman's Daybook 

Wednesday November 16th 2011

Outside My Window: our road in being resurfaced, great you say. Not at all, rather than completely relay all  the road only the worst sections have been recovered so it looks like a patch work quilt. Ian says the pricing for the work would have been done on a square metre basis, and only the worst damaged part repaired. Now given all the time spent working out the most  damaged,  costing, marking them up with yellow paint, arranging for cones to be planted days ahead would it not have been marginally more economic just to resurface the whole road, apart from the aesthetics. 

From the kitchen... not so much food preparation, Ian is making the decorations in the kitchen as it the garage is too cold.

Shows the great detail, the carols on one side, the book marks which will be used to attach them to the tree, plus he has made a container for storage.

I am wearing ... pink jumper I made from Rowan alpaca cotton earlier this year and East green needlecord skirt.

I am reading...  Henry's Sisters, by Cathy Lamb. Need to complete by next Monday. It's Knitting versus Reading. 

I am creating... still making hexipuffs, but am thinking ahead about what I can make from the lovely old wool collected yesterday through Freecycle. Real mixture there, some fine items on cones, Aran yarn that has been used and unravelled. All I need is time to knit it all. Then there is the yarn in my stash ....

Laid out on the kitchen table. Ian found another box in which to store the haul, the box in which the wool came smelt of loft so it has been put out for recycling.

This blog was left incomplete on Wednesday. This evening, Friday, is the first time I have used my laptop since Wednesday so need to catch up on those things for which I don't use my iPad. 


Meanwhile life is fine, two new experiences for us today. We visited the Lidl's shop that opened in our High Street yesterday, and we will return. Sadly, there was no organic milk but today that problem was solved with another first. This was sampling the delights of a Hobbycraft store in Staines. I was amazed at some of the crafts, some of which were new to me. Disappointed to see no bamboo needles, nor KnitPro so was not tempted. Since the haul of Freecycle wool I was not tempted to consider even more yarn. 


Ian bought some stuff,  I know of a new guillotine but I was not permitted to be around when he went to the tills. Next door to Hobbycraft is Waitrose so we were able to stock up on milk and Davidstowe cheese. Isn't life great when one's favourite cheese is the one on special offer?


Must get on, emails to send, reading group book to read, 58th hexipuff to complete. 


Back soon with thoughts and events.

Ends and beginnings

MONDAY, 17th October 2011

Simple Woman's Daybook: 

Outside My Window ... Cool, cloudy, breezy. Was sunny earlier

I am thinking ... about how I can be more proactive, not just sitting at computer and iPad but to achieve more than a few rows of knitting each day, sorting family history papers and file the print outs and maybe even completing the indexing of local history publications that I started a while back. It is not just hobbies and interests, need to sort out linen, will need to send Martha off with bedding and towels for instance. We have plenty!

From the learning rooms ... to quote dear Ian "the maths books have been put on the top shelf". I laughed, but it is good that he will have a break. We have lots to do, the garden, I would like some shelves in our porch for plants, tidy out and declutter the house and maybe going out to play if the weather isn't too cold.

I am thankful ... that Ian's course next year is all tutor marked assessment and no end of year exam. So much better, the cut off dates are in the diary already.

From the kitchen ... oven on for evening meal, Martha bought a pie from new butcher in Twickenham so we hope she will prepare all the meal. I had started to defrost beef from the freezer, but unbeknown to Martha, had doubts whether defrosting would happen in time for cooking and eating today so it has worked out well.

I am wearing ... Black East dress, with orangey-red CC cardigan and multicoloured Tradecraft scarf.

I am creating ... my 44th hexipuff; well on with cardigan now, about 70 rows of the back knitted.

I am reading or will be ... Henry's sisters by Cathy Lamb. The new book was given out at our reading group this morning. Reminds me to download another book from the public library collection, not that we don't have enough books to read here but because I can. Another skill I have taught myself. 

I am hoping ... Ian has good results from his OU maths exam which he took today. He's back home, very tired, well we did wake at 6.20am this morning and 3 hours of maths sounds horrendous.

I am hearing ... radio 2 whilst typing this.

Around the house .. Martha is starting to sort out her belongings before she sets sail for West Sussex, just a week to go. Very generous gift from her colleagues, so we hit the Kingston shops on Saturday to see what she could buy with her voucher. Was a good day, I found a pair of shoes, wanted black, smart but not high heels and she spotted the right ones in Jones the bootmakers. We had lunch out, and I was photographed knitting whilst waiting for the risotto.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ... not sure, have a cold, have started the antibiotics today but any plans will depend on how I feel. May check whether I should be taking steroids too, anything to avoid the dreaded Winter chest infection.
A Picture Thought I Am Sharing ...

View from Twickenham side of River Thames looking towards Petersham Meadows. Picture taken yesterday.

Find instructions and links to other daybooks at The Simple Woman