Demented Waffle

Its been a while......

2011-03-20T00:41:00.004Z

Gosh it has been ages since I last logged on here - where does the time go? Its also been a while since I picked up my needles! A lot has happened since I last posted but life seems to be getting back onto an even keel - well for now!

Well this post is short but sweet - I'll make a concious effort to get back into the swing of posting and reconnecting with my fellow knitters - its also been ages since I last logged into Ravelry!

Still all Hell and no notion.....

2009-05-16T13:25:00.002+01:00

I can't believe where this year has gone! I blinked and we are almost halfway through it! I think because work is still so very very hectic the days are going quicker, though I think that is a good ting for a work day! I get in and before I know it its time to go home, still I'd rather be busy then being bored at work.

Good news on the Uni assignments, my last one, rushed though at last minute and I thought was total rubbish, actually came back with a Distinction grade! I almost fainted! Still it doesn't help me with the one I have to cobble together this weekend though! I'm already late with it and haven't even started it, luckily I got an extension and am taking the day off on Monday to finish. At least the one after that is a really fascinating subject and I am now already planning my dissertation.

Nothing much has really happened since my last post apart from work, uni, and more work! That includes no knitting. I really want to get my silk top finished but just don't seem to have the energy when I get home and weekends are full of writing! I know all work and no play makes Gilly a dull girl, but it won't be forever, work will calm down in a month or so and uni will be over in September (well for a few weeks at least!)

Oh well off back to the writing, 5,000 on the joys of marketing - what fun!

Day from Hell....

2009-05-03T20:42:00.002+01:00

...describes yesterday to a tee! Well OK it wasn't that bad and it was really only the morning that was a disaster, but there was a whole chain of events that made me think I was going mad!

I knew it was going to be one of those days when I stepped out of the front door and landed flat on my backside! I had somehow managed to cockle over on the front door step and finished up sat on the floor, with a throbbing graze on my hip! When I finally got up and drove into the small town near us, I had a sneezing fit and as my pelvic floor isn't what it used to be - had a slight accident, which I have to add the kids found highly hilarious! By this point I was thinking I should have stayed in bed!

Things picked up until I looked at my bank account and was horrified to see it was almost empty! Have I over spent on Birthdays? No, the online supermarket that at this point shall remain nameless had done it again! Back in February the online service I use managed to take payment out three times and although the money was still sat in my bank, I couldn't actually access it as it had been ring fenced! Well this had happened again - only a much bigger amount! I was livid to say the least! After a lengthy conversation with my bank it finally got sorted and the money was released so I am now able to actually draw some out, but as for the supermarket - I haven't even started with them yet!!! Needless to say I won't be using that service again, I guess I'll just have to actually go and do my shopping myself! Ill be complaining when I have composed myself and my fury has subsided a little!

May Bank Holiday - its here already!

2009-05-03T20:27:00.002+01:00

I can't believe the speed this year has gone! Work deadlines are looming when it seems like yesterday we had "ages" to get things done! It will be half term again before I know it and Hollie will be leaving school, mind you it only seems like 5 minutes ago she was born. Back in the here and now I am just going to enjoy this weekend as it'll probably be the last work free one for a while as I have yet another assignment to complete - still at the rate this year is going, my course will have ended in the blink of an eye!

Its been a busy birthday month for me, there are loads of April birthdays at work and closer to home two of my best friends within days of each other! Sandie is seeing Dawne before I will so I dropped her pressie off there yesterday, she was looking well and really pleased she had an excellent review on her mini lesson she did for her teaching course, mind you I wasn't surprised, she is a natural teacher and has the patience of a saint! Well done Sandie!

A more difficult task was selecting gifts for an April birthday yarn swap which I joined on Ravelry. I was relieved when firstly the parcel actually arrived on time and secondly my swap buddy is really happy with it! I always tend to take ages deciding what to buy people and am never sure I get it right, so it's a relief to know when I do! My pressie from her was gorgeous, especially the divine silk/bamboo yarn in my favorite colour.

So other then birthdays its been fairly quiet. There is a lot going on at work but couldn't possibly divulge anything on here at the moment but watch this space (well watch it if you are really that interested, which I suspect you wouldn't be!)

Spring has sprung!

2009-04-25T19:23:00.002+01:00

Well at last it seems that the nice weather is here, it's been a lovely week just hope it holds out a bit longer.

Work is finally settling down and I am getting used to my new team mates although its been a fraught process! I arranged a team building timeout event last week and I think we all understand each other a bit better, well at least I hope the others do! We are having trouble though finding a temp with the skills we need and that will fit into the team! Ah well these things are sent to try us.

We finally got started on the garden today, I am definitely no gardener and neither is Al! He merrily (not) cut the grass while I started on the weeding, then the cavalry arrived in the form of my Dad with more tools! He did notice though that not only had I been merrily pulling weeds up, I'd managed to take out most of the plants as well! Ops! At least its looking nice out there, well it will be once the weedkiller has taken hold on the patio anyway!

As for the knitting front to say its been slow would be an exaggeration! I haven't done any for a few weeks now, been too busy writing assignments! I have another one due in a couple of weeks and naturally I haven't even started! Looks like the knitting will be on hold a bit longer!

Back online again (just)...

2009-04-11T13:06:00.002+01:00

Wow its been a hectic few weeks since I last posted! Work has been absolutely manic with the senior team running round like headless chickens which has rubbed off on the rest of us making for a very tense working atmosphere! I've been coming home with my head buzzing and still loads of stuff to finish! Oh joy, still silly season should be over soon although some of the personalities in the senior team I think will grate on me for eternity - I think ear plugs and stress balls will be permanently on my desk!

On top of this, Mother was taken into hospital. She is OK now but gave us all a bit of a fright! She is back home now which is a relief but still has to keep going back for tests. It didn't help she caught an infection while in hospital though, I'm sure she'll have something to say about that to them!

So with all the hell and no notion going on I am behind with my assignment for uni! I did get a week's extension, but have got writer's block! My head is so full of stuff at the moment it feels like there is constant chatter going on in my brain and non of it makes sense (OK I feel the straight jackets coming out now!) Fortunately I have been off work this week which was well needed, although I don't feel a week is long enough! I just hope everyone has calmed down when I get back!

Since I last posted I also turned 40! Now I feel really old and think I need a mid-life crisis! The celebrations lasted over a week in one way or another, but I'll blog about that later after I have written some more drivel about Information Management for my assignment! OK whinge over - back to the writing!

Thank God Its Friday!

2009-03-20T20:40:00.002Z

Phew - got to Friday at long last! It's been a long horrible week. Work has been manic and frankly I am beginning to think I should have stayed in the job I was in and not moved! The department is in a total mess and I have to get it sorted by the end of April which will take a miracle! Sigh, oh well think I'll be keeping my eye out for something else, the only trouble is me and hundreds of others!

On a positive note, I have still managed to keep of the ciggies! It's been well over a week and I think the lack of nicotine is adding to my stress levels, I'm still a psycho bitch from hell and think I might be for a few more weeks - people beware! When I feel like having a cigarette I think about all the nice things I can buy with the money I'm saving not smoking - I intend to spend the money on frivolous purchases to make me happy and not letting it absorb into the pot!

Other news this week:
Roz has tendinitis and has her arm all bandaged up and a splint in place! She is off work next week on leave so hope she'll get better soon - she keeps me sane in all the madness that is the office!
Dawne has been made redundant. She was half expecting it but it has still come as a bit of a shock. I must ring her this weekend.
Ooo I was given a lovely bottle of Rose wine for knitting a scarf for one of the girls at work - so it's not all doom and gloom!
And finally I learned what "Happy Hump Day" means! It's, ahem, not what I first thought it meant, it means happy Wednesday! LOL

Losing the plot!

2009-03-15T21:58:00.002Z

Well its been one of those weeks and I am now convinced I am losing the plot! I've had a cough over the last few days from a nasty bug and decided it would be a good time to give up smoking s it made my cough worse! This is where I lost the plot and found myself in a lose lose situation!! I stopped smoking Wednesday and was very grumpy to the point of getting to work Thursday morning and bursting into tears for no reason whatsoever! Oh the joys of nicotine withdrawal! Th trouble was that if a smoked a cigarette it made me cough worse which also made me grumpy - I don't envy my colleagues and family this week, I've been a bear with a sore head (or nasty cough and no nicotine!)

Anyway, I am over the worst now, the cough is slowly clearing up and I think I am just about free of needing nicotine, although its not the drug so much now as the habit I miss - I'll have to remedy that somehow! What has helped though is that every time I crave a cigarette, I think about what else I could spend my hard earned cash on - like those high end yarns I love so much, or a handbag, or some shoes - the list is endless! I have decided that any money I would have spent on cigarettes (and its a fair bit!) I am going to indulge myself with some of life's luxury goods! Well there has to be some incentive and I must TRY not to be too grumpy although I think I can be excused for being grumpy on a Monday so bear with sore head will be back tomorrow!

More finished objects....

2009-03-08T20:30:00.020Z

I'm on a roll and finished two more small projects that have been sat on my needles for a while!

The first one is a small make-up bag I made using the free yarn that came with Lets Knit magazine the other month. I had been deciding what to do with it and in the end I just cast on a few stitiches and started knitting! It was going to be a needle roll but then I decided to line it and add some wire butterflies and a wire flower as a fastner and hey presto it turned into a make-up bag!

The other is a beanie hat I've been knitting since before Christmas. It seems to have taken me ages to knit this, I kept putting it down and picking it up not really getting into the flow, but today I decided enough was enough and it had to be completed and here is the finished result! That leaves me with only one UFO now but it will be sometime beofre that one gets done as it is another epic throw! I'm not sure what it will turn out like either so it may end up being ripped and turning into something completly different!

There is also that gorgeous silk top I can't wait to get started on but as its done on circulars I am going to start it when I have time to sit down and concentrate on it without any interuptions!

Well back to the shortlisting now, today is the closing date for those jobs we advertised but you always get a last minute flurry of applications and they have been flowing in all day!

It's here! It's here!

2009-03-05T21:05:00.003Z

Yea! The silk yarn I ordered to knit my next project has arrived!

It took me ages to decide the colour there were so many to choose from and you don’t always get a good idea of what they will look like when you buy online, but I think I made the right choice! I loved the cream shades and the white shades and the gold colour shades and the blue shades, well all of the shades really (except “just thrown-up yellow”) In the end I decided to go for the “dark pink, and it’s gorgeous! Now I’m waiting for my nice new needles to arrive so I can start knitting it!

I have also FINALLY managed to get a couple of small project finished! The blue scarf I knit for a colleague who admired the one I had made for another colleague last Christmas! I didn’t mind knitting one up for her, but to be honest I did get fed up knitting it halfway through and it took me ages to get it done!

The phone sock I just whipped up quickly using some free yarn that came with a knitting mag. I wasn’t sure what to do with it and knitted and unpicked it several times before I decided on a phone sock! I used green organza ribbon as ties and added a couple of really pretty glass beads to jazz it up a bit! Pity the photography doesn’t do it justice!

Phew – that’s it for another day. I’ve finally got round to talking about knitting again! It seems ages since I’ve finished anything or got very far with anything!

It's official - I'm a sado!

2009-02-28T21:34:00.002Z

It's been a really hectic few weeks at work and I have officially become a sado! There I was 8.30 on a Saturday night sifting through job applications and even answering work emails! Mind you it will save my sanity come closing data for applications as there are so many for so few jobs and to do them all in one go would send me over the edge! The credit crunch is really hitting hard now judging by the number of applications for jobs, most coming from those sectors that have been hit the hardest. Times are hard and it shows.

On a less sad note, I had a nice day out! I spent the morning with the gorgeous Henry (OK I know I'm biased!) He wanted to buy guitar hero for his x-box, I though I'd invest in some ear plugs for me to go with it! The afternoon was spent with the lovely Hollie prom dress shopping. She is very practical and decided that she'd hire a dress because it's not worth buying one and only wearing it once! We went to a boutique near where we live and it took her all of 5 minutes to find the perfect dress! Mind you she did have an idea of what she was looking for and it looks stunning!

On the knitting front it's been rather quiet! I am waiting for my silk yarn to arrive so I can start knitting the lovely top in this months Lets Knit - alas no sign of it yet. I still have numerous UFOs but will work my way through them when I'm not being a total sado!

Still no knitting....

2009-02-23T22:05:00.002Z

Where does the time go? I just don't seem to have had the chance to get much knitting done lately! Mind you when I get home from work I'm only fit for collapsing on the sofa and watching the soaps and ready for bed by 8.30 - what an old fart I am!

Mind you I have discovered the joy of knitting forums! I seem to be on Ravelry a lot lately and I keep finding various groups full of message boards from like minded people - its great! The latest one I've joined is a group for clutterbugs with good intentions of clearing the clutter - its inspiring and nice to know I'm not the only messy knitter around! It has given me inspiration to start the spring cleaning and start clearing out all my rubbish, I'm starting with my wardrobe this weekend!

There are so many other knitting forums I can't keep up with them all! I tend to dip in and out every so often or I'd find myself spending all my time reading and answering message threads! There are a lot of great knitters out there, but in the same vain there are a lot of weirdos too who have far too much time on their hands and love to stir up a row! Still it keeps me entertained!

Well as it's almost 10 its way way past my bedtime so I'm off to get my beauty sleep (mind you if its beauty sleep I need I should have been in bed as soon as I got in form work!)

All seems quiet....

2009-02-20T22:20:00.002Z

...on the Eastern coast! It seems ages since I last post, but nothing has really happened of interest over the last few days! Well nothing blog readers would be interested in anyway unless you really want me to waffle about office politics (and believe me I could write a book on that subject alone!)

Am back at uni again this week, it seems to have come round so quickly! We are studying the exciting world of Information Technology (woo hoo!) and I have to say it is riveting - NOT! Oh well am preparing myself for an 8am start tomorrow, which in itself is outrageous on a weekend!

The knitting has been a little slow of late, I need some inspiration and an injction of surplus cash to splurge on all the luxury yarns I want to try out! Typically all the projects I really want to do use high quality yarns and somehow I just don't want to replace the yarn for any other! Oh well, better win the lottery soon so I can be a lady of leisure and afford to knit with those high end yarns!

Snow fun...

2009-02-12T20:36:00.002Z

... when you're stuck out in the cold, stranded trying to get across town! I had bright idea that I would go across town to pick Hollie up from her friends to save her getting the bus in the horrible snow. The roads are the worst I've seen them for years! Anyway I got halfway there and got stranded so we had to stop the car and sit it out for about an hour! Henry got the blanket I carry round in the boot, wrapped himself up and had a nap - after running round in the white stuff and snowballing the car until he was bored!

Anyway, mustn't grumble at Hollie, she was off school today because she had an interview at college for an acting course. The good news is she got in - despite forgetting her lines! Apparently her acting was very natural and that swung it for her - she is delighted! She has applied for other courses too and has interviews for them all, but at least she now knows she has been accepted on one of them and has a place doing something she loves! Yea Hollie!

Brrrr a cold and manic Monday...

2009-02-02T20:11:00.001Z

Well they said it would snow, and it certainly did! I would prefer if it snowed on a weekend rather then on a work day! I managed to get through to the office to find a total of 6 people had made it in! The best thing is, three of them all started today! That’s the trouble of working in the middle of the country, when it snows people can’t get in! Anyway I decided to close the building early so everyone could get home while it was still light – and of course I could get home to me knitting! I did manage to get into Driffield at lunchtime with my best mate, who was one of the new starters, and had a very much needed hot chocolate!

Its just wet outside now so not too bad, here’s hoping that the weather gets better.

Finally a finished project!

2009-02-01T23:37:00.003Z

At last, I’ve finished the hat and scarf set I was knitting for my Mother-in-law for Christmas! By the way, that is Christmas 2009, I thought I would get myself organised and start my Christmas knitting early this year. Well that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

I have however discovered that I am suffering from a common condition shared by knitters born in the month of April! I joined a Ravelry group for knitters who were born in the month of April and it seems that the majority of us are suffering from knitting ADD! We all seem to have numerous projects on the go, all unfinished – it’s nice to know I’m not the only one and I would guess it doesn’t only affect April knitters!

So what did I do once I’d finished my hat and scarf? Well I uses I should have started working to finish another one of my UFO’s, but that would be too easy and uncharacteristic for a knitting ADD sufferer! No, I looked longingly at my stash and decided to start knitting a super chunky tunic to slouch round in! So there you go, one project off the needles and another straight back on so I am no further off finishing my UFOs!

The slow progress of my knitting projects...

2009-01-30T10:36:00.002Z

...I think I am the world's slowest knitter! It seems to be taking me an age to complete anything! I am in the process of knitting two scarves and a hat but none of them getting very far - or maybe I am too impatient! At least I have an excuse this week, I have somehow managed to strain my shoulder so it is quite painful to knit too much at the moment - but as to how I strained it - it is a mystery! I just woke up with it really sore one morning! It is feeling much better now though, so well on the mend.

I went back to work yesterday and had a wonder into the local town at lunchtime - mind you I forgot it was market day and the main road closed off and parking virtually impossible! Fortunately the parking fairy was knid to me and I took the last space in the car park! I love wondering round the town, they have some really fab shops, can't wait for my friend to start working with us so we can do shopping and lunch! All I bought though was a knitting magazine I've not bought before and it has some really fab patterns in - the only thing is it will take me a century to knit all the ones I like!

Oh well, onwards and upwards - looking forward to a chilled out weekend!

Where did this week go?

2009-01-24T17:32:00.001Z

I can’t believe it’s been a week since I last posted anything on here! I don’t know where this week has gone; only it went very quickly!

It’s been a busy one, and I only got the chance to sit down and unwind yesterday! I went round to my friends last night where a few of us had a catch up as we haven’t got together since Christmas! My friend Dawne went diving in Israel over the New Year, she really enjoyed it despite it being extremely expensive over there! She looked well on it though.

Almost forgot, we have a lovely big crack in our lounge ceiling where the water from our flooded bathroom came through! At least the toilet isn’t leaking anymore as we FINALLY got a plumber to it, just wonder how long it will take them to come and fix the ceiling – I’d bet 4 weeks after much nagging and many hone calls – lets see……..

As for my knitting, I’m still plodding on with a hat and scarf set that is destined to be a Christmas present this year! Have to start knitting now for Christmas or I’d never get it finished! The only thing is I’m likely to put it away somewhere safe and then forget all about it when I need it!

All work and no play...

2009-01-17T16:22:00.004Z

...makes Gilly very tired! Can’t believe how exhausted I am after our session at uni this morning! Still its over for another 6 weeks, well apart from the project we’ve been given to do! At least our group are really well organised and we know what we’re supposed to be doing (I think!)

Henry’s stayed over at a friend’s last night, it was really quite at home without him, even though he never seems to make much noise when he is here! Here is a picky of him about to get the chop! lol

It’s weird how the house seems empty when the kids are out. Hollie wasn’t complaining, she enjoyed the peace and quiet, although didn’t quite get her room tidied! Mind you they are all here tonight plus one extra!

Since I have finished my uni stuff (for the time being anyway) I actually got some knitting done! I am in the process of knitting a hat and scarf set and also have another scarf on the go. One pattern is quite complicated, the other a no brainer so I’ve been switching between the two.

Oh well, off for a nice long soak in the bath and an evening of chilling out on the settee watching TV!

Yea another assignment finished!

2009-01-15T16:46:00.002Z

Woo hoo! Finally got my assignment on project management finished and handed in! Hopefully it will pass, it ain't the best one I’ve done but its such a massive and VERY dull subject I really couldn't get into it! Oh well on with the next one which is consultancy, but the assignment is twice as big! It’s a good job we’re working in groups!

The knitting has been put on a bit of a backburner just lately with the chaos at work and the assignment. I went to have a look at my new office the other day and there is small area with comfy chairs and a coffee table next to my desk, perfect for an hours knitting at lunchtime I thought. Mind you I had the though aloud and then told my new team members that I’ll bring me knitting in and teach them all to knit! You should have seen the look on their faces – totally horror! Obviously knitting and IT people don’t mix! They’ll get used to my sense of humour, eventually (I hope!)

Well as I had an early finish from uni I’m off to pick up Henry from Granny’s and then heading back home to have a well deserved sit down and get on with some knitting. Good job I’ve started knitting this year’s Christmas presents now, I JUST might get it done!

Reminiscing over holiday snaps...

2009-01-10T12:12:00.004Z

...and I saw this one and the look on Hollie’s face is priceless! Couldn’t help adding a thought bubble because I am pretty sure that is exactly what she is thinking looking at that expression!

Sometimes its worth looking at the background of pictures, that's where all the hidden gems are! Must stop procrastinating now and get my assignment finished! Sigh no knitting for me this weekend.

Another week goes by.......

2009-01-09T20:34:00.002Z

Its been a busy week! I went for a job interview on Wednesday and the receptionist at work asked me if I'd knit her a scarf like the one I knit for a colleague for Christmas! Nice to know its appreciated. When I went online to order the yarn for it I found a website selling clearance items and managed to buy a whole load of yarn very cheap! I was very impressed with the service, I ordered it yesterday and it arrived today and for just over £20 I am now the owner of 10 ball each of Sirdar Fizz, Bigga, Super Nova and Frenzy. It was knitting heaven! Now all I need to do is find some great patterns to knit up!

Baldy has gone to visit his Mum and Dad for a couple of days so have had a copule of days peace - bliss! I haven't managed to do any knitting though yet but I'm sure I will before the weekend is out - just off to look for some patterns now! Oh I did get the job I was intereviewed for - New Year, New Job, New Knitting Projects!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-04T11:46:00.003Z

It seems an age since I last wrote on here and since we flew off to Florida for our holidays! We got back on Friday and I’ve only just about managed to do all the washing and ironing and am nowhere near ready to think about getting back into the swing of things and back to work! Still it won’t take long to feel like I’ve never been away!

Florida was glorious over Christmas we had average temperatures of 26 degrees which felt weird for us over Christmas – still I’m not complaining! We had a great time in all the theme parks and got to see most of the shows we wanted to see while over there, but I think we’ll want to go again just in case we missed anything! The picture on the right is Cinderella's castle lit up at night, it cahnges colour and looks spectacular! I have posted more piccys on my Flickr account and more to come later on when I get round to uploading them! The link is:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31607390@N04/

Well back to reality and New Year’s resolutions – I’ve made the same one I make every year and that is NOT to make any resolutions. That didn’t last long as I started to make a list of knitting related resolutions! The list includes using up my stash and starting my Christmas 09 knitting, well about now really as I am so slow with it! Still you know what they say about the nest laid plans of men and mice……

That’s about it for now, I’m going to finish the ironing and get some groceries in as the cupboard is bare! Happy New Year!

Phew - a hectic week........

2008-12-14T19:21:00.002Z

Gosh can't believe its been a whole week since I last wrote on here! Its been one of those weeks, I have no idea where it went! Work has been a been busy, I'm trying to tie up all loose ends before I go on my holidays, but I'm getting there and have a fairly quiet couple of days ahead. It was the Christmas lunch on Friday and I indulged in my first and probably last turkey dinner of the season! It was a really nice lunch, my colleagues are all great and there is a really good atmosphere in the office, which is one of the reasons I don't think I'd want to change jobs! I have applied for another one, but its working in the same offices - mind you I am not sure whether it is what I really want. I'll do some thinking when I'm on holiday and make a decision when I get back - but you know what they say - nothing ventured, nothing gained.

We had the in-laws over this weekend for an early Christmas Day! It was really lovely to see them, although I still struggle to understand them! They have very broad South Yorkshire accents and talk quietly and with me being slightly deaf I really struggle to hear what they are saying. Still I’m getting used to it now and getting better at understanding! My parents came down as well for a bit and it was really nice to get everyone together, its also really nice when everyone gets on – have to say this is a first for me my previous in-laws were horrendous!

The knitting has taken a bit of a backseat lately, sadly. I have started to knit myself another hat in bright pink and black but haven’t got very far – been too busy! I’ll pick it up maybe later but think it will be resigned to “New Year” knitting projects! We still have to get ready for holidays and our friends who are coming to stay while we are away so more cleaning, bed changing, food shopping, Christmas present wrapping, card writing, packing………. The list is endless!

Hoorah! Hats away and some Christmas gems.....

2008-12-07T17:11:00.011Z

I've been on a mission this weekend to finish the hat I started knitting for baldy, finish the hat was knitting for myself and get my "special" Christmas cards made! Of course there were other non-knitted things on the list, wrap my Christmas pressies, write my cards, get ready for the invasion of the in-laws next weekend and of course the housework (always bottom of my list!)
Anyway here are the pictures of us looking total prats in our new hats!!

I Usually make my own Christmas cards for certain people every year and this year I decided to combine my card making with knitting and knitted the toppers for the cards! I used Jean Greenhowe's mini Christmas stocking pattern for some of them and made-up patterns for a Santa hat (as I seem to be enjoying hat knitting at the moment!) and a Christmas tree. I've taken pictures of them (below) but as I am no David Bailey there is a quite a bit of light reflection on them!

Well that's my knitty bit done! I had a nice afternoon out yesterday with my friends Sandie, Dawne and Rayma. I had completely forgotten Dawne was coming over and got a phone call as I was acting as the taxi for Hollie (I'm going to get a sticker for my car saying "Mum's Cars"). It will be that last chance I get to see them all before Christmas, can't believe its getting so close! I really do need to finish that packing! Mind you I could if I could actually get into Hollie's bedroom to get her clothes out, as it is you can't see the floor for stuff all over it and heaven only knows which clothes are clean and which aren't! Maybe I'll just wash the lot and then at least I'll know! Oh well I'd better go and get further down my list of things to do!

Its a hatrick.....

2008-12-05T19:02:00.003Z

Well the headline should read hat hell! I have been aimlessly flicking through patterns deciding what to knit next and really can't decide. So in the meantime I have decided to knit a hat for baldy! The thing is I haven't found a pattern I like so have decided to design my own for a beanie hat. So far so good, although I did attempt on circular needles at first but as I've never used them before I made a real mess of it. Oh well onwards and upwards! Its looking good so far but I might change my mind when it comes to calculating the shaping for the crown! I'll post the finished result on here when I eventually get it done and might even submit the pattern to Ravelry if people have a burning desire to knit it up!

On a general note, it’s been a funny week. Dear Henry has had a nasty ear infection and at one point I thought we weren't going to be able to fly, but with a course of anti-biotics he seems fine now, fingers crossed for Monday when hopefully he will get a clean bill of health and the go ahead to fly! That just leave Hollie and her list of ailments - bless her! Her knee and ankle are really hurting her now because she can't walk properly just yet with her broken toe! Oh well we’ll get there in the end (I hope!)

Had some good news today though, my friend who really hates her job managed to get the job she applied for in our office! I’m really looking forward to working with her again but I’m not sure that our boss knows what she has let herself in for!

Oh well back to the knitting, I’ll have to get this hat finished soon otherwise it will be Spring and not cold enough for baldy to wear it!

Counting down to Christmas.....

2008-11-27T18:02:00.003Z

While our American cousins are enjoying Thanksgiving this weekend I'm on my countdown to Christmas (and me holiday!) Made a start on the packing but still have a few bits and pieces to get and then I’ll need to “spring” clean the house ready for my friends who are staying here while we are away!

I finally finished putting up the decorations yesterday, although I'm skipping the big tree this year. Good old Santa has now taken pride of place on my dining room wall! He is made from a needlepoint kit I bought some years ago when the kids were small, I took me hours to complete it but well worth the effort!

I’m in a knitting void at the moment, after finishing my throw I’m not sure what to do next! A colleague has asked me to knit her a scarf so I am on with that and another colleague gave me a pattern for a beanie hat which I think I’ll do next. I think I’ll have to get myself on Ravelry and look through the patterns to see what I can do with my ever growing stash! Since I found the wool shops in the town where I work the stash grows at an alarming rate!

Finally the epic is finished!!

2008-11-23T18:15:00.008Z

It's been freezing here today with plenty of snow on the ground. I thought I would make good use of the cold weather and finish my epic throw - and here it is! The original pattern has 20 roses that you knit up and attach to the throw but I liked the pattern without the embellishments (well that's my excuse or I'd still be knitting it in 2010!)

This leaves me with the dilemma - what do I knit next? I have seen a pattern for another throw which is knit up in smaller squares rather than long panels. I like the idea of that as I can pick it up and put it down – saying that it will probably take me several months, if not years, to complete!!

In the meantime I’m going to knit baldy a hat to keep his head warm in the cold weather! He could have done with one today! I have managed to download a video I took of my son and hubby playing in the snow! Hollie was inside well away from the frozen stuff – mind you with her foot in the state it’s in she is better off indoors! She has an appointment at the Fracture Clinic tomorrow so we will know just how bad the break is. Fingers crossed she will be OK to fly as we are due to go on holiday in about three weeks time! Oh well here’s hoping…….

Brrrr its cold outside.....

2008-11-22T22:55:00.006Z

Woke up this morning to a totally white floor, it had snowed overnight! It looks great, but it's really cold out there.

As we've had a bit of a white out thought I'd start putting my Christmas decorations up! OK so I know its a bit early but thought it might cheer Hollie up who is currently hobbling around with a broken foot!

I spent yesterday in a minor injury unit then was sent on to accident and emergency who confirmed it was broken! She has no idea how she managed to do it either! Bless, mind you with us flying off on holiday soon, it might just scuper things. Will have to see what the othopaedic surgeon has to say on Monday. Fingers crossed she should be OK to fly!

I haven't had much time to devote to my knitting this weekend so the epic is still not over! Still at least I have enough wool to finish it now!

The epic is almost over - but then..........

2008-11-18T19:20:00.002Z

After taking a short break from my epic throw and dabbling in the art of crochet, I decided to get on and have a final push at completing the throw. All very well and good, but as I get to 10" of the boarder to complete, I ran out of yarn! Bugger!

So it seems that the epic will take a little longer to finish then expected! Still I am determined to get it done by Christmas, yarn is on order just waiting for it to drop through the door!

In the meantime my latest copy of Knit Today arrived and it has a fab tartan scarf, hat and bag set. I think that will have to go onto my list of things to knit, if I ever get me throw finished!

Crochet attempt...

2008-11-12T23:06:00.002Z

For some strange reason I decided to master the art of crochet! Well I thought to myself "how hard can it be?"

Well for me, I have decided its impossible - I just don't get it! I think for now I'll stick with two pins, although the very nice throw I want to knit requires a double crochet boarder! Oh well, try and try again (not usually my moto!)

Knitting desert...

2008-11-06T22:26:00.003Z

Gosh can't belive its been nearly a week since I last waffled on here! Its been a busy one at work with office moves, who'd have thought that an office move could be so much chaos! We moved on Monday and its still not finished - no IT or phones lines in some departments and to top it all the other knitters in the office have all moved to the other site so no more knitting gossips over a cup of coffee and a rich tea biscuit!

Not only that but this week has been a desert in knitting terms, not much time to do any! I did though manage a trip into town the other lunchtime and bought some more wool for my mini Christmas stockings, I wanted cream and metalic gold to make stockings to match my decorations. I did get some wool and have managed to make one, but that is about it! I am off into town again tomorrow lunchtime to see if I can find the wool shop that I know is there but I haven't managed to find it yet!

It is a busy week for Birthdays too! Its my Mum's today and when I rang her to wish her Happy Birthday I was greeted with a song that goes something like this:

"Happy Birthday to me, I am 23!"

Mmmm that would mean I haven't been born yet! Its also my husband's 40th on Sunday - he is already having his mid-life crisis so goodness knows what he'll be like when he actually gets to 40! There are some really funny cards out there for 40 year olds, but alas he wants a "soppy" one from me - well that's just tough cos the funny ones are much more fun! It was hard to choose which one!

As for the epic throw........ well it's still an epic! I will get it finished though soon, just have the edging to do!

Christmas knitting commences...

2008-11-01T20:00:00.000Z

Well thought it was about time I started on my Christmas knitting now halloween is over and there is only 6 weeks left till we leave the country!

I found Jean Greenhowe's mini Christmas Stocking pattern on Ravelry and thought they would be a good place to start! I've knit 4 up today and they look great, I am going to use them as toppers for the Christmas cards I make this year - they are perfect!

My copy of Simply Knitting magazine arrived today and this month they have mini christmas ornament patterns in this month so will look at knitting some of them up. The plan is to make a garland with knitted ornaments on, not sure though whether I'll get that done as I am still dermined to finish my epic throw before Christmas and although I only have the edging left to do it still seems to be a slow process! Watch this space!

Kids, shopping and bargains!

2008-10-29T23:07:00.000Z

Really enjoyed my retail therapy today with one of my best mates. Would have enjoyed it even more if I hadn't had a phone call in the middle of Primark from my darling teenage daughter asking me to meet up with her so she can get her ear pierced! Agggghhhh kids, is there ever any respite? Despite my protests we did meet her and I took her for her ear piercing then sent her on her merry way. She still rang me several more times to complain about her ear ache!

Didn't do a vast amount of shopping, though I did get a bargain dress for an astronomical sum of £1! OK its a summer dress but as we are jetting off to the sun this Christmas thought it would be ideal! I might even start thinking about packing soon, or maybe not! Really must start thinking about Christmas shopping though, I haven't done a thing yet and I'm usually nearly finished by this time every year!

Finished the day off with a lovely meal at Chiquitos then after several more hone calls from my daughter picking her and her friend up and bringing them home! Kids - they drive me insane! Need to do some knitting to calm the nerves - on with the epic throw......

Almost there.....

2008-10-28T23:04:00.001Z

Its been really cold up here today, definately a good day to stay in and get some knitting done! So I did just that!

I finally got round to taking a picture of my epic throw, it seems to have taken me forever to get this far. Today though I was determined to get it almost finished, and the good news is -I did!

I managed to complete all the long panels and even managed to get them sewed together (which is the bit I really hate doing) and all I have left to do now is knit up the lacy edging. That shouldn't take me too long the pattern is only over 7 sts so even I think I can do it fairly quickly although there is a mistake in the print of the pattern! I tried knitting it 3 times and each time I was 2 sts too short - I thought I was going mad! Still I worked it out and have managed to knit up several pattern repeats already! Mind you that will leave me with an epic sewing up job (groan). It'll be worth it in the end though!

Tomorrow I am off into town for a bit of retail therapy and a break from the kids, husband and my epic knitting project! Think I might pop into our local wool shop though - I mean once this project is finished I'll want to get stuck into something else!

Knitty dilema......

2008-10-26T23:00:00.000Z

Well despite the clock going back an hour making today an hour longer then normal, there still aren't enough hours in the day!!

I had my day all planned out, I was going to devote it to my epic throw project determined to get it finished before Christmas. Alas I am getting itchy fingers, there are soooo many lovely projects out there I want to get on with my mind started to wonder and I am now planning my next epic throw distracting me from my current project!

On top of that my long awaited Ravelry invite appeared in my inbox! Woo hoo! I couldn't wait to get started so I ended up spending more time attached to my laptop then intended! I've only scratched the surface but I think I'm going to like it on there.

I have also had the trials and tribulations of running round after teenagers who seem quite incapable of doing the simplest thing for themselves. The only phrases they seem to know are "food"; "money"; and "lift" and go completely deaf when you ask them to take their dirty pots away, tidy their room or even put the dirty washing in the wash basket! Bless 'em - good job I love 'em to pieces or I think I'd be completely insane!

Needles to say I didn't quite get as much done on my current project as I wanted to what with planning my next project, Ravelry and the kids still I might just get it finished in time for Christmas - Christmas 2009 that is!

Its Friday!

2008-10-24T16:32:00.000+01:00

Phew the end of another chaotic week! We are all moving offices at work so I have spent the day packing up my stuff ready for the move, I never knew I had so much rubbish in such a small area! At least I have a week off now to return to the bedlam after half term!

I'm still working on my epic bed throw, it is looking really good now I've managed to sew some of the panels together! 5 panels down, 2 to go and then the massive edging job that will need doing once its all sewn up! I am determined to finish it this week, although you know what they say about the best laid plans.......

Another one of those days!

2008-10-18T20:12:00.001+01:00

Phew, finally the end of one of those chaotic days! I planned to have a nice chilled out day with my needles finishing off my lace throw, alas this was not meant to be!

My darling daughter announced that it is her friends Birthday tomorrow and could I make her a mobile phone sock for his present! Great at this rate it will be next winter when I get my throw finished!

Still I can’t complain too much, it was a knitting project she wanted me to do and it gave me an excuse to leave the ironing, for an hour or so anyway! So after my routine taxi duties to the kids I sat down and got my thinking cap on and my stash out! I was quite pleased with the result I have never tried two colour cable before but I think it worked well (although my photography ain’t so great!)

Anyway that was another one down (I’ll write the pattern out and post it when I get round to it) so back to my ever growing throw, which I hope I’ll get finished soon!

Finally more time to knit.....

2008-10-17T18:11:00.000+01:00

At last the monster project I've been tied up with at work has ended! No more late nights means more time to devote to my latest knitting project, which has been a bit neglected lately!

It seems to be taking me forever to get my gorgeous lacy throw finished but I'm getting there slowly but surely! I'll post a piccy on here of the finished article but that may still be some time yet! I'm about halfway through though but there is loads of sewing up as its knit in panels, that's the worst bit - I'd much rather be sat with my two needles clicking away watching the soaps (eek that sounds really sad!)

Let the waffle begin.......

2008-10-14T22:21:00.000+01:00

Despite reading other peoples blogs, I never know what to put down to start with! I guess I could go on for hours and hours about me, my life, my knitting, my kids, my job, etc etc but that would be really really boring!

Instead I'll just leave it here for now and add posts as I go!