This Week: 7th January 2013

This Week: 7th January 2013

The weather ... Mild, but grey cloud. 

I am wearing ... Maroon cords, cream Thomas Pink shirt, cream hand knitted cardigan. (The one I finished after a 20 year gap)

I am reading ... Before I go to sleep, by S. J. Watson. Have a week to finish it, as I awoke early this morning read some more before Ian woke up. 

I am creating ... a shawl, first time I have attempted lace knitting. Was doing ok, but have one extra stitch on the last row so some undoing will be necessary. Hexipuffs have not been neglected, much knitting was done on the District Line last week when we went to the V and A museum to see the Ballgowns exhibition.

I am listening ... to the clock ticking, otherwise it is very quiet here, Ian studying in the next room.

I am watching ... the new series of train journeys presented by Michael Portillo, have set  up to record the series as I miss programmes otherwise, Still upset that I didn't record the programme about Canterbury cathedral, watched part of i-player but time ran out before I could finish it. Why is i-player just one week? Also missed the programmes about Queen Victoria, really I should look at the programme schedules more.

I enjoyed  ...  yesterday evening. We had the radio on, Classic FM after Sunday Half Hour, again hadn't even checked what was on TV, I was catching up on the weekend papers, Ian was reading and enjoying Wolf Hall, his Christmas gift from daughter. It was such a calm, companionable and relaxing interlude, just unwinding in the warmth of the lounge/drawing room/sitting room/back room. It came to me that this was heaven at that moment. No alcohol had been consumed, little was said except to read nuggets of interest from one publication to the other. A little of that peace that the world cannot give.

Amongst the dross of holiday and sport features was an article about the London Underground and its 150 year celebrations. Now this will sound nerdy, but on the whole I enjoy train travel, more relaxing than driving or being driven, one can knit, read, look at scenery and townscape whilst travelling reasonably smoothly. Except for between Barnes and Putney I think that South West trains tracks are smoother than the Southern route we take to Sussex. Things I don't like about trains are passengers who put their feet on the seats, shout or speak loudly or eat smelly food, short trains and fewer trains on Sundays.

Learning notes ...  well I suppose it is the lace knitting and Ian's OU.

This crib sheet gives me the opportunity to add our menu plans for the week but as I haven't made any for more than today I shall spare my readers.

Also, I intended to convey my thoughts about things I haven't done, copied shamelessly from Z's blog but it will wait another time.

Need to get on with thinking about lunch, drying laundry and reading today's papers. Some mornings I read the paper on my iPad whilst using my nebuliser, I feel I'm making good use of my time as there is a limit what can be done with one hand. 

Brunel Museum

Ian and I went out to play today. It was a U3A visit to Brunel Museum and a walk around old Rotherhithe. Early start, we needed to be at Waterloo station Platform 1 by 10am. Group of 44 attendees, one lady Ian knew from his art class was friendly  but otherwise no one introduced themselves or chatted.

To Rotherhithe station and the museum, really small but enough chairs and the choice between tea or coffee and between 3 flavours of muffin. So civilised. Then a brief talk about Brunel and about the area, I didn't realise how in the C18th and C19th century how international the area was. Of my family from Rotherhithe all of them were born there.

Then a short walk around the area, some of which I remembered from childhood visits to a Great Aunt, but from memory it seemed busier then, we never did tourist/history stuff and I didn't realise how near the river it was. Many of the new developments were lovely, certainly changed from a dockside community.

View of the Thames, apparently at one time the river was filled to capacity so that was why the first tunnel under the River was built. The engineering method was devised by Marc Brunel, that same method mechanised is used today. After all one cannot use cut and cover for a tunnel under a river.

Original premises of the earliest free schools in London, financed by ships captains. School still exists today, albeit in newer premises. 

St Mary's church, Rotherhithe. The pillars are from ships' masts then covered with plaster. There are chairs made from timber from the Fighting Temeraire.

Very high church and from the literature obviously they won't have women priests here.

After the walk, some of which was along Rotherhithe Street, the longest in London. This street is given as an address in some of my family records. John Moore (father's family), died in 1878 at 12 Rotherhithe Street; James Henry Bragg (mother's family) lived at 320 before his marriage. It had been called Rotherhithe Wall previously.

Above and below are views of Rotherhithe Street.

At the end of the walk we went and looked at the street where my grandmother lived, my first record is the 1891 census when the street was called Berkley Street, by 1901 census it was called Clack Street. Think the former name was preferable. I knew the houses had been demolished, my great aunt was moved in about 1962 and there were new semi detached houses in their place which  I'm sure have bathrooms and not just one outside loo.

We walked further along Rotherhithe Street, before returning to the station and went north on the London Overground line, changing at Highbury and Islington station. Richmond train came in as we came down steps. How good was that? Although I've lived in Richmond all my life I had never travelled on what we used to call the North London line before as far as I know. The new trains were lovely, very open, no compartments so in between knitting sock foot admired the views. At Richmond station bought a guide to i-Pad, can't do much until we have wifi modem.

Today's visit reinforced my belief that we have no need to go far away for interesting visits, felt like being on holiday today with sunshine, a tad bit windy but no worries about ash clouds, airport delays, currency or language.

Knitting in art

Yesterday was the birthday of my dear husband Ian,  so we went to London to view the Water Colour exhibition at Tate Britain. On the train journey I'm pleased to announce that I made good progress with knitting the can can curly scarf, I'm using circular needles as straight needles for it makes the work more portable.

Anyway, we ate first, apologies to all eaters after me who wanted the salmon fish cake, I had the last one. Food in museums has become so good now, no curly sarnies. As we were leaving the café we spotted the restaurant, think I'd have splashed out there seeing it was birthday but too late. Would have been good to be in quieter and slightly more spacious surroundings as well as waiter service.

We enjoyed the exhibition, both noticed that there is so much more detail in older work, the modern pieces seem to be much more broad brushed, also I liked the paintings that were realistic, I'm not into allegorical, highly symbolic or campaigning works. However, one painting had such a wide range of Victorian domestic detail was Walter Langley's 'But men must work and women must weep' painted in 1882 and exhibited the following year.



What really caught my eye though was the knitting on the table on the left, four needles so how far back does this skill go? I struggled with this and have switched to magic loop, but this wouldn't have been an option then. Also were there patterns at this time, presumably the skills were handed on verbally. Besides the knitting there is completed patchwork on the right of the picture.

I'm sure the curators didn't intend us to be interested in these skills, rather it was the painting. However, I googled Water Langley and found his painting 'Girl knitting' again the subject is using four needles.






Just saying, how two interests can coincide so encouraging me to research Walter Langley. Would I have bothered if I'd had to go to the reference library, look in art books and peer at a poor monochrome reproduction. Doubt it.

Another simple pleasure yesterday was travelling on the top deck of number 88 bus from Tate Britain. London was busy, crowded pavements, lots of tidying up going on, but looking  beautiful in the evening sunshine. Dr. Johnson was so right.

Well must get on, domestic things to do. Enjoy the weekend folks.

End of the month report.

Simple Woman's Daybook: 28th February 2011

Outside my window ... Has been cold and rainy, needed hat and mittens.

I am thinking ...  of the people in Christ Church, their tragedy moved me to tears. Feel so upset about it.

I am thankful ... that Martha hasn't a big problem with her feet, she will need correction just for sports activities. Big bill, for consultation, inner soles, plus there will be the sports massage costs as well. Worth it if she completes the Marathon thereby raising awareness of Pancreatic cancer amongst the young and the memory of Gemma. See this page for more information

http://www.justgiving.com/martharunsthemarathon2011

From the kitchen ... Martha made a lovely chocolate and cinnamon sponge cake filled with jam and cream yesterday, it was even yummier today.

I am wearing ... black trousers, charcoal grey polo neck jumper and matching cardigan.

I am creating ...another pewter wool and silk cushion cover; have started cardigan from yarn and pattern given to me at Christmas. Also, will be able to go back to socks as Mel obtained the right size circular needles for me. Am determined to learn to knit socks.

I am going ...  to be making rolls or tiny loaves for the Women's day of prayer, Friday 4th March but have no idea of the number needed. We have 8 made already, they are in the freezer so may make some fresh so if they are left over they can be frozen.

I am reading ... or will be starting Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. The choice for the reading group.

I am hoping ...  England win the grand slam, enjoyed last Saturday's match.

I am hearing ...  Ian typing, or keyboarding.

Around the house ... chimney swept, furniture and carpet ordered, decorator chased for starting date. 

One of my favourite things ...  train journeys. We went to Kingston by train today, a short journey although still managed quite a few rows of knitting. I prefer the smoothness of the train compared with buses. The bus drivers seem to imagine they are driving around Le Mans track.

A few plans for the rest of the week ... monthly prayer & meditation group tomorrow; Tuesday will be working at Local studies, missed last week as attended Breathe Easy Group; Friday is Women's world day of prayer.  

A picture thought I am sharing ...taken on our Strollers walk last Friday. We walked from Marlow to Hurley, Temple Lock taking in the muddy Thames Path. Needed our walking poles. Although not sunny, the day was warm and ideal for walking over 6 miles. Very pleased with myself for managing it, felt better for the exercise. Note I'm wearing the Mustardland scarf.

I'm sure there are other world shattering comments I could make but I would like to go and put my wool stash in the ziplok bags we bought in Kingston today, then try the new circular needles.

 

 Find instructions and links to other daybooks at The Simple Woman