Well, it has been a busy week, completed the  furniture move around, then finished the Shalom cardigan. Such a contrast from the hexipuffs, large needles and chunky yearn against very fine sock yarn and fine pointed needles that dug into my finger necessitating an elastoplast.

A view of the room from the bed and another from the doorway below..

I am pleased with the cardigan, will need to find a button for the single fastening, once that has happened I will model it and expect criticism, or otherwise, meanwhile here is the garment now it has been pressed.

Although I have hexipuffs to knit on buses, trains and at Home Group, I need to consider another project. There is plenty of yarn hidden away so a decision needs to be made. Maybe a cushion cover, some socks or I have Spud and Chloe yarn to make a cowl. Suspect I won't need a warm cowl if the weather forecast I heard for the rest of the week is correct for it is supposed to be warm. It would be so lovely not to feel chilly all the time and to be able to wear summer clothes for a change.

I have been thinking about how to handle that uncomfortable feeling of knowing that persons in a group situation don't like you. No criticism of the persons concerned, they are pleasant enough on the surface, no actions could be construed as nasty yet is it me that is sensitive to an underlying dislike and irritation that I am around? Do I quit going, but then I lose the friendliness of others in the group; I would never meet it face on as it may be my fault that I don't feel comfortable with some people , indeed do not know what to say to them.

There is a shop where I have the same feelings, the owners are pleasant enough as they need the business but I don't feel comfortable in there, however good the stock is so in future will be going elsewhere so I am not stressed.

We have been to events where, although we know people there, it is clear they would not speak to me, or us, if they could help it. Makes me wonder about continuing to attend one social group for I try to be pleasant to all, whatever I think about them inside my soul.

Perhaps I am better at one off things, like the Who do you think you are Fair at Olympia where nearly every one was a stranger. Not everyone is a people person full of bonhomie, jokes and brilliant repartee, others can be happy with their own company or just one or two close friends. I have to make an effort to go out, mix and socialise, it would be easy and pleasant to stay home, practice the domestic arts, read, knit, in short I could become a recluse, especially whilst Ian is studying.

More philosophical and domestic ramblings next time, meanwhile your thoughts and opinions are so welcome.

Daybook again.

MONDAY, MAy 14, 2012

Simple Woman's Daybook:  14th May 2012

Outside my window ... it looks cold, windy and has been raining. Not sure I want to go out this evening, AGM time at the local history society, am aware I would be letting my friend down with whom I go and it gives Ian a chance of peace and quiet for his 'sums'.

I planted the 'bee friendly' plants in the front garden yesterday the gentle rain of today is probably a good thing in spite of the soaking I gave the plants and soil. Thank goodness for the water butts, they are full still.

Here's a view of the front garden, shews the gaps for which we have hollyhock and morning glory seeds.

Eventually the poor quality grass will be replaced by plants, but as we have spent over £200.00 so far, augmented by gifted, transplanted and freecycled plants and seeds it is not a project to be rushed.


From the learning rooms ... Ian is working hard on the last few details of his Maths TMA, in between relishing the extra space obtained by moving out some of the furniture and repositioning the table into the centre of the room.

I am thankful ... that I have a new battery in my 5 year old Toshiba laptop. thought it would have been a difficult project, we had asked at John Lewis as we'd had purchased it there, they gave us details of a company who specialise in Toshibas, we phoned, we found the right parts number, paid the amount requested - far less than a new machine - were told the battery would come some time this week. We were blessed with delivery on Saturday, there were no instructions but I found the original pristine manual and was surprised how easy it was to remove the old and install the new.

I am wearing ... my faithful old jeans, so pleased I can fit in them again and a warm White Stuff top. Will need to change before I go out though.

I am creating ...  a sleeveless Shalom cardigan, the pattern was downloaded from here
http://involvingthesenses.blogspot.co.uk/. I has been quite a learning curve form me, a little frogging has been necessary, not the fault of the designer I might add but my lack of attention to detail. So much to learn, so little time.

This is how far I have come, it's a top down pattern, no seaming as knitted in the round, am just below the armholes, am pleased it was designed for some one tall so I know it will be long enough for me. I dislike a gap at my waist (well where my waist was) when tops are too short.

I am reading ...  Songs of blue and gold by Deborah Lawrenson, have completed part 1. Needless to say this is a reading group book, am keen to keep going as it not a heavy or blood thirsty read. Well not so far, I don't know what happens next.

I am hoping... Martha's cats 'take' to me, which reminds me, they are brother and sister, not sisters. the declaration about this on Facebook prompted over 70 comments, many of which involved much discussion about choice of name now that Tabitha was not. He is now Tabs so the poor soul is not too confused. Toby was a runner up in the naming stakes.

I am hearing ... very little, the house is quiet, no planes and even more lovely no building, drilling or cutting noise from next door's building works. Is the work nearly complete? Will we be able to sit in our garden without being deafened or covered in dust? These are important questions chez Pixie Mansions.

One of my favourite things ...  old documentary films, a recent find was this, http://film.britishcouncil.org/london-terminus . It was fascinating that the trains to Reading and Camberley stopped at our local station at this time (1944) but nowadays we are told that South West trains cannot do this. I know it was war time but the passengers all seem to look smartly dressed and no one appears overweight as life was physically tougher then. (Using a manual typewriter used more calories than an electric one so when the latter cam into service apparently typists put on more weight)

A few plans for the rest of the week ... little planned, except for volunteering at Local Studies and maybe knitting group in their new venue. Oh, yes, it is Christian Aid this week so I shall be smiling at everyone near a pedestrian crossing in the High Street on Saturday. Give generously folks so others may have life before death.

New home for knitting needles

Well, we have been having big moves, especially of furniture because we have spread out, stuff has gone up country to our son and south to our daughter and led us to reconsider how we live in our house, mindful that Ian has chosen to  three or four years of study ahead of him so peace, quiet and no interruptions are required and granted.

Meanwhile, my life has involved collecting lots of yarn that necessitates storage for my stash and patterns, my family history research papers need better storage than two plastic boxes. As Martha's room has been cleared of all furniture except a bed that can double as a sofa, we considered how it should be furnished to be practical. It then hit us that the study was overloaded with storage units from Beaver and Tapley. So shelving, desk top and storage units have been moved into Martha's room, also giving me a home for my laptop and iPad. The laptop had perched on the dining table and it was so easy to switch it on and be lost in the wonders of Blogland, Ravelry and Google maps for many hours. Now it is more deliberate to switch on so I hope I will waste less time. A bonus is that I can link it up to a small printer and to the scanner I bought when I left Book Data, some 10 years ago this month.

There is so much history to be found when moving one's belongings around during a sort out, have commandeered an antique gift that Ian bought for his father. It is a pipe rack, meant for clay pipes so never used by FiL as his pipes didn't fit but it has become a holder for my metal knitting needles. The wooden ones live in a jug I made and painted at The Manor House Hotel in Devon, the crochet hooks and pens are in Art Deco Mugs that leak liquids

These are not all my needles, there are some in a case of Aero needles that I gave to my mother as a gift, others are stored in a cardboard tube that held shortbread biscuits. A bonus of this room is the size of the window cill, all extra space to display treasures.

In the picture one can just see our new wall and new gate, alas not the plants in the front garden.

Must just add that we have met Martha's kittens, they are delightful, still cautious especially Molly but Tabitha was bolder and actually sat on my lap and allowed this temporary staffer to stroke her. Long time since I have had a cat to stroke so am looking forward to getting to know these girls.

Our old throws have been put to good use by protecting the sofa from cats'  fur and scratchings!

More updates later.....

At last, my blog has arrived.

Hi everyone.

It's been some time but real life has just meant no time to sit at the laptop and chat with you all. Will be brief this afternoon as we are going to the Dedication for the baby for whom I made the jacket and hat. Feel very privileged to be invited.

So what have we been doing? Spending time at the homes of our son and daughter. The visits to Martha were wrapped around Easter, we were home for Good Friday and Easter Day but otherwise helping her to assemble nearly a tonne of IKEA furniture. Actually the help was needed when construction required two people and Ian's technical knowledge for fixing furniture to the walls.

Picture shows Martha assembling her bed, a priority as she had been sleeping on an air mattress that deflated as the night went on.

Last week we went to Sussex by train, much more relaxing than driving on A24, I could knit and Ian could look at his maths. Private Eye, Economist or History Today. These magazines have been green gifts for him and I get to look at them too. Talking of gifts he has had a birthday recently so he has received, amongst other things, a bird bath and an iPad3 with 3G too. Has turned out even more useful than I thought as he's uploaded all his OU material on there so it will be of assistance in his studies.

Every one knows what a iPad with a green cover looks like so here is a poor photo of the bird bath. Not been over used by our visitors but we will give it time. Aesthetically it looks better than plastic saucers on the patio.

Will write more later, but meanwhile he is the phone cover I designed and knitted for my new iPhone, rather pleased with it. Moss stitch with ribbing at the top to keep the phone snug.

Knitting again

Have made the beanie, it's here

Looks enormous, but it is made for a 6-12 month old so will be ideal for next Autumn. Very pleased with it.

When we were at the celebrations for  Ian's aunt's 100 birthday, her daughter gave me some yarn and there is enough double knitting wool to make a jacket for another little boy soon to make his debut. Have been able to add to my stash pile, some very fine cottons as well, will need advice as to what to make with some of it.

Just an update regarding daughter's property purchase, she managed to exchange and complete on Friday, about 12 hours before stamp duty kicked in again for first time buyers. She had the keys on Friday, and today she finally moved out of her house share. Couldn't really before as the fridge freezer was only delivered yesterday and needed to stand before she could fill it. Excellent service from John Lewis.

Cannot say the same for Curry's. The cooker had been left in the flat, but when we looked at it on Saturday Ian and I agreed with Martha that it was in a much worse state than had been realised. Given the urgency, we went to the local Curry's, chose a lovely electric cooker; delivery was arranged, address given. Come Tuesday, Martha took time off from work as delivery was between 3 -5, Curry's phoned as she waited to say they didn't have the first line of her address so they couldn't deliver. They wouldn't confirm the address over the phone, she had to return to the store and rebook the delivery. I was standing next to her when she gave the address in the store so it is not her error. I have recommended a strongly worded letter of complaint to the company's head office.

So, all future purchases of that type will be made online to John Lewis. As it is the end of the month and end of the financial year Martha, like many others is very busy at work and to be messed about by such incompetence is unacceptable. Thank goodness the washing machine has been purchased through John Lewis.

It is getting late, will turn in soon. Busy week, went to a funeral yesterday and another tomorrow. Yesterday was a lady from our church aged 96 but tomorrow the funeral is for the husband of a school friend so comparatively young. He has been ill for a few years, worked hard all his life and never had the chance to enjoy retirement with his wife and family.

We are blessed.

Knitting

As promised, photographs of the completed jacket. Thanks to all who gave their advice, especially about the way the yarn knitted up on the back.

Now am going to make a baby beanie to make the little lad lovely and warm next winter.

Prizes and presents

MONDAY, 19th March 2012

Simple Woman's Daybook: 19th March

 

Outside My Window ... sunshine and warmth. Plus, the usual learner drivers, our quiet suburban estate is part of the driving test so lots of practising goes on around here.

 I am thinking ... about last Friday's quiz evening organised by Friends of Strawberry Hill. Very jolly evening, saw folk we know, had a good Ploughman's supper. Our team was crestfallen when it was announced that the theme was in tribute to an event in 2012, unfortunately not the Jubilee but the Olympics. All sorts of stuff about the Olympics, even the original ones so it was not a great surprise that we won the Booby prize - yes - won by over 10 points from the team ahead of us. Ian leapt onto the stage with great joy to collect our table's reward.

From the learning rooms ... well Ian's maths continue; I consider I have learnt new skills from knitting the child's jacket.

I am thankful ...  to Martha for her kindness in giving me such a lovely gift for Mothering Sunday.

This has taught me not to be too rigid in my thinking, for many years I have said to the PixieKids that I don't wish for any recognition of Mothering Sunday but that they treat us with kindness and respect at all times. That was the mantra for many years, but yesterday I realised it is up to them to decide what, if anything, they do to mark the day. I hadn't gone to church, that is upsetting as I think about my own mother and the whole thing is quite emotional with all those kids so I was taken aback when a box of goodies was delivered. It contained a miniature pink rose, bottle of Italian rosé and chocolate truffles. Even before this package of kindness I had been given a card too.


From the kitchen ... nothing much happening; lunch has been cooked and eaten and all evidence to the same has been cleared away.

I am wearing ... Blue jeans and pink polo neck jumper.

I am creating ... Hexipuffs and a baby jacket. For the latter just need to cast off collar, sew remaining seams, attach buttons and my personal label.

I am reading ... The Help, not just reading but listening to the download whilst I knit. Multi tasking at its best.

I am hoping ... that Martha will be able to exchange and complete her property purchase before Saturday. Even better would be if the Chancellor's Budget extends the stamp duty exemption for first time buyers. Saturday was spent in IKEA whilst Martha chose essential furniture, fortunately the cousins live nearby so reviving tea and cakes were served whilst we watched England win. Great amusement at IKEA, an announcement was made for Chardonnay's parents, all this time I had thought this name was just an urban legend. (No offence to any of my readers who have this name in their families)

I am hearing ... banging and noise from the building site that is the next property. We have endured this since last June, the result is overbearing and not in sympathy with the 1930s streetscape. 

One of my favourite things ... chocolate truffles

A Picture Thought I Am Sharing ... 

 not very clear picture of the singers and orchestra at the concert held on 10th March in aid of Pancreatic Cancer. Apparently the money raised in Gemma's memory was £3,336. The purple is not for Lent but is Pancreatic Cancer UK colour.

Now to complete the jacket, will photograph it and you can see it on the next blog.