Raining in Twickenham

So we were so fortunate yesterday, no rain until after we reached home.

Ian photographed me trying to take a good picture, notice the very warm Mustardland scarf, took but didn't wear the not-very-flattering-beanie.

Today in Twickenham it is pouring down and there is just an hour and a half to the Big Match. Fun watching drivers trying to find places to park, we are outside the restricted zone, it is a fair walk but even I can do it.

Ian is working on his sums, becoming very excited about ellipses. I plan to go downstairs, knit and watch rugby at the same time. Known as multishirking in Mustardland circles. Well I can, cos I'm a woman.

Just in case anyone wants an update on the sofa saga, this week we have had the chimney swept, although no mess at all it was good that our Treasure was here at the time. The carpet has been ordered and most importantly, so have the sofas. Yes. Plural. One three seater and one two seater, should be ready some time in April. Now to book the decorators, even though their quote hasn't arrived.

Ian was in town this week and has purchased wooden needles so I think I will go now and start the jacket. The yarn and pattern were a Christmas gift, not going to be the work I carry around with me as it is cable. That's why I make cushion covers in garter stitch. Will have to ensure that covers will complement the red leather sofas, the work in progress is pewter colour so that will be for the Lloyd Looms. Bought some lovely Debbie Bliss Rialto in creamy white at Mrs Moon's so that will be perfect for the new furniture.

Off to knit, view, cheer our team. Some days we can hear the roars from the stadium.


Reader, we won! Second half better than first, so exciting it was impossible to knit.

Simple Woman's Daybook: 14th February 2011

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2011

Simple Woman's Daybook: 14th February 2011

Outside my window ... bit windy, but otherwise fairly pleasant day although cooled down once sun went down.

I am thinking ... about our plans for the sitting room. We went to Kingston on Saturday, by train of course because of the Rugby, looked in M&S, John Lewis, Laura Ashley & MultiYork. Came back keen on M&S leather sofas, thought has since been given to IKEA whose prices seem so keen. Do we really need sofas that will last us another 30+ years. At IKEA prices we need not keep the next lot as long.

From the learning rooms ... Ian immersed in maths. He's done the first question of the first TMA. So keen.

 I am thankful ... we realised the furniture had worn out but wonder how many visitors were not sitting comfortably.

From the kitchen ... all clear and washing up done.

I am wearing ... Black M& S trousers, cream Thomas Pink shirt and red V neck Uniqlo jumper. Chose an outfit practical enough to do the Bleep test at the last of the Pulmonary Rehab sessions. I reached level 7 (out of 10) so improved from test at beginning of January. However, when my oxygen levels were measured at the end I had an alarming but temporary dip in mine so will be checked out again in 3 months. Never happened before in last 6 weeks of exercises.

I am creating ... still working on garter stitch cushion cover using stash of Jaeger silk wool. Knitted on train on Saturday, at hospital today and in odd moments around the house, for example when the roofing estimator was here talking chimney stacks. He said I should knit him a pair of socks. Knitting socks is my challenge, need to find a very easy pattern to knit Roof Man his pair of size 9s. Can I do it? Perhaps by Christmas.

I am going ...to be asked to give the talk about the Breathe Easy group at the future Pulmonary Rehab courses. I knew more about Breathe Easy than the person who spoke to us about this.

I am reading ... furniture catalogues, home magazines and the papers but book group meeting looms.

Around the house ...  floor plan of the sitting room with scale cut outs of sofas from Marks and from IKEA. We have decided to move TV & paraphanalia from one side of fireplace to other; to replace the stained carpet under the patterned one: our trusty decorator is visiting to estimate redecorating costs. He will be replacing wallpaper around front room fireplace anyway. (They've forgotten about the new fireplace that beat VAT increase, Ed.) 

A few plans for the rest of the week ... ALMA meeting (Angola London Mozambique Assn.),  linking Diocese of London with dioceses in Angola and Mozambique; work on plans at local studies; trip to IKEA to bounce on sofas.

A picture thought I am sharing ... 

The spaciousness that is the room without much furniture. 

Tomorrow is another day, think sofa saga will run and run but it's fun, interesting and was so unexpected.

Find instructions and links to other daybooks at The Simple Woman

End of an era

I feel a bit churned up this evening. Nothing bad, but we have had interest in our furniture from enquirers on our local freecycle. Indeed, someone may be coming this evening but we are waiting for them to come back to us.

Why you may ask am I churned up? Well, when as a single girl I took the advice of a previous boyfriend and with the help of a humungous mortgage (15% interest rates) bought myself a 1961 New Ideal Homestead maisonette. Most of my furniture was cast offs from parents, a Formica topped kitchen table, chairs and stool, bed, sideboard (still have this). My parents gave me the money they'd set aside for a wedding to enable me to furnish my home. One of the items I bought was the Minty Isis furniture, it's been through many covers, firstly from Minty and subsequently from Lyn-Plan. This house is the fourth home.

Two years later,I married Ian after a whirlwind romance, nearly 32 years later we will be buying our living room furniture together.

Just to say that the furniture has gone, the room looks rather stark with just 3 Lloyd Loom chairs.