Happy Birthday - Blog

I was flabbergasted to see that my blog is 3 years old, I haven't been quite as successful at keeping a record of my life, as I would have liked, I would only hope I can get better ...

Other things that happened 3 years ago:

A group of friends from the Crafty Threads n Yarns Forum meeting up at Get Knitted in Bristol and then enjoying lunch together at the pub.

Windows being put into the building where I work, we had done without windows for 2 years. The pleasure of natural day light and fresh air. Vistors still comment today about the fantastic view we have and how horrible it was before 'windows'!

A cardigan started, but yet to be finished, a little bit like this blog, perhaps?

Wishing everybody a Happy Birthday, who also may be celebrating today, especially to my dear friend Linda xx

£15,000

I visited Hillier’s Arboretum, Braishfield, Hampshire last Saturday, with my very dear friend Linda.

We have been members for quite a few years. For us this is a great place to meet. Linda and I are not shoppers, we only shop for a purpose.

We love to chat. We enjoy our 21 year friendship, having met when our boys were just 5 years old.

Linda loves to drink coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon.

Visiting Hillier’s allows us to do all the things we enjoy ... we start by having coffee (Linda) and a glass of milk (me). I so wished they would put toasted tea cakes on the menu, so that I could also have breakfast at the cafe.

Next, we go for a walk round the winter garden and beyond.

Returning to the cafe for lunch, we normally have a baked potato each and then in the afternoon we walk the other half of the arboretum, which takes us through the bog garden, the Ghurkha’s memorial and up to centenary walk.

This Saturday there was a wedding.

The swanky wedding car parked in front of Jermyn's House.

During the summer months, there is always a display of Art.

Every summer we pick up the price list and as we walk around the garden we try to guess the price of each of the pieces of art.

Normally we are way off, however Linda did extremely well, but we didn’t guess this one; a pregnant lady made of Portland stone.

She was smooth and warm to touch, her arms carved into the back of the stone.

Price: £15,000 for the garden

Year End

Last week was very much a hard week at work, however this was off set by lots of playing, it seemed that all the things I do, had come together in just one week, why does that happen; for weeks you have no social live and then it all comes together in one exhausting week?

I was getting up extra early in the mornings to do any chores and to arrive at work for 7:30am; this gave me a little bit of quiet time before the all the woodworking machines got turned on.

I needed to accomplish 4 major tasks, that had to be finished by the Friday, however to be able to do these tasks, several other jobs had to be completed first, like having every account reconciled from the bank accounts, credit cards and loans, you name it, it had to be reconciled.

If you do wages as part of or all of your job, then you will have had to submit all the P.A.Y.E., submissions for ‘year end ‘ 2007/08 by Saturday May 31st. (Note for me : NEXT YEAR IS THE 19 MAY - REMEMBER 19th!!) For me this means writing out 40 P60’s by hand, with no mistakes, or if I do make a mistake, I have to start a fresh one.

I was able to complete the on-line submission with no issues what-so-ever, unlike previous years by Tuesday afternoon, then on to finalising all of May’s worked hours and calculate everybody’s pay and submit to the bank for paying. The next big task was to make sure that all suppliers invoices, tallied with the appropriate suppliers statements. May is also work’s end of VAT quarter. Normally as soon as the invoices are sorted, it is just a short job. However QuickBooks has completely upgraded their VAT software and I could not get it to calculate properly – groan, however after much shouting at the computer, I managed to find before and end figures, did some math’s and have submitted a hand written form.

Every quarter, Gary and I have a small competition to who can get the nearest to the amount that has to be paid to HM Customs. This quarter I won, which means Gary meant a pound in the Prospect Hospice Box.

My final job was to submit all the bill payments for the bank to make the BACS payments.

I did it all and I am sure that the fact that I had such a lovely week helped me through.

Monday night, I finished Noel's socks off, I had completed the first sock including a terrible example of kitchener stitch, however sitting very quietly by myself, in the small gap between me getting home and everybody else on a Monday evening, I sewed up the second sock - quiet is the answer, I did a much better job.

Noel's socks - taken at this angle, so that I could use the wall as a back drop!

Tuesday I decided to join a Monkey Sock KAL on the CTnY Forum and that evening, I cast-on and knitted about 7 rows of the rib and then realised that it should have been twisted rib, so I frogged it all, again.

Wednesday evening, Poppy was sleeping over Kaan’s, so Noel suggested we go out to dinner, we decided to go to the local pub, the Iron Horse, because at 8 pm at this pub is where I have a fortnightly village knit/craft get together. It also happens to serve nice home-made food. We had a lovely meal together and then Noel, disappeared (he didn’t want to bump into any of the group) at 7:50 pm, I carried on knitting. I re-cast-on the monkeys and this time remembered to do the twisted rib and managed to do; 2 pattern repeats.

Thursday, started with me following Noel to the garage to get his car MOT’ed, then Noel dropped me off at work, and he went back and collect Kaan and Poppy; as they were all going to spend the day together, starting with the cinema and watching the new Indian Jones film, which they all really enjoyed, then on to Pizza Hut for lunch before going climbing together.

After work, we collected the car, it had passed, such a relief, with just the cost of a bulb (and the four new tyres we had bought the week before!!)

Thursday evening, I met up with Kate and Louise at the pub, (none of us had heard from Sprite64, which is a shame as we were then not sure what to do – hope you are reading this Sprite and you can let us know if you still want to join in), a lovely meal was had by all and a great time while we did ‘show and tell’. As we are all members of the forum, out came 3 monkey’s, which made us giggle, Kate’s were a plum with a splash of pink colour, Louise’s were a white, black and beige colour and then mine.

Friday afternoon, a bit later than planned as it had taken me longer to sort the VAT out, I went round to Ruth’s and caught up with all the family and showed her this blog!! Noel and Poppy went off to climbing the wall at West Swindon’s Leisure Centre and came back and picked me up at 5 pm. We had a relaxing evening at home together as a family and I carried on knitting.

And then Saturday, which broke with glorious sunshine, I travelled down to Hillier’s Arboretum, Braishfield, Hampshire to meet Linda. We had a lovely day together chatting, we are members of Hilliers, it gives us some where to go, when we just want to chat, away from husbands, children, ironing etc etc ... you know the sort of place. In between eating, drinking and walking I took 160 photographs of the plants; this is just a selection of what I took ...

More knitting ...

Yesterday was spent relaxing and knitting (progress photo below), while we watched the DVD; The Golden Compass. Poppy explained to me that her daemon was a Monkey, so I thought I would see what mine was; you can agree or disagree by following this link:


It was also the first day that all three chickens had laid eggs on the same day! One egg was so fresh that it was sticky and very warm.

My monkey sock as of going to bed Sunday evening!

Lots to Share

I have so much to share with you, that I am actually not sure where to start, so after much dilemma, I decided to share my ‘Mothering Sunday’ with you.

I had my mother’s day a week late; reasons being, Noel was away the 2nd March and Poppy had lots of show rehearsals, so they both asked if I minded – of course I didn’t mind, I am a mum everyday ... do I need to say more!

The day was still busy as Poppy had Emma to sleep over, so no breakfast in bed for me - em not a great start Poppy *winks*. Then the day started; dropped Emma home, Poppy to rehearsals, Noel and I did some very boring but much required housework. Pick up Poppy, buy some fresh baguettes, brie and grapes for lunch, have lunch, drop Poppy back (different hall) for more rehearsals. Noel and I washed the cars; to say they were minging is an understatement. Dinner is put in the oven and back to pick up Poppy. We try and do this together to make the most of anything she has to share with us.

Then I was sent up stairs, to do anything, just be out of the way was the instructions, so of course I went to see what was happening on the net ...

This is what I came down to: 100 Ballons



The presents on the table were a novel, six cream eggs and;



A book that I sort of wanted but didn’t really need – so an excellent present.

I really enjoy Jamie Oliver's programme, not just because of what he cooks but because he makes me giggle and I think he most have his own olive grove. He uses so much olive oil, I am sure it could sink a ship. But also because he has the most laid back, scruffiest, knowledgeable gardener, you could ever see on television.

Knitting:

Remember my third FCS, well I have finished it and very pleased with the colours this time.



A close up of colours and stitches and the overall look:



Me:

Now before I show you some sewing in progress, I need a new driving license, you know one of those plastic photo cards, really haven't wanted to but I really must get one. So I asked Noel to take an appropriate photograph, ready to send off with my application. I wanted a photograph; something that I hope I wouldn’t be to embarrassed to show people, if I had to. Well, after many attempts – me being fussy mainly – this is the final result, far to serious but this is what I believe is required;



Sewing:

Now I can show you the pictures of my sewing and you will notice a very major change;



Sewing Poppy’s lyrical costume in a very sunny conservatory.



A close up of my purple (Plum) hair – I love it. My very clever husband dyed it for me and when I had my hair cut at the weekend, my hairdresser Caroline wanted me to congratulate him on doing an excellent job and very good, all over coverage.

After Noel dyed my hair I then did Poppy’s a far longer job – time wise and hair length, we just manage to get the hair dyed using two packets.



Just look at that concentration on my face!!

Sunshire:

We had beautiful sun shine at the weekend, in fact as we all know it was the lull before the storm, this is a picture of the beautiful daffodils in our village,



and to finish ... the ducks ... superb.

Sixes and Sevens

I have been all sixes and sevens this week – weird feeling. The rain has stopped and the sun has even got into my eyes on occasions, my back is so much better, it has all made me feel brighter but ... there has been a flip side – I want to clean my house – I know very silly idea but there are only so many times when everything else in my life is the better option, just sometimes the housework has to take precedence, especially with 3 weeks of rain and one very furry dog and a mad six month old puppy, which just equals a grubby house. But I am grumpy, I would like to stay at home, cleaning, my back will now allow me to do this carefully and the sun shine makes this task so much easier. However I have to go to work, the up side is the view out of the window at work has been lovely but it is not getting the jobs done at home. This is when I wish I could manipulate my hours, take the dogs for a good walk, do lots of house work, then have a shower and go to work.

For the moment I just can’t get past these sixes and seven feelings, so you could say I am moaning - sorry.

However I have completed an amazing amount of paperwork at work, which is no bad thing, I had filing coming out of my ears, which I hate ... it is now all done, just working on the in tray, which I have hidden from any visitors in a cupboard. My boss knows where it is just in case he needs to find something!!

For me this is always a time of catch up after the Christmas break as the run up to Christmas is our ‘year end’, a time I am working with or for the accountant, so that my every day work gets shelved until January.

On a very positive note, my boss made me a cup of tea this week, the first time ever in 4 years and 10 months LOL. They must know I am very busy, you see the draft accounts show that we have doubled our turnover since I joined the company – not due to me – but it means I do double the work, I am the administration office; from HR, wages to purchase and bought ledger, actually every piece of paper goes over my desk at some point. I also maintain the computer system, with some assistance from Noel, when it requires that extra bit of knowledge.

So guess who got a pay rise *great big smile*, so you see I should be happy, in fact very happy, perhaps I should use some of my pay rise to pay for a cleaner – need to think about that one.

Silver Jewellery 3

I was so good at taking photograph’s to post on here, that I then forgot to put that particular equipment and silver back in my tool box and therefore forgot to take them to class – what a numpty. So I watched everybody else, banging their silver into a ring shape, soldering the ring together and then placing the ring into acid. I also got on with designing my next project – a bracelet.

So no real up date for you – sorry about that.

Photography

On Tuesday, after work and dropping Poppy off at dancing, I quickly popped into a camera shop in Swindon town centre, to see about some information on a Pentax K10D DSLR and some lighting. They did not have this camera in store and no literature I could take away about any lighting equipment. The young man did give me some verbal information but I felt that all he wanted to do was to go home! However I do know that there is a new Pentax K20D just about to be released and that a reasonable middle of the road lighting system is going to cost me about £400.00.

I then whizzed up to Machine Mart and bought two small hammers and a table vice for silver tool box.



Iron Horse

I went to my fortnightly knitting group at the pub on Wednesday evening, not everybody was there but I had a real good chatty evening, just what I needed, perhaps I have just been feeling a bit lonely.

What made me think this: well ... I turned up at Mrs Phyll's house a great friend from bowls, who has been knitting for years and years and ... as I let myself into the front door, she popped her head round from the lounge and said "this is a funny quarter to eight, girl" "yes it is", I said, "no, it's quarter to seven". I then explained that I really thought the time was later and that I had just got bored and lonely at home, I must have just wished the time away. So I sat down with a nice cup of tea and chatted to Mr Phil - he thought it was very amusing, seeing the 'all together organised Jacky, get it wrong' LOL

You see; Poppy is out dancing a lot more due to the up and coming show and Noel is vey busy training and working, so I am at home alone quite a lot just at the moment. Something that I never thought really bothered me, well actually it didn't, I use to love my own time but I have obviously got use to having permanent company. Need to watch that one, because I can hear myself moaning that I want time to myself – opps.

But I do know that I can’t settle to crafts if the house is a right mess and believe me, it is a right mess.

Fallen Angels

A very quick round of texts and an impromptu meeting was held last night. Again a couple couldn’t make it, due to work commitments, but three of us did. To our surprise there was no Thursday night buffet laid on and both the tables we would normally sit at were filled – unusual, especially as the pub was actually quite quiet.

Well I had chilli for dinner and then carried on knitting my FCS accompanied by lots of chatter of course.

Attitude

On a positive note I am feeling much better mentally today, than I did at the beginning of the week and I plan to go home at 1 pm (the time we all finish work on Friday’s) and clean the conservatory and then make a start on the long green cloak.

Knitting

These three Spring patterns have just been released by GarnStudio which means I need to see what is in my stash ...

Pattern

Pattern

Pattern

I think these patterns are stunning and even better they are free, what more could a knitting girl ask for?

Sunday Lunch

No real lie in for the family, as Poppy had rehearsals for JHS Show, this will become full time over the next 8 weeks as show time approaches. Sunday mornings at the moment are Jazz rehearsals with Miss Gemma, 10:30 till 12:00.

Noel took Poppy and Kaan and I stayed behind. Kaan watched television and I set up two more blogs and registered a domain name, all of which is very exciting. I will let you know when they are up and running. They will be very specific blogs nothing like the chatty, keeping you up to date with all my goings on etc., like this blog.

Then it was time to collect Poppy and off to Locks Heath, to have a last meal with the in-laws, Mary and Noel Snr., before their return trip to Florida on Tuesday.

We went to the Oast and Squire, a Beefeater Restaurant on my teenage home stomping ground, in fact it is the local for my mum, even to this day. However, way back then it was a pub, not the best pub either but it was the only pub around for quite a way.



We had a lovely time, with lots of eating and talking,



Front row: Noel Snr. and Noel Jr., Middle row: Kaan and Mary, Back row: Poppy and me.

which included both the Noel’s agreeing to enter the 2009 London Marathon.

For Noel Snr., to ask Noel Jr., do something together, in my eyes is just amazing, something that has not happened while I have been on the scene. It would seem time does help to heal ‘hurts and misunderstandings however unintentional they were’ we were there hours but the time flew by and it was all to soon time to say our byes before returning home.

A lovely picture of Kaan and Poppy



We had a good journey home, no incidents but the rain started again as we drove along the M4 into Wiltshire, at this rate I am going to move back to Hampshire, apart from a week last Saturday we have just had rain for approximately 3 weeks.

An important job before the week started was to shave Noel’s hair,



opps, didn’t mean to post that one * wink’s * - wicked wife



it was just a bit to long (understatement here) and now it is lovely and velvety soft again and he is back to being Mr Handsome, even though he does look very tired.

We all sat down to watch the DVD, Hairspray before Kaan was picked up at 9:00 pm. Poppy went to bed and Noel and I sat and watched the second episode of Kingdom with Stephen Fry.

Then it was time for bed, did anybody turn the bedside lamp out, because I hit my pillow so hard and was fast-a-sleep within seconds.

Bargins

When Noel and I had dropped Poppy and Emma off for their Drama class, in the horrible on-going, never seeming to be stopping rain, we parked the car and went to Mr Ashcrofts a furniture store in Old Town, where we had previously bought all our oak furniture from. They had a 72-hour, half price sale on. At the time of buying our bedroom furniture, we felt that we didn’t need the matching double bed, our bed was only 2 years old at the time and we didn’t have a need for 2 double beds in the house – however time has moved on and at half price we thought we would have a look. Now remember I can’t walk fast at all, the wind was to high for an umbrella so it was not the most pleasant, of what should have been just a 5 minute walk. The shop was empty – weird with such a good sale on … but we were so disappointed, they have stopped doing our range. Oh well, even at half price we have just saved ourselves some money, says she trying to look at the positive side.

Anyway on the waddle back, we passed the Marie Curie charity shop and what did they have in the window… this



We still paid £80.00, it had been priced at £100.00, but believe me we checked it over and it really has hardly been used, in fact the lady in the shop said, that the lady who had owned it, told her; “she had only used it 2 or 3 times but had just not got on with it”, well even if you times that by 10 or 20, it is still a bargain. I have so wanted one of these for many a year but could not justify the cost of a new one. It will be fantastic when doing the flat seams during sewing of costumes and pressing the ¼” seams in the piecing of blocks for quilts. The shop also had a trouser press, which we bought for £7.00,



I do need to give it a bit of a clean and Noel used some epoxy resin to glue a crack in one of the feet but again a bargain.

Shame I don’t do normal ironing - LOL

The Hunt

At this time of year the farm hosts the 'New Year Hunt'. What ever your views, and I am pro-hunting as long as the animal is shot first before being given to the dogs. Living in the countryside you really do see the damage that wild animals can course, if left to multiply without intervention i.e. culling. I appreciate that the pictures of half eaten foxes is awful, however the activists never show pictures of what foxes do to new born lambs and calf’s as they are being delivered by their respective mums, especially if it happens in the field without the shepherd / farmer’s guidance.

Please enjoy these photographs of the beautifully dressed horses and their riders. Sorry about the quality today it is blowing a gale and very gloomy I therefore had to support the camera against the gate post.

The drinks



Nikky and Scooby



They are off



The dogs whizzed by me and I wasn’t able to take a clear picture, they were all very excited and the hunt masters looked wonderful in their red uniform. I do hope nobody falls off as the conditions are awful today, still they are warmed up !!

Winter Solstice

Actually it was 17 days ago, on the 22 December 2007, the day that Toby and I walked along the Ridgeway. On our walk we met a very nice young man who had wonderful long dreadlocks and carrying a rucksack and sleeping bag, he explained that he had just started out on a 3 day trek along the trail. As we finished talking he wished Toby and I “A Happy Winter Solstice Day”. Toby gave me ‘one of those looks’ and I smiled, and explained that he had probably just come from the celebrations at Avebury, a heritage site, similar in age and meaning as Stonehenge.

However what ‘Winter Solstice’ means to most of us, is the days will start to gradually get longer, some thing that I can safely say most of us look forward to and even more so if you suffer from SAD.

Now, if you happen to leave work at 5pm and you also happen to work in a rural area, just I like I do. I work in a 100 year old converted drying barn, on a farm, where the nearest urban lighting is approximately 2 miles away. You may have noticed that, it is no longer pitch black when you leave, the sky is now actually dark blue and that you can just make out the colours on buildings in the near distance. I travel east to go home, so the setting sun is behind me, and yesterday I noticed the very last of the setting suns rays on the horizon. Enough to say to you all, it won’t be long and it will soon be light at home time. I do pray that this thought makes you smile. The BBC weather site is a good source of sunrise and sunset times plus the weather of course.

Jolly Cold

Freezing

Would you believe it, it is -6.0 here today? It took a lot to clear the windscreen this morning, scraping just didn’t work, had to use the de-icer twice and then scrape. I also had to drive to work with the window slightly open, so that I didn’t steam up.

My first thoughts were for the lambs, but I saw them up by the gate of the field and they are fine, much to my relief. Mum seems to be doing a very good job, especially as the grass is thick with ice. Not only is Jack Frost very thick but it is also foggy, however up here on the hill the sun has just started to shine making the ice glisten, it is so pretty.



However, I normally see the shepherd walking the field, with her Labrador and Jack Russell – not your normal working sheep dogs, LOL, however she was no where to be seen this morning. Wonder if she is being kept busy in the lambing shed?

Now something I have been meaning to knit for me, for over a year is a Booga Bag, but I always see other things that I want to get on with first ......... Now, over the last 4 years I have been giving a lady tool rep., to our company, a listening ear. We have gone through tears, cuddles and even some jokes but one of things this lady has done to keep smiling, is crafts, we can understand that, can't we? When I first met her, she was stitching the most beautiful cross stitch picture, then she learnt to make lace, the examples she would bring in to show me, were just exquisite. However, she has decided the time has come to dig out those knitting needles. She bought this pattern to make the Noni Bag from First 4 Yarns , ran by Diane and her daughter. Lovely ladies to deal with and very prompt delivery of goods. However, what she really wanted to do was make some socks. So I pre-warned my bosses, that I would be assisting with some knitting, you should have seen their faces! My bosses have known her, for at least 21 years, she used to accompany her Dad on his trips during the school holidays! So they were unlikely to say ‘no’ and I am pleased to say, that they didn’t. When she turned up, we sat in my office and I cast on and knitted the first couple of rows, using the Regina pattern and yarn. I had made her a couple of stitch markers before hand, so that she could keep her place and since then she has gone great guns. I am very impressed with her speed and that she is so neat. She has just visited and she has given me the most wonderful surprise present. She had secretly knitted and felted a Booga Bag for me, what a brave lady felting so early on. The present is a thank you to me, for lending my 'ear' over the years. She really didn’t need to do this, however the bag and gesture put the biggest grin ever on my face and it called for another hug.

Isn’t it lovely, just my colours;



First 4 Yarns

Now the reason I know this internet shop is so pleasant is, because, after I was shown the Noni Bag pattern and yarn. I had a peep on the site myself and then purchased this pattern and the yarn except this one: 1 x di.ve Cipria No 4920 / Brown a) because it was not stocked and b) Diane didn’t feel it was required as it is only used on the centre! Can you guess who this bag may be for? It has to be knitted in secret, if I don’t manage to get it finished for Christmas, I will just make it for her birthday present. She will be 15 in January and she just loves bags.

When you make a purchase at this site, not only do you get your goods but also a sweetie and a 10% discount card to be used next time, just that extra special service that makes you smile.

Christmas Party and Presents

Fallen Angels

Last evening was our knitting group christmas party, we took over the round table by the window at Churchill House Pub, it felt very christmassy as their lovely tree was placed right by our table. I had brought along some crackers, to give us all that extra festive feeling. We all sat down and as normal got straight into the catching up, after noticing a great big group walking in, it prompted us to make our menu decisions and drinks order.

Now; I did take a picture of the group, but opps, there was closed eyes and surprised looks, so here is me knitting, having finished my dinner and feeling rather full!



Ohhhh christmas present time, we had all pulled names out of a hat at our last meeting for a secret santa surprise. We were to make a present costing no more than £5.00.

I received a beautiful cross stitch plaque, just perfect;



Thank you very much Slowasasnail, you have put so much hard work into this picture, it is beautifully neat and just like I said “I am going to hang it by my front door”. At least this way nobody will have false expectations of my home LOL.

I made a bag for Sprite64, using this pattern, now Sprite is very much a green girl, she just loves the colour green, I know I have spent over an hour helping her choose yarn, her desire was ‘Autumn Colours’, to knit a FCS, but she kept picking up greens, we got there in the end.

So all I needed to do was find some green heavy fabric, which I found in a curtain fabric shop. I picked out the cream in the main colour for the lining. (Lastminute.com (i.e. me), left no time what-so-ever before wrapping the bag up; to be able to take a picture of the finished item.) I just hope she was as pleased with her present as I was with mine.

Other presents were a mug with jumper and a coat for take away drinks. A sewn, crochet needle holder, made from denim with a lovely lining fabric and a scarf made from a glittery alpaca yarn. Just some of the loveliest presents I have seen and all within a very reasonable price limit but far more importantly made with love and care, what more could you ask for.

Along came dinner, and then as the plates got cleared away, out came the show ‘n’ tell and the knitting. There was Loobyj’s rogue in progress and what a great job she is making of it, will she be able to finish the last sleeve and hood ready for Christmas, and there were socks and more socks.

What a lovely last meeting of the year. The first of next year’s is booked, just need to find a new venue, to make the driving a bit fairer. I think this is a job we can delegate to our other halves – em a) will they remember b) give us a manky old smelly pub. What do you think, will they come up trumps?

Stitchmarkers

Look what I have received from KnittingLadyBird, they are a great set of stitchmarkers, and the clue is just brilliant – the ladybird in a cube. This is a swap present care of CT’n’Y Stitchmarker swap.



My partner was Jacquie, but I still had not got into taking pictures of my work before giving it away.